Race Report: Aquathon #3

I was originally going to miss Aquathon #2 because work-related travels. Then, it was rescheduled to July 8 due to weather. Sweet! I can go. But, in the end, I skipped it because of WIBA and the really hot day. I kinda regretted it because I missed out on an opportunity to pick up some series points, but on the other hand, I would've sucked. So the best spot for me was on my couch. So now Auqathon #3 rolls around, four days after my last race in Pewaukee. Work was really beating me up, so I had only run in the four days between the races. Some call it lazy. I called it a taper.

I set off to the course with my new race shoes (Asics DS Trainers) in tow. I'm scanning the transition zone and don't see the top swimmers there. (Score!) The wind was very calm, so the lake was friendly and the temperature perfect. I see John and offer some tips. He was excited and nervous for his first multisport race. (He raced really well and overcame some swimming demons. He admitted to me after that he's hooked and ready for his first tri.) I warm-up, recognize some other faces and say hello, and line up for the swim.

SWIM
And just like that we're off. No build-up, just a five second count and an audible, "GO!" I run as far as I could, follow-up with a couple dolphin dives and then start swimming. On my last dive, I didn't tuck my head and both goggles filled with water. Mostly blind, I could see just well enough to see the kayak leading us out. I hoped he was going to keep a straight line. As I thought, I was out first and leading the pack. I tried to keep my strokes long and breath to both sides. The water-filled goggles lead to some anxiety. But worse, they really screwed with my peripheral vision. I kept seeing arms next to me, like I was surrounded by swimmers. But really, it was the optics of the water refracting my arms into my field of view. At the first buoy, I emptied the goggles. So I went to from not being able to see because of water to not being able to see because of fog. "Oh well, just keep an eye on the kayak," I said to myself. Only after halfway back on the last leg of the course did my goggles clear. Either that or my contact slid back into it's proper spot. I finished and ran out of the water first, with a slightly slowish time of 11:10 for the 1000 meters. (I went 10:57 drafting in the first Aquathon.)

RUN
A relay ream passed me in transition, so I was second out on the run course. And it took nearly a half-mile for the fast runners to pass me. First it was just one, and then another. I held off the rest until just about half-way. On the way back only one woman passed me. Up the last hill, I didn't think anyone was too close. But on the homestretch, I could hear footfalls gaining, so I gave it all I could and finished five seconds in front of eighth place. Good thing, too, as he was in my age group. I split a 23:10 or something, and ended up four seconds slower overall from #1.

I still like my new shoes. They're light and fast. Now that I look the part, it's time to start acting like I belong. I need to take my run out. I can make it to the end, but I need to build on my swim lead to stay in front as long as possible.

In the end, I got first in my age group and seventh overall. With only two of three races completed in the series, I'm in six place in my age group. (Only the best 4 of the 5 races are counted.) If you take points only from two best races for everyone, then I'm in second place. I need to continue placing well and hopefully I'll come away with some hardware.