VALLEY GIRL '08 EEK!

Back to the first Triathlon I have ever done, first time last year in '07... here's a short recap on that race... I didn't know what to expect at all for this race, but I was going for it.  When I did, in the swim, doing so great staying ahead of the pack, just minutes in I got a good hard kick in the back of the head and then right back again in the face... I had swallowed so much water and had to get onto a kayak to grasp my breath and my head... and remember getting an instant headache.  I wasn't even around the first booey... but I got myself together and decided I was going to finish and just started doing the breaststroke the rest of the way in... with the rest of the race I just had a massive headache, but finished strong... people were thinking I would fear another tri...but here I am...

This year.... I really wanted to do this race as having a race to have done twice and compare to. So I was excited to have picked up Allison Barr's slot. (Thank you!) Getting to race day, I was very nervous with a BIG slap on the hand I did not train like I should have.  Just one BIG excuse.. I was playing to much, life happens! and I guess I can say I talk myself out of training to easily by myself!  So a little EXTRA nervous about this race.... YOU BET!  But I knew I wasn't going to die... just really hoping that it would be fun and just get through it comfortably.  I was only dissapointed to not go in with a goal to PR on this race, but just finish strong and again have fun!  

The Best thing about this race by far.... is having so many great people there to race with!  I just loved having Trish, Jen, Christine and Sara there to get all nervous with or just to hang out with so early in the morning, and meeting more Tri-Fusion memebers... they were great with words of encouragement and motivation that this was going to be a good day!  

Getting up to the water for the start of the race... I got way more then nervous, seeing that the swim was a little longer then the year before ... and not swimming in open water with out a wetsuit yet... Oh geez!  Followed Trish and Jen up to the water as they both took off for it along with the whole crowd... I hung back and did the breaststroke for awhile looking for a pocket to get into away from the "Kicking Feet"!!  I guess I did still have that fear. ; / 

The crowd broke fast and I found that pocket and started my stroke and felt great.. before I knew it I was at the first corner, feeling great I went a little harder and within about the last 50 yrds. I saw the first swimmer Haley Cooper get out of the water... HUH?  am I that far up?  sweet... so I finished strong and got into the transition area to find so many bikes still up and  feeling great... feeling a little competitive I'm not going to lie!  Get up to the mounting area and didn't see, but I heard cheering all of us girls as we mounted the same time, Jen, Trish and I... the cheersquad - Jessi, Roger, Emma, Natalie, Greg, Tiffany and Steve!  Thanks for the boost of  excitement... I was ready for the bike... and what more do I get, my MOM made it to the race as she was just up the hill a little bit yelling and running down the road at the same time cheering me on strong!  Thanks MOM for getting up so early to drive so far again to cheer me on!

The Bike was great... It was a little slow at first just trying to warm up, but I stayed at a good pace... Jen had passed me pretty early in the bike, I kept her as an advantage to stick with her, and found myself pacing to pass her. One of the best part was at the turn around, seeing a pack of girls riding in... push a little harder to keep them from catching up... again a little more competitiveness in me... at the last turn around, there was Jen pushing her butt and passed me again... all I could think at that moment was "YOU GO GIRL!" 

I get to the last stretch... seeing my mother at a distance not paying attention... she was helping the volunteers do something... so I yelled at her.  Didn't want her to miss me, cause then she would have been wondering where I was.... Funny!  Yelling at my mom on the sidelines, while I'm racing... never would have thought.

I mount off the bike to again the enjoyment of the cheersquad and oh man, what scared the crap out of me for a second the BULL HORN... Thanks Rog!  Thanks for the warning that I was going to get ran over by a biker behind me... and yeah... You guys ROCK!

Caught up with Jen as she was taking off for the run in T2... that's the last I will see of her... she's FAST!

I start my run, and I was cramping as usual in my calves, I took it real slow at the beginning.  I was getting passed a lot and no sense of motivation to push from there... I was hurting.  About mile 2 my right knee started to hurt.  This is not uncommon, but only happens so few often... It's pretty much not uncommon that something always hurts when I run.  So motivation on this one was to be done...and that was what pushed me to stay at a pace and to just finish ASAP but comfortably.
I finished... besides the run... the race was a success for me, and really gives me another kick in the butt to see what I can really do, if I trained properly and did what I needed to do to improve... I know I would do better.  But I'm also very happy to be able to be staying active in any way no matter what it is... from wakeboarding, volleyball, hiking, riding my bike etc.  I love the rewarding feeling of being active and the atmosphere of people and sports!  
Thanks so much to Jen, Sara and Trish for the most encouragment and warm feelings and smiles before the race... it was really fun to be there hanging out with you all!  And all did such an Awesome JOB!  Many of you PR big time and just had a great race.  So cheers to that!  

Thank you Phaedra for taking photos and encouraging words before the race!  It was great to see your beautiful excitement for all of us!  Thanks the Cheersquad Phaedra, Jessi, Roger, Greg, Natalie, Emma, Steve and Tiff!! for all the awesome cheering and coming so far out be be at every moment of our race to cheer, take pictures and give us hugs!  You are Family with lots of love to spread for many!  Your cheering is like taking a gel... one big burst of LOVING energy! haha that sounded kinda cheesy! but it's true!!

MANY thanks to my mom coming out by herself on her day off so early in the morning, so far away from home to cheer me on!  Like the old days... my biggest FAN!  Since she enjoyed helping the volunteers... get her to volunteer next year, if not doing the Triathlon herself... she was pondering it. :)

So my time - I did PR... last year was 1:23:53 this year I did beat it and got 1:20:59 - 12 th in AG and 88th overall - pretty happy with that!  :)

Signing up next year?!  You bet!  I Love this race... It's worth the $bucks$!