Let's say the weekend didn't start out on the best foot!!
Ricky & I planned to leave late afternoon and drive 1/2 way get 8 hrs of sleep and then head the rest of the way to Milwaukee! Until Ricky's flight was delayed 5 hrs and he didn't get home until 11 pm!! We decided to sleep until 2 (I was long asleep by 11 though) and drive straight through we took turns driving & sleeping! Thankfully my jeep has an outlet & we have Normatech!!!!! So we took turns using Normatech in the back while the other drove!
We made perfect timing until we hit Chicago, gridlock for about 1.5 hrs!!! Of course I start to stress about packet pick up and bike drop off at this point!
Luckily we made it to race site on Lake Michigan (gorgeous btw) at 4:30 with enough time to test out the bikes and shop around!
Milwaukee is surprisingly a very cool city with little canals/rivers lots of boats and of course the city was packed with triathletes.....
We ate at a nice place on the river & headed back to sleep early!
Our waves weren't until 9:08 and 9:18, with transition not closing until 7:30 we felt there was no rush!
5:15 am wake up! Ricky eats yogurt granola & a banana and I chow down a chocolate honey stinger waffle :) we mix our bottles and one to keep with us with EFS and head out! I'm happy we stayed close to race site because we didn't have to move the car once!
I like bike check early, there is a lot less to worry about race morning!
We set up transition and head to swim start to watch course! Luckily we watched because the lead swimmer kept all buoys to his left, when you could have kept them right for a shorter course!
As we hang waiting for the race start I enjoy another waffle and honey stinger chews while dreaming of crossing the finish line!
Swim waves had 10 min between each & swim warm up was limited to the heat prior (while they were on the line, the next heat could warm up in a blocked off area)
Water temp was about 70, jumped in for warm up a little surprised about how cool it felt!
Swim start is always nuts, but that's the fun part! My swim course was not perfect at all, somehow I find myself alone way far outside. Was very happy to have been able to watch the swim start so I could make up for my mistake!
There were volunteers there to help you up their slippery ramp holding you hand by hand and then you head into the longest swim-transition jog.. Ever!
The bike course was 1 giant loop at the first turn you head up a hill and cruise right back down!! Headed for a huge bridge! Very difficult to get up, but the way down was almost too fun! Nice to have a little break :)
The course was well marked for bumps to avoid and direction. Let me say it is not fun being the wave before 30-34 males.. They fly by you like you're standing still! As we head back over the bridge, you get somewhat spoiled with the view! It's like going over the hump Into sandy hook with the view of the ocean and bay! The view almost made you forget you were chugging up hill! As soon as you get to the bottom of the bridge you head back to transition! It came pretty quick!
Out for the run I took a gu and forgot to get some water so I had that taste in my mouth for a little while! I will never make that mistake again!
By the time we were on the run course it was getting hot, there was some wind, and luckily aid stations had ice and water to cool ya off!
The run was an out and back and on the way back there were many spectators letting you know how long is left! As I say to myself "okay you only have to hold it in for half a mile" which seams like eternity! I regained composure and headed down the red carpet finish happy as a clam!!!
I ended up finishing 29th in the female 25-29 age group with high hopes that the female In front of me would have really great things happen to them so I could get a spot on team usa for worlds in Chicago! (They took top 25)
Later that night I got a message from a friend at the awards ceremony that they announced they were taking top 30!!! I had to email all of my information and interest and I am hoping I get the chance to race with Team USA in Chicago for Age Group Worlds 😃
All of that being said- Milwaukee hosted a great race & there is a rumor it might be there again in 2015! It's an awesome race with great competition!
Post Race Pic with Team members Ricky & Amanda (Photo Cred: Mrs. Kuperavage)
No comments:
Post a Comment