TAIWAN 70.3 Race Report With Pictures
FINALLY MY TAIWAN RACE REPORT!!!!
Not sure how to get report in with pictures, but R&P say no pics "didn't happen" So although Patrick made fun of me when I questioned what I could "eat" over there, turns out I ate something very bad the night before and at 1:00 am (morning of race) I was incapacitated with lets call it "both ends" for over four hours. About 30 mins before I had to get down to the waters edge I said to hubby "lets just start with the numbers" and see if I can get through that (they put our numbers in our goodie bag to put on in the room) got through that and just said "one step at a time". So got to the swim, completely EMPTY of all fluids and nutrition but just kept praying that I could catch up on the bike.
REALLY TOUGH SWIM, they did a mass start and because the currents were so strong they had a buoy line out and back, then you had to get out of the water run around a tent and go back out and do the same swim again. I have NEVER been so thrashed, kicked, swallowed so much salt water (but hey I needed that to replenish my body), 51:00 minutes, not fast but I survived! (PIcutres are reversed above( but there's one of me prior to swim)
Had an ok T1, lots of massive weather changes (30 degrees cooler on race morning) so I spent some time not being sure what to layer or not since it was supposed to be close to 90, also 89% humidity (but morning of race it was high 59) and 25-30 MPH gusts of wind. Finally got out and this is where i kicked in, very hilly pretty tough course and lots of scarey wind, lots of bike crashes. I did my race with complete strategic EN discipline, didn't go above my power meter number on hills and then CRUSHED the downhills up to 37 -39 MPH passing all kinds of folks 30-40 years older. I felt fantastic on the bike, hitting all my goals, they had excellent volunteers and I learned how to "grab water bottles and gu" when necessary and discard them. I did wear a fanny pack or camel back because I had to fill it with tons of calories and endurolytes due to my rather rotten food poisoning night, but I used all of EN "rules" and beat my bike split by 1 hour 10 mins. from my Kona time just 4 months prior to this race. (Swim time was about the same but the conditions were MUCH worse so more than likely I beat that time as well)
Now we get to the run, I found out later I was FORTY minutes a head of the first place lady in my age group coming off the bike and was just giving it everything I had but as you know with TWO knee replacements and a new recent surgery on a ruptured Baker's Cyst I just can only go so fast.......she passed me on mile 10 and I mean "flew" by me, I was crushed but nothing I could do. (Again pictures are out of order but top right)
News gets better, so I finished SECOND in my age group, but to make this not sound so incredible in all fairness, there were only 3 of us, but STILL, to get 2nd place and a very cool trophy (see picture on top) and stand on the podium along Belinda Granger, and all the other pros is a feeling I will never forget.
So I saved the VERY BEST part for last......because the woman who got first place in our age group did not want to go to World Championships in Las Vegas (she lives in China) the first runner up (me) was given the slot, ME!!! . So as long as you are at the meeting and have the $325.00 in hand you get the person's slot. There were many many other age groupers who so badly wanted one , some got one many didn't. I am so proud to have earned it and will work hard all year to prepare for my once in a life time chance to compete with the best in the world!! See you Sept. 11, 2011 in Las Vegas and thanks to R & P and all the supportive postings!! At age 57 I am thrilled to still be competing and a part of such a wonderful group as EN!!!
PS For some reason the podium picture wouldn't upload, I am going to try again in another post!
Comments
Linda - It's so good to hear about your race in Taiwan. Especially your reward of a ticket to Vegas 70.3 world champs next year. Reading your report and success gives me a little boost of inspiration as I claw my way through my rehab following my accident in Sept. Your persistence and committment to fitness and racing are a beacon for all of us who think our own difficulties might be too much to handle - what a positive outlook you have!