Mission Bay Tri

Running needs to become a priority. If i repeat i enough times, hopefully i'll actually believe it and make it so. I showed up early, set up transition and began wandering around transition.

It was good to see all the faces of the PULSE Mission Bay Training Group wandering around, some nervous, some tired, all smiling and excited. Everybody would have a great day.

Swim (500m)
i lined up by some fast swimmers and figured i'd go for it from the get go today and see what happens. I managed to hold onto the first set of feet for 20meters or so before i was off the back. Another set of feet wasn't too far off, so i made an effort, bridged the gap and would sit there for the majority of the swim. I pushed a solid effort, and before i realized i was approaching the final turn and last 100 meters of the swim. I was breathing hard, and the effort was evident.

T1
a quick run up and through the transtion area, Mike Kelley is just getting ready to head out on the bike. I had some issues in transition, taking the wetsuit off, putting cycling shoes on, sunglasses, helmet, race belt. ready to go. slightly slow, but done nonetheless.

Bike (15km)
Being the 4th wave off, there is a long line of carrots up ahead, time to start catching up. Bike feels good initially, legs complained a bit going over the first overpass, and i responded appropriately - shift to a harder gear. It usually takes a bit of a hard effort before my legs start to come around. I wiggle through the sea world parking lot enjoying the turns and accelerations and am spit out onto the faster section of the course.

Another gear up, and more speed. It takes me almost 4 miles to catch Mike Kelley, but if happens, i reach over and give him a "good game" slap, this time i'm able to keep everything and don't miss a bit on the bike. Fiesta island is fast and i'm enjoying pushing a big gear, then i come around the back side and get a bit of a headwind, things slow a bit, but continue on. To this point i've passed 3 or 4 guys in my division.

My legs start to feel a bit better and are going well, 3 miles left, some wigglies, the overpass, and then coast down into transition 2. I pass Kariem, he's smiling and having a blast. In August when he got his bike and decided to get healthy, he was having trouble riding 4 miles from home to work, he ran a mile as fast as he could, it took him 13 minutes, just over 2 months later, he's completed his 1st tri, i'm pretty sure he averaged better than 12 minute miles for 3.1 miles, he's lost 30 pounds and is excited to continue with his new found lifestyle.

I pass 1 more guy in my division in the last 1/2 mile of the bike. I dismount, get caught behind a guy at the dismount line, and am into T2.

T2
This goes much more smoothly, I get off the bike, rack it, drop my helmet slip into my shoes, and am off. I know there is at least 1 runner coming for me, no time to waste.

Run (5km)
I start out pretty good, a little conservative, just because i'm not sure how my legs are going to respond to a fast effort, it's been a while since i did any speedwork, and i haven't run in almost 2 weeks.

legs feel ok, so i pick it up a bit, there are still a good number of people in front of me, so i start picking them off. I run by a couple people i know, and exchange a quick hello. Just over 1 mile into the run, i see Victor coming the other way, that's good, he started 5 minutes ahead of me. Then i come around the corner and see i've still got a bit of running to do to get up to where i saw Victor. I also get a chance to look back and see the orange jersey, i passed at the end of the bike, running steadily behind me, even closing a bit.

Lovely, it hurts, and now i get to run a bit harder. the good news is this was the easiest portion of the race. there are a couple more little turns and wiggles that offer me an opportunity to get a status check on the orange jersey, he's hanging right there about 20 seconds back. I push pretty good over the overpass, after this, it's downhill, i let it go a bit, he's still holding steady.

coming around to the final climb up, if i can get to the top of this last overpass before the orange jersey, i can likely hold him off through the finish. There's no looking back, just running now. I get to the top, and let gravity take me back down to the final 0.1 miles. Time to pick up the pace, my legs turn over a bit quicker, and threaten to give out, even get a bit soft on a couple steps. I can see the finish chute, and know it's time to start racing. Again i quicken and go see how long i can hold this.

I cross the line with the orange jersey behind me. turns out he was 10 seconds behind me. He definitely made me run hard.

AFTER
I had a good time, and was able to see many of the PULSE Mission Bay Triathlon Training group come across the line. All but 1 of the participants started and finished the triathlon. That 1 particant was extremely sick the week or so leading up to the triathlon. Another of the participants was diagnosed with thyroid cancer less than a week before the triathlon. She decided to come out and participate regardless. She finished and was extremely pleased with her accomplishment on the day.

We gathered at the PULSE tent and exchanged stories about how much fun it was and how everybody felt and their thoughts. It was a good start to a good day.