Race Report- Tri Girl Sports Triathlon

Except that it was really a duathlon.

Triathlon- run, bike, swim

Duathlon- run, bike, run

ready to go and already drenched in sweat BEFORE the race began

The switch was made due to super low lake levels preventing a safe swim course for us, the ATHLETES.

Did you see that?  I called myself an athlete! 

I think I just might believe that after today's race.  I mean, who in their right mind would pay a race fee, train for only 4 weeks, and travel from Austin to Houston, to run 1 mile- bike 11 miles- run 3.1 miles in 85 degree heat and 100% humidity?

You're either crazy or maybe you are an athlete, like me : ).

I have no deep thoughts or tears resulting from this race.  I just wanted to get the job done and feel good about myself.  Mission accomplished.  I learned quite a bit- um, like, maybe I should have practiced my transitions at home or during training, where all the race stickers go, how to *rack* my bike, and that maybe I should buy some of those elastic shoe tie thingies so that I don't waste so much time untying my knotted running shoes only to rety them- that took forever.

fiddling with my race bib at bike to run transtion,

you know right after I fiddled forever with my running shoes- doh!

Also, I did much better on the bike portion than I thought I would- gotta love the flatness of Houston roads when you have been training on Austin hills- woot woot!  AND, my first mile was done at an 11 min clip- an awesome pace for me given the heat and the fact that usually my first mile sucks ass.  And while I am still rambling, I want to get better at the bike so badly so that I can yell at other riders *on the left! on the left* as I pass them right and left (ha ha).

Here are my stats:
Run Mile 1: 11:00 min
T1 (transition from run to bike)- 3:42 min (good gawd I am slow at transitions compared to others)
Bike 11 miles:  45:50min with an average pace of 14.4mph (my fastest yet- yippee!)
T2 (transition from bike to run)- 4:09min (even slower than the first transition, I didn't think it was even possible, lol)
Run 3.1 miles:  39:30min with an average pace of 13:10min/mile (and while this might seem slow, I am still freakin' proud of it because by this time, I was taking cups of ice water and dumping it over my head to cool off my very heated body, plus the sun was brightly shining on me by then)
Total Time: 1:44:13.5 woot woot! OK, I'll say it again- woot woot!!!!
71 out of 78 in my age group (35-39)- hey, I wasn't last right (although last would have been fine, too)?!!!!

I want to end with two things.

1. I will most definitely be signing up for a triathlon for September or October.
2. When commenting about my race time on Facebook, my husband said this:   Babe. I'm so proud of you. Remember, we don't care about the time. We care that this is a great accomplishment considering you would have never thought about doing this last year, and would've never run 2 yrs ago. And the kids get to see you do this, and give them another reason as to why moms (along with dads) are the best role models for our children.

Truer words have never been spoken.

Hi, my name is Lisa and I am a duathlete.

P.S. Tri Girl Sports put on a fantastic race- well organized and women-friendly!  Check out their other races if you are in Texas or close by- I'm eyeing that half marathon in December : ).  Elaine?  Nicole?  Christy?!