This was my first time racing Oceanside 70.3.  This race is 1 month before Ironman St. George.  I am hoping it is a good race and training day for me.

Result: 5:13:32  (swim 34:26, bike 2:47:12, run 1:45:41); AG (40-44) 13th

Pre-Race:
I woke up Saturday morning at 4:30. I had an almond butter and jam sandwich (wheat bread) for breakfast and coffee. I was out the door riding to the start at by 5:45. My family stayed in condo real close to the start and right on the run course. It was perfect. I set up my transition spot and took note of my location. I turn on my bike computer. I am racing with a power meter today for the first time. I am excited about that.

Swim:

I exited the transition area when it was closing and got in line with my age group. As usual, I was not entirely at ease at the start of the swim, but what’s new here?  I tell myself to focus on my stroke and to site often. I did that and I think I stayed on course better than in the past. The water got choppy at times. I felt ok during the swim but not like I do in the pool. It’s just not the most comfortable or familiar atmosphere for me. I just kept swimming – trying to stay relaxed and happy. I was happy for the swim to be over. I glance at my watch and do some quick math in my head, noting that my swim is only a little under 35 minutes.  I am not thrilled with that at all because I know I can swim faster. The swim in a triathlon is frustrating for me because I swim better in a pool than the open water.  I continue to improve my swimming each year, but it has yet to be reflected in a triathlon swim.

Bike:

I try to transition quickly. I see my computer turned off automatically, so I hit what I think is the “on” button several times and nothing happens. I am majorly bummed out. I don’t dwell on it and just run with my bike out of transition.  I mount my bike and continue hitting the button over and over and nothing.  At that moment, I decide just ride and forget about the computer.  I know focusing on my computer will just slow me down.  I hate that I’ll have no data to analyze and to use for IMSG race planning.  I hate that.  I feel like – again – another wasted training ride.

I just ride completely by feel focusing on keeping pressure on my pedals, finding the right gear, and shifting to an easier gear only when my legs burn and can not handle the gear I am in.  I feel good.  My only knowledge of distance covered is the signs on the course and my only knowledge of time on my bike is glancing at my watch and having a general idea that I started somewhere around 7:54 or 7:55.  I leapfrog with the same girls for most of the course.  I hit mile 20 and I glance at my watch to see it read 8:50.  I’m happy with that - 20 miles in less than 1 hour.  I feel good. I push my pace on the downhills and flats and I ride steady without pushing heart rate too much on the grades.  I notice I am surrounded by men and leapfrogging the same women still – there’s Amy, there’s Britni, there’s Amy again and Britni, . . over and over.  On one of the longer climbs after halfway probably, I pass Amy in the beginning and tell her she’s awesome.  She says thanks and then passes me and I never see her again.  I can feel that my pace has slowed for the second half of the ride with some of those longer climbs.  I’m not really pushing my HR on the climbs – maybe I should have pushed it a bit.   The first time I really know my pace has slowed (since I have no clue my pace, cadence, watts, HR – nothing) is after that long climb that I lost Amy.  I’m riding along (la-di-da) and Britni goes blowing by.  Wow – I had not seen her for awhile.  Oh no – I think to myself, I must have slowed down a lot for her to catch me and blow by.  I start focusing and hunkering down.  Don’t get distracted I tell myself.  The mandatory no passing zone at mile 40 slowed me down a lot.  The guy in front of me and I got stuck behind this slow guy who was braking and barely moving down that grade.  He had to be going slow for me to also be frustrated with the speed we were going.  Britni and I now leap frog along basically until the end of the bike course.  I don’t look at my watch.  I do not have any idea how long I rode.  Did I make 2:45?  Was I slower?  Was it 3:00?  I don’t know.

Run
I get my visor and sneakers and fuel belt on as quickly as I can ( I am trying out the fuel belt thing today).  I have 3 bottles filled because I know the first one will be empty within the first 2 miles so I am not concerned with the weight.

I start the run and I feel pretty ok.  I have my Garmin on.  I run based on feel and just try to keep my legs turning over.  My Garmin is registering each mile real close to the mile markers. First mile done – Garmin says 7:33.  Wow – that did not feel like 7:33.  Keep going.  Mile 2 – Garmin says 7:44.  I’m shocked.  Stomach is starting to feel funny.  Ignore it.  It will go away.  Just ignore.  I keep running.  The men are passing me.  Several ladies in my age group are passing me.  I look at my watch.  It’s registering still 7:40 something pace.  Wow – these ladies are fast.  No sense trying to chase them down.  I focus on myself.  5 miles done – watch is showing around 39 minutes.  At the start of the 2^nd loop, I am done with my water in my belt so I give the belt to Sam.  8 miles done – watch is showing 1:02.  I’m happy with this time.  I think at this pace I can maybe do 1:40.  I feel pretty good but I can sense my pace is slowing even if my head wants me to go faster.  I can feel it.  I look down – 8:00 something pace – oh no.  I try to speed up my cadence, but my lower body from hips down is aching.  Maybe these light-weight racing sneakers are not enough support for me (trying out these race shoes today).  I do the last turnaround for 2^nd loop.  Getting closer to the finish, I see Sam and my kids.  They’re so happy.  Sam thinks I have 2 more loops to run and shouts “Just 2 more loops to go!”  I tell him I’m done and going to the finish.  I run to the finish and as with any race, I am happy it’s over!