Fun Tri Memory
About 1/2 way through a 2-hour trainer ride this weekend found myself thinking "why the hell am I doing this? (answer = Rev3 Quassy, IMLP) Then my mind, looking for some mojo, drifted to a fun tri memory. About 10 years ago on a Memorial Day weekend, at Killington, VT, ski area. The 3 events were ski, mountain bike, trail run. Ski down this mogul run called Superstar, bike back up the mountain, then trail run. Was a hoot. And was enough to get my mind right for the reminder of the trainer ride. Was wondering what other people's fun tri memories were? Because there are more 2+ hour trainer rides to get through!
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Second Place: Riding around the IMWI course with the EN Chica's at Moo Camp in 2010. I have a pic of that ride that always fills me with joy when I see it.
Stuffing a dollar bill I had carried with me for the whole race into Coach P's pink speedo at Mile 18 at IMoo 2010 comes in a close third :-)
-- From my very first IM in Florida, before Congress mucked up Daylight Savings Time, I remember someone wrote "Don't Fear the Dark" out on the run course ... and it was inspirational when it got dark out at 3PM and I still had one loop to run. Every morning run in the dark reminds of of that race-moment.
-- From IM-CDA, there used to be a loop around a small race track and now every time I get on one I think back the 100-degree weather and zipping around that thing.
-- From IM-Switzerland, I raced in the cold and rain and I remember being out there in Lake Zurich watching the rain splash against the water and bounce up... and the cowbells out during the loops. Cowbells! On actual cows! It was neat.
-- From IM-StG, zipping down that monster downhill at 45+mph and struggling with the crosswinds when the 1st place pro went by me like I wasn't even trying. It taught me there is always more speed on the table--if you're brave enough.
-- and from my first Half, Eagleman. It was, of course, over a billion degrees in the sun. I crossed that finish line and mostly broke down in tears because when I started the day I wasn't sure I had it in me to finish, and when I finally did it was amazing. Now like some kind of Type-A heroin addict I've been chasing that feeling for last 5 years. Every race I think/hope I've got the drive and fitness to push myself as hard as I did that day...
1. 2007 - first HIM @ Timberman. Halfway thru swim my left hand hits something wierd. At first I though it was a bouy, but new I shouldn't be near one. Then I thought I hit someone in the head, or was I so off course I hit a lifeguard boat? When I got finally got the cobwebs out of my head I realized I had just run into the back of Dick Hoyt & Son's raft (in which Dick pulls his disabled son). He goes off early before even the pros. His son kind've looked down at me and seem to smile. In the middle of Lake Winnepausakee.
2. 2010 - @ Philly Oly - my younger brother's 1st Oly. He was in a couple of swim waves ahead of me. About 80% thru the swim I looked up to make sure I was lined up to go thru the right bridge arches and I somehow make out my brother doing the breast stroke 20 yds ahead of me. I swim up to him and purposely swim right into him. He was pretty shocked - and pissed that he didn't at least get thru the swim before I passed him.
3. 2008 - NJ Oly - this was just wacked. On the first 5k out & back of run course, on a asphalt trail which really can't hold more than 3 people wide at a time, some guy tried to make it 3 wide in ONE direction - taking up the entire trail, and it was very muddy just off the trail - and I come in the other direction. I had little time to make any adjustment so I realized there was gonna be contact. I instinctively lowered my shoulder and "delivered" rather than "received" the blow. I hit the guy right in upper chest and he fell back onto his ass, gasping for air, as I'm sure the wind was knocked out of him for a brief second (finally my football experience coming into play in triathlon). I kept moving and just said "bad decision dude". About 5 people behind me all patted me on the back as they passed me. The guy I knocked down was a fast runner and he eventually passed me in the later stages of the run - but I don't think he ever knew who knocked him down. I don't think too many people are expecting "contact" on the run portion of tri.
My first tri makes me smile(laugh actually) It was very close to my house and I decided to ride down with my gear in a backpack which was a bit loosey goosey, as i rode it swung out making me off balance. Off went the bike and I, onto the neighbours front yard and fell.
Fortunately no harm done. Then the long wait to get into the pool, I was not expecting we had to jump in, I am still a little panicky about doing that and we had to jump in the deep end at that. I panicked completely - hyperventilating OMG I am drowning panic. 
I wanted to quit but did not because then the long wait would've been a waste. 
I finished the swim and then the chain of my bike slipped, I was new to cycling back then and had no clue how to fix it, fortunately some kind soul helped. On to the run, passed some people, crossed the finish line thinking "that was SO much fun"
That particular race has always been jinxed for me, the second year I lost my chip and have no time. The third time they changed it to an open water swim, my first ever and for all my fears of water it went really well, then the bike course with was two figure eights, confusing, I got off the bike and then looked at the race clock (i wasn't wearing a watch), knew no way I'd finished the bike course. turned in my chip (yes I DNFed a sprint tri!!!) There was another sprint tri before the OWS one, someone else took my chip (and then did not race in it?????????) I was given another chip and all went well.
Since my first four all had one issue or another, I did wonder if I was jinxed. But tri #5 went great, even placed 3rd in my AG (well there were only 5 people there 
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I finished my first HIM last year and looking back on all these misadventures is fun. My huband still laughs uproariously when he remembers me falling in slow motion on the neighbours yard and then sitting on the grass laughing. So yeah my memories are not cool like other people's just goofy but a reminder that you just have to keep at it and it gets less SNL like
Here are a few of mine:
First triathlon, an Olympic in Oceanside, CA, 1999: first ride with aerobars, ever, was race day. Raced in a Speedo, no top, with 48oz camelback of Gatorade. Drank the whole thing on the bike while completely redlined. Ran out of T2 with my helmet on but ran back in to take it off
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Wildflower (my favorite race)