The Capital City Biathlon started out in waves with a 5k. Teams, men, then women. The race was chip timed this year. The men started the race 3:00 after the teams. I started at the front of the pack, I did not want to get caught behind a bunch of people. The group spread out rather quickly.
I hit the first mile marker and hit the lap on my watch. 6:10, kind of quick. The next mile was a 6:20. I grabbed a water on the way back in. The last mile was when the race started. My nemesis (Andy P.) passed me. After that I had to stay on his heals no mater what. I entered T1 with a average pace of 6:24, beating my 6:40 pace of last year.
The transition was one of my best and 2nd overall at the race. It was something like 30 seconds. I think listening to Eric Sommer – The Transition Area was a big help in my success. I had my shoes already clipped in. All I had to do was put my sunglasses on and helmet and run out.
The bike started out fast with a tail/cross wind. I set mini goals for each rider I say up the way. Just a few mile into Andy passed me. Once again, I was not going to let him go. We went back and forth several times. The turn around sucked… a head wind. I knew it wouldn’t last forever.
About a mile after the turn around, Dan D. passed me with some blazing speed. I held on as long as I could, but let him go. My race was with Andy…
On the turn to the finish I was behind Andy. And to my surprise Bob S. came whipping around the corner. This was my chance to go. I dropped the gears and tried to get as much space between us as possible.
I finished ahead of Andy by just a few seconds. But what I didn’t realize was that he started behind me in the run. So he didn’t cross the timing mat until a few seconds after me. That means event though I finished in front of him, he may have been ahead of me.
Andy did a great job pushing me, and I hope I did the same for him. He was great competition.
The results were posted, and I edged out Andy by 1 second, yes I said 1 second…
Andy had posted a better run time and a better bike time. What gave me the win was my 30 second T1.
I finished 5th overall with a time of 1:00:10. That also gave me the 35-39 age group win. I think I am more thrilled about the 5th place then I was with the age group win.
I am sure this is not the end of Andy. He has beaten me at the Stoneman Sprint Tri the last few years and this year will be another challenge. Thanks for a great race Andy!
I ended the night with a silent celebration, grilling out steaks and downing 3 Bacardi Mojitos (not the best recovery drink, but they taste so good when they hit your lips!)
