Hello Everyone Again!

Well, triathlon #2 is done and in the books.  The 2009 Timberman was a mixed up day weather-wise and it was just beyond words for the excitement and energy-wise!  There were over 1100 people on Saturday's race in which I participated!  Let me tell you, you just haven't lived 'til your swimming with 156 other females that are over 45!!!

I did every "NO RAIN DANCE" I knew for the days before the tri.  The humidity had been killing us all and making training excruiciatingly difficult at times.  FORGET trying to put on a wetsuit!  Pretty sure I WAS a wetsuit!

Anyhow, I do get the wetsuit on, and down to the beach we all head.   The race starts at 7:00.  There are 9 swim waves.  They are all scheduled to take off 5 minutes in between (roughly).  My wave was #8 (Old Broads) and was scheduled to go off at 7:42.  So, the jitters with all the first timers were settling as we all just got that "just do it" attitude.  Suddenly there was a HUGE black cloud coming at us from the Northwest.  Then a rainbow. " awwwwww " you're thinking right?  NO NO, my friends!  There was a very large storm perhaps heading our way.  The Fire Dept. rushed the swim waves, so as to avoid swimmers in the water if/when the lightning came.  Our wave went in a bit after 7:30.  I made my way to the front of the swim wave and headed to the left side of the front row.  It is a right hand turn at the first bouy and I wanted no part of that cluster that would gather there making that turn.  My theory was to go out away from the crowd, then work my way back in.   The buzzer sounds and we're off!  There are legs kicking at me and arms pushing, so I swim a little further away.  By the time I start feeling comfortable and that I won't be drowned by my neighbor, I am WAY OFF COURSE!!!   ARGH!!!  AND one of those kicks or arms or whatevers had gotten water in my left goggle.  Ah well.  Live and learn.  I guess I'll get right in the fray next year.  I get to the beach and start running to the transition area.  I hear Mary and the family, including Mike, yelling  their support to me!  I can't really focus on them, but I see a who bunch of light green shirts.  I'm trying to find the blasted zipper for my wetsuit and run at the same time, while pulling the zipper down and everntually taking the suit down to my waist.  I stop at the wetsuit strippers on the way to the transition area.  They pull it the rest of the way off.  I carry it back to my spot.

Transition 1:  Throw the wetsuit, cap, goggles in the bag, put on socks, sneakers, helmet, sunglasses, grab my bicycle and start running towards the mount area.  I do a really cool mount move that my professional triathlete friend has taught me.  And HERE COMES THE RAIN!  Excellent.  Up the first hill we go.  Get to the top and try to shift into the big gear up front, and it won't go.  Great.  Have to pedal some more, and play with the back gear upshift, downshift, upshift  'til the tempermental thing will decide to go into the big gear.  It finally goes and I can get some speed going!  The rain sure is fun.  Oh yeah.  I head down the first hill up another down another, go by the Toy Box and there's Jack & Deb!!! "Hey Jack & Deb" I yell!!  They have an umbrella.  I'm a little jealous.  Pedal on.  I'm passing people.  Like a lot.  Maybe this new bike was worth it after all.  Sure I can't beat any of my training friends, but I'm beating these strangers and that feels pretty good!  Over Henderson to 11 B we go.  It's a train of people.  There are several spots where the officials have declared "no passing" zones because of the rain and the corner turns.  I run into people at EACH of these spots that apparently don't realize this is a race!!  I get stuck in traffic at OPA, and at 11B from 11A, and again at Sawyer's Dairy Bar!   REALLY people!  This is a race!   Up the last hill and down the last hill and we're home!  They are slowing down coming into Ellacoya.  I can't believe it!  I pass them on the in-road.   I hear Mary yell, I see a flash of light green shirts and know it's my family.   I finish in 3:00 faster than last year!  YAY!  Even with the rain and the slowpokes.  I'm happy!

TRANSITION 2:  Back into the transition area I go.  Rack the bike, take off the helmet and glasses, put on my OBC (Old Broads Club) visor, grab my bandana and head out on the run.  Halleluiah!  One more thing to go!

I run past the finish line where a bunch of the guys from LRTC (Lakes Region Triathlon Club) are celebrating their finish.  They give me a "Go Jean Go!"  I hear people yelling my name, but don't dare look.  I could trip!!  : )   Head out over the grass and up onto the road.  OK ... almost done.  I feel like molasses going uphill in winter.  argh!  Trying to think of everything the coach has taught me.  "Light on my feet.  Lots of small steps.  Smile.  Arms swinging straight forward and back, not across my body."  OK  I now wish that all that thinking had taken longer.  I FINALLY hit the 1 mile mark ... yay!  ... 2 more to go.  Another 1/2 mile and there's a water stop where I grab a Gatorade and promptly spill it in my shoe!  Great.  Go further and grab some water.  I splash this on my face.  Did I mention?  It has stopped raining, and that the rain  has been replaced with heavy duty humidity!  Wonderful.  I make the corner to head back toward the FINISH LINE!!!  YAY!  1-1/2 miles to go!  Chugging along.  I see my friend Nancy coming up the other side for the middle of her run.  We wave and smile!  On I go.  I see another girl from the LRTC ahead of me.  It's Melissa.  I'm pretty sure I can catch her.  I do.  We decide to run in together.  Good idea.  I need something else to think about.  We come down the chute and I tell her "Let's go.  Little fast steps."  And we do.  YAY!!! FINISH LINE HERE WE ARE!!

I shave 3 minutes off my total time from last year.  I was hoping for 5 but with the mistakes in the  swim and the rainy bike, I am happy.

I now see the light green shirts being worn by Mike, my Dad, my Brother Leo, his Wife Mary, and their kids Maura and Kristen and their 2 friends Jill & Stef.   The shirts all say "LET THEJEANNIE OUT OF THE BOTTLE" on the front and "GO JEANNIE GO" on the back.  I laugh hysterically!  I go get my complimentary raspberry margarita and celebrate with Mike and the kids and my fellow triathletes.  All in all a good day!

OK ... That's triathlon #2 under my belt and into the record books.  Now, I just have to do the swim portion of the W. Kennebunk Fireman's Triathlon this Sunday the 30th.  Should be a piece of cake.  Weather permitting.  : )  I think I'll enjoy being the cheerleader for the rest of my teammates and my friends Nancy & David who are doing the whole tri.

Anyhow, I just wanted to share this with you all!  Thank you to all of you that have donated so far.  I truly appreciate it and so does the NHHS.  If you haven't been able to contribute yet, please consider a $5, $10, $25 donation.  You guys in your generosity have put us up to $1860!!!  Wow!   I can almost see $2000!

Again, thanks for reading and thanks for your support!

Hugs,

Jeannie