This summer I decided to take up a challenge and complete a three part series of triathlons in Fairbanks.
The first tri was a sprint in May. The second was an Olympic Distance this past Saturday.
I was more than surprised to get the paper on Sunday morning and see my picture on the front page!
The swim course was 1500 M, going out and around a series of buoy's.
It was a beautiful day; partly cloudy skies, water temps in the mid 60's.
I love that triathlons start with swimming because I find the sensation of pulling myself through the water invigorating. I have swam since I was a kid and even when I push myself to go fast there is something relaxing about the weightless rhythm of swimming long distances.
It was a mass start, but I was able to get out to the front of the pack and swimmers quickly spread out so it only briefly felt crowded.
As I rushed out of the water volunteers were there to help at a wet-suit stripping station. It was the fastest I have ever gotten out of a wetsuit!
As I grabbed my bike Sam called out to me, "I think you're in third." Would I be able to hold that place for the duration of the whole ride? My goal during the bike ride was not to let any women pass me. The 40K bike course was a large flat loop with an out and back around the roads of North Pole, AK. I passed one women during the ride and saw another woman during the out and back. At that point I was't sure if I was in second or third, but as I dropped my bike and headed into the run a volunteer confirmed there were two women ahead of me. If I could run fast enough and not get passed I could finish third!
During the last few hundred meters of the ride I stood up and peddled hard, cranking to get the blood back in my toes and stretching out my hips to be ready to jump off the bike and run. In training I generally always rode hilly courses where I was frequently up and down on the saddle, but during this flat course I stayed tucked on my aerobars the whole time and found that my toes went numb and my right hip felt tight after 26 miles.
A note from my unofficial sponsor: My aerobars are a set that Fred, the owner of Raven Cross Country loaned me for the summer. He mounted them on my cyclocross bike and made a few adjustments for me so that I could make the bike I already own work for this tri.
When I hit the trails for the 10K run I was smiling because the end was near and I enjoy running almost as much as swimming. I felt strong starting out the run, standing up and getting my blood flowing before getting off the bike was just what I needed. I didn't bother to put on a watch, so I had no idea how fast I was running, but there was a young guy ahead of me that I was determined to keep up with. I had come out to Chena Lake and trained on the whole course, which really helped me feel mentally prepared for this race. As I biked and ran I had sense of exactly how far I had yet to go and I felt like I had the right balance of pushing myself and pacing myself. As I rounded the first big turn in the run Sam came running down the trail; bandana across his forehead. He cheered me on and kept running the other direction. A few miles later he was standing at the intersection where the course looped, again cheering me on - "there is someone just ahead, catch them, you can do it." I finished feeling strong, enthusiastic and grateful that I get to live and recreate in such a beautiful place.
My friend Erica finished her first Olympic distance tri too! Up next, The Sourdough 70.3M of fun!
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