The Sun was shining when I left at 7:30am to head to NJ for the XTERRA King of the Hill race. Caught up with Rich and Nate and followed them into the park where the race took place. The first local race for XTERRA athletes in the Philly/ New York area. It was great to see everyone back in black (wetsuits), back in the saddle again (mtb), and back trail'n. Everyone gets a little faster, more competitive, and friendlier each year. We had many guests of honor at the race today, 2 men who are currently on leave from Iraq, Nate originally from Reno who is on training/ service here til the end of the month, and some other competitors from Colorado and the west coast...we also saw many competitors who left the XTERRA circuit in the past couple of years who decide to return with avengence!
my race: Swim (2 1/4 mile loops); lake was cold, wetsuits were handy. felt shitty on the second loop, and I never had to fight in the water as much as I did today in the swim. T1& T2: needs to be faster, need to practice. Bike (12mi mtb): trails were damp, and sticky: not fast, but better control on the gravels, and turns. I made the mistake of sticking with this guy in the beginning -who I thought would be good on the trails, uh-no. he knocked me off the bike b/c he couldn't control his, and then came the technical climb where people were walking up....I announced to everyone around me "I can't believe I am off my bike!" I then ran - past 3 guys, and got in the saddle, rode it, and never got off the bike after that! Run (5K): that tobbaggon hill is a be-otch! breathing hard with every step, and happy with the overcast weather. I cross the finish line with some 20yr old kid....we high-fived. I had him on the bike, he got me on the run. 6th female overall, 2nd in age, and shaved 5mins off my time. My goal was achieved: come under 2hrs (1:59) more on results: http://www.bestrace.com/results/08/080518KKT.HTM
6th place at King of the Hill....I placed 6th last week in French Creek's mtb race, and placed 6th at Fairhill's mtb race. Thats 6-6-6. uh- yeah, really don't like that. I told my friend, either I need to get to confession, church/mass, and/or get blessed by a priest! I would rather see 3-3-3....b/c its a very significant sign to me... in a very good way....besides it would have placed me in the top three. Placing 2nd at KOTH, I won "Jersey Girl", a bobblehead trophy. Beats a pint glass, medal, or big star...she's one of the best trophies I ever won.
As the awards ceremony took place, it began to rain... it didn't stop the fun or stop Joe P (race director) from giving out all the goodies to the racers and spectators. The rain picked up for the drive to the track meet in west chester, PA.. took me about about 2 1/2 hrs...I missed some of the kids run the 1600 & the 4x800, but some runners advanced to the Philadelphia Championships, and then I saw some of the other boys advance in the 800. A lot of them looked shagged when I got there! They said they were fine, and they ran their worst times. I found out they did not EAT or drink properly before their second heat. Thats little Brownie stretching before his heat. Today he ran the 1600m, 800m , and the 4x100m: He's in 4th Grade! The rain and cold/hot spurts thru out the afternoon did them in. I saw one of our girls run the 200, she looked awesome and then all of sudden she went falling forward, as if she tripped...but I knew her quad seized up on her. and she came in with tears and told me her leg didn't want to move as she was running. I think she was more freaked out about the the pain. My top minor 800m kids usually run about 2:40... they dropped down to 2:52. They were spent. So I pulled all my Gus, bars, Gatorade out of my car (leftovers from my race fueling stash) and force fed the older kids who ran the 4x100s. The rain came along with thunder and lightning and we didn't finish the meet til 7pm. So now all that is left is the pizza party and the Philly Champs at Franklin Field on May 30 for these kids!
Its been a long day, and I am sooooo looking forward to my manager's all day "retreat" (the word should be workshop) tomorrow at work (NOT!) Its torterous for me to sit for 1hr! I will probably be analyzing my race or the kids workout regimen for the Phila champs during this workshop. I am looking forward to a nice easy swim in the POOL at the end of the day! sleep would be nice too.
Its been a long day, and I am sooooo looking forward to my manager's all day "retreat" (the word should be workshop) tomorrow at work (NOT!) Its torterous for me to sit for 1hr! I will probably be analyzing my race or the kids workout regimen for the Phila champs during this workshop. I am looking forward to a nice easy swim in the POOL at the end of the day! sleep would be nice too.