Race Report – Oceanside 70.3 2009

I never wanted to do this race because I was told it was very cold. I hate cold. I had signed up for it a couple years ago and never went.

But this year...there were so many Pasadena Tri-Club guys that were going that there was no way I was not going to be part of the group.

The couple of days before the race were a bit cool – but race day looked to be good weather.

David Piper arrived at my room around 5:30am and we headed down to transition, about a 4 minute bike ride from the hotel. David was doing well despite the fact that bon Tuesday he had a 103 fever with bronchitis!

It was a bit chilly at 5:30am, but I had throw away flip flops, throw away socks and gloves – so once I got my wet suit on – the cold was not bad.

They did not do the usual get out of transition routine @ 6:30– which I thought was odd. We could have not been in such a rush to get out.

The swim was in the marina – it was an “in the water” start. There were no waves and the water was smooth with the exception of the turn around which was near the entry to the sea. The “in water” start was nice because it gave me 3 minutes to get oriented in the water before I started. The water was about 60 degrees but did not seem that cold. They were allowing us to wear booties...which I forgot in my room.

My swim was around 54 minutes – that is not a bad time for me.

Once in transition, I put on my short sleeve under armor, singlet and windbreaker and gloves. I was unwilling to be cold on the bike – and the only thing I took off were the gloves.

The bike course was beautiful. I felt great on the bike for the first 40 miles – then I do not know what happened…………could have been the lack of time on my tri bike before the race…..but, my ass hurt, my back hurt – I hurt…….. and was not having a pleasant time at all!

A note here – I fractured my foot at the end of January and could not run until 10 days before Oceanside – and then I had to take it easy. By the time I arrived in Oceanside I had done 4 runs, none of them more than 35 minutes.

Plus, in the month of March, I was out of town 3 weekends and Sundays are my “on my tri bike for 50 miles” day. So, going into Oceanside, I thought I would just use it as a practice day and not do the run.

But…..you know how it is when you get into race conditions. I already had a plan if my foot was killing me – cause I really did not want to DNF.

My bad time on my bike was due to lack of “time on the bike”. Although I had spent many hours on my road bike between Tour of CA and various club rides and the 3 day prelude to the Mullholland Challenge, the road bike position is very different than tri position.

Got done with the bike – got into transition and then had to take off ALL the extra clothes I had on – that took some time.

Started the run and I felt better than I had ever felt on a run???? That was odd – especially since I had not run in almost 2 months.

At about mile 2 there was a hill – I thought maybe I would take it easy and walk it – but decided not to. THANK GAWD for that --- because at the top of the hill was Rich Strauss, my coach, and I would have been MORTIFIED beyond belief if he saw me walking that hill!

As I went on – my foot was giving me no problems and things were going well.

Then came mile 8.

Rich had given a talk 2 days before the race and he talked about the 4 Keys. One of the 4 keys was to race in the “box” This means you only deal with what you need to at THAT point. This was VERY helpful to me because looking at another 5 miles was a bit overwhelming.

I took it one mile at a time. I knew I could make it to mile 9 and then 10 and then 11. I was walking the aid stations and I stopped and walked for 2 minutes on mile 12.

This gave the lady in my age group a chance to pass me and come in about 40 seconds ahead of me. But that was OK. For as not prepared for this race as I was – I was going to finish! I was blown out!!!!!

Total time: 06:53:15
Swim 53:05 T 1 7:30 Bike 3:25:55 T2 2:56 Run 2:22:51

And last but not least……………it was soooo much fun seeing other PTC friends on the course and then had a blast hanging out with Sue, Greg, Darrell, Lenny, Jesse, Jeff and Thom after the race in Darrell”s condo.

What a pleasant end to a great race!!!

And also want to mention – the weather was perfect. Sunny but not too warm with a nice breeze on the run!

It could not have been a better day!!!

Lynda