The Pioneer Sprint was the first triathlon of the year for most. The race had a late start time of 1:00. Kind of nice, but I didn’t know what to do with my time all morning. I certainly didn’t spend it doing a gear check.
I packed up the Jeep and leisurely headed out to Petersburg. It was 11:30, I thought I had more than enough time. I even decided to stop at the gas station for a quick lunch, consisting of a Powerbar and a Diet Pepsi.
I showed up just before the Mini Abe race went off. I think I was the last person to check it according to Leah. I checked in at “Kim Sharpe,” I don’t think they transferred the number… But I didn’t think twice, I knew the person at registration…
Nancy and Ashleigh were hangin’ outside transition, sporting the new HardyBreed.com t-shirts. Nancy had the Eco design and Ashleigh had the green, “I love smoking shirt”. Very cool rabbits! I wish I got a picture of you two.
It looked like everyone had their bikes in transition. The racks were pretty full. Thank God they were numbered and Kim registered early, I was on a pretty good rack close to the bike in/out. My plan was to wear a jersey in the pool so I could have a quick transition. The only problem… I didn’t have a race belt. I checked around and Kevin Milward graciously gave up and extra belt his family had from the previous race. It was pink, but I didn’t complain! Thanks again Kevin!
By the time I got dressed and had my transition area ready, I headed into the pool. I needed a really good warm up.
Wow the water was warm. I hope they didn’t do that just for us… It was hot tube-esqe, if I only had a beer…
After the warm up I placed my self in the staging area under the 5:00-530 sign. I had timed myself earlier in the week for 300 yards at 5:20 or so. I was next to Chuck Hitchcock, and he didn’t want to trade places. He said I was more experience.
If he only knew that this race last year was my only indoor pool triathlon. I told him I didn’t want to slow him down. He already took Nancy’s advanced swim class. I just graduated from the beginner class… So we stuck to our guns and waited in link.
I noticed Joe House and Eric Sommer were the first two off. They are fast swimmers!
Standing in line, I couldn’t stop my nervous hack. I coughed all the way to the waters edge.
The first one hundred when fine. I was comfortable. But crossing the lane at the start of the second hundred I caught my goggle/head on the rope. Ouch! My goggles stayed sealed, and I didn’t seam to loose my stroke, but I took in a a huge mouth full of water. It took me two or three strokes to get my rhythm back. The last one hundred I could see I was being caught. I dug a little deeper, but by the end someone was on my toes. 5:25, I took 30 seconds off last years time. (that doesn’t seem like much?)
I exited and ran to the transition. Helmet, click, bike, exit. 24 second. I ran to the line and placed my foot in my left shoe. My cranks turned over and I missed my right shoe. It ended up scooping a pile full of rocks. What a novice move! I bent over and tiped my shoe out, and flipped it back over and off I when.
The first two or three miles felt great. 28mph or so until I hit the hills. Yes there are some good rolling hills out there. At one point I hit a max of 37.5mph, and 15 mph going up the next hill. Pretty much a wash!
I made up some good ground on the way out, and I was hoping for a tail wind on the way back in. It never happened, maybe a slight cross wind? I kepted a steady speed, but definitely slowed down on the way back in. I averaged 23.4mph. Overall I felt great on the bike and ready to run.
T2 went pretty smooth. Racked the bike, took off my helmet. Slipped on my Zoots, hat and pink race belt. I then stopped and took a drink from my water bottle which will account for my 30 second T2.
My feet felt good coming out of T2. I ran comfortably for the first mile at 7:30 pace. I had a few people ahead of me. Dave Bagot was three up, and I kept him in my sight. Mile 2 was a little faster, with a couple of down hills. By mile three, I was closing in on Bagot. He was probably 100 yards ahead of me of the last killer hill.
Lance Cull, yelled “Come on Danoh!” I just chuckled. There was nothing I could do. I just wanted to survive the hill and try to close in after the summit.
About the time I picked up my pace so did he. I was not able to catch him. I crossed the finish in 1:02:31, good enough for 6th place. I took 7 minutes off last years time, not bad, but I am guessing a lot of people saw a time decrease due to the horrible weather was last year!
I immediately walked past the water station, waving off the free swag gloves. I was so close to throwing up, but I held it in, and after a couple of minutes, I felt fine. (That is always a good sign that you tried your hardest… or that you are out of shape?)
I warmed down with Eric, Bruce, Scott, John, and a few others. Everyone seemed to have had a great time. Oh, except for Lawyer who when down just outside of T1 in a corner full of gravel (I didn’t see any…) Thank God his Speedo was untouched!
Everyone then headed inside for a warm meal and awards, just as it started to rain.
Congratulations to everyone, and a BIG thank you to the volunteers and directors. This was a fun race and the comraderee was unprecedented.
See you at the next race
