This past weekend Jerome and I headed over to Michigan to race Steelhead 70.3. I have always wanted to do this race and it is only less than 2.5 hours from our house! I have never done it before! And, this year I was going to do Nationals but I opted to race Steelhead instead.
ON Saturday we ended up going to the PRO meeting because I wanted to visit with Stacey Richardson, who I work with...and we were able to hear that the swim was going to be a major IF....I just knew in my gut we were not swimming. Not only was Lake Michigan aggressive (so....) but everyone seems to be so gun shy now about swims. Sorry, but that is just how much Triathlon has changed over these years. Jerome and I were laughing - about 10 years ago we did WHIRLPOOL Olympic in the same area - water was much worse and the RD was like, "off you go...." as we poured in the angry waters.....not anymore!
I will not say that I was not disappointed. Let's call a spade a spade. The swim is my strength and I need the swim to put the minutes on the AG - but what do you do? You adapt and do the best you can!
So, we did a TT start - 2 riders every 3 seconds. Lame. But, I just went off and did my own thing. The course was crowded and busy. I did really like the Steelhead course and felt good out there. I did race with power and I actually did enjoy it. I did not let it run my bike ride, but I was interested in the data afterwards. It is always so hard in a TT bike race - how hard to ride? In hindsight I maybe should have biked faster - but then could I have run a 1.36? I rode 2.37. Who knows. That is why it is a race! Here is me on the bike:
And, with the TT start I had no idea where I was! I REALLY prefer to race head to head....I dig that way more.
So, I just rode and ran and we finally had a day that was not 90-100F degrees so that felt awesome! Great to run fast w/o the heat!
While I was disappointed in my finish placing, there was not much more I could do - I did my best in a non-triathlon race and rode fine and ran super well. I am very happy with my run off the bike...I needed to have a good run and I did!
Jerome had a good race too and for someone who just goes to play a bit - he always does just super!
I am recovering now - and thinking about the next one and onto the Ironman training !
And, this pic is so fake. I am smiling after the race and just wanting to say: "F*CK YOU....I wanted to swim." HA. :) la la la la la
