Race Weekend Extravaganza!

I have to say, I do like the double race weekend.  No time for training my friends - only time for racing!  Very fun and I hope I can do it again at some point next year.  Woot woot!

Race #1:

Race #1, as previously mentioned in my last blog entry, was a 5K open water swim on Saturday.  While I'd say I mostly wanted to do this event for more open water swim experience, I'm also a competitive person when the gun goes off.  The race was 4 laps in a little lake.  I stayed with the lead woman (totally drafting the entire time, I told myself to enjoy because this may never happen again!) for about 3 laps until inexplicably, she kept getting farther and farther away from me.  I can't say that my arms were incredibly tired or I was cardiovascularly spent - I just couldn't keep up any more!  It was probably a lack of focus (ie: the harder it was to stay on her feet, the harder I had to concentrate and after 60+ minutes of swimming, I was losing concentration!).  Mental note - must learn to CONCENTRATE! 

Anyway, I did end up 2nd female and fun was had by all.  Chad won the men's race and there were several other Pittsburgh Tri Club members there racing also!  Swimming 5K is always more fun with friends.  :)

Pittsburgh Tri Club.  If we look cold it's because we are - air temp in the upper 50s; water temp in the 80s!

After I got home from Race #1, I quickly got clean, stretched and rolled out and then got my gear packed up for Race #2.  Oscar and I then went to dinner and church with my father in law which left little time for thinking about Race #2.  This is always a good strategy for me!

Race #2:

The goal for Race #2 was to try and repeat my win from last year and break the course record I had set (also last year).  This was a tall order on both parts.  First off, because the race now has a nice little prize purse, it's attracting some fast people!  And in terms of going faster than last year, I wasn't quite certain where I might shave off any time.  This race is a short one - 700 meter swim/12ish mile bike/5K run - so there isn't much room for error! 

Fortunately I was able to achieve both goals.  I swam a bit slower than last year (story of my life!), ran pretty much the same exact time as last year.  BUT, biked quite a bit faster this year.  I have Kim to thank for this as I was biking like a mad women while trying desperately to get away from her.  I did NOT want to start the run with her!  :)  At one point on the bike I wasn't sure what was going to explode first - my legs or my head - but I was pretty sure SOMETHING was going to explode!  :)

All in all, another REALLY fun morning.  After the race I still had a 2 hour ride but thankfully so did Kim so I had a partner in crime!  Meanwhile, Oscar did his run, napped in the car, played on his phone...  That is really true love if you ask me.  :)

Top 4 ladies.  And no, my eye usually isn't quite that wonky.  :)

And so it goes.  2 of my 3 races in 9 days are complete and I think I'd call both a success!  Next up is the one I'm REALLY looking forward to - Steelhead 70.3 next Sunday.  Mostly I can't wait for that 7 hour drive straight across Ohio and then Indiana.  Some of the most fascinating scenery you'll ever see!  (that is if you *really* like corn :)

Have a great week everyone!