Big George HIM Report
Home safe and sound. Its chilly in OTown after a very humid day racing my last multisport of the season. Short version of my race report is: Weather was humid, but no rain. Water was beautiful, bike course was challenging but beautiful and the run course was tough. Final time: 6hr13min and change. Results: 1st in AG, who would of thunk it with a time like that.
Went up to Lake George on Friday. Picked up race kit and called it a night. Saturday morning got up at 6am to be down at the Oli race, because we wanted to see Allison Christie, a friend from Ottawa race. Also a great way to scope out the race venue. Also got to see Jim Daley, Dave and Chris Gleason, from Endurance Nation compete in the Oli as well. All in all a great spectating day. After the race was over, we drove the bike course. Wow, looks challenging. Glad I did it, as there are some 90 degree turns followed by steep short hills. Noted where those where, and where the road had some damage, which was only in two very small places and then went back to the hotel to pack up the bike. Did not view the run course as it was on trails. Had a little nap and then packed up the bikes and brought them down into transition, where we listened to the pre-race talk and then headed for dinner.
Bike racks used in transition.
If you have food sensitivities this is not the town for you. I could find nothing, so I settled for a shrimp/scallop dish with spinach for my prerace meal. Not ideal, but at least it was something. Was in bed by 10:00pm.
Slept solid until 2pm where I got up and drank 2 x 500ml of ensure. Back to sleep and woke up at 5am. Had a fitful sleep from 2 onward because I set the phone alarm and was not sure I did it correct. I think had I known I had down it correctly, I would of slept soundly. I was not nervous about this race or the course after I drove it.
5am I got up, had coffee, banana and some oatmeal. We left for the race site at 6am. Set up was effortless. I love the things they use to rack the bikes. Made everything site nicely and we had some bins that were empty so we could put our bags in them. Met some really nice ladies and chatted until it was time to put on our suits. I turned on my garmin and went to select the ride I had put in, so it would beep every 15 minutes to remind me to drink - not there - damn. Oh well, I charged it up and had it ready to wear so I had something to see when I rode. Allison Christie, friend from Ottawa, came out to cheer me off before her and her family went back to OTown and suggested I drink every couple of miles which I thought was a great idea, but I stuck with the drink every 15 minutes and it worked.
Swimming is not my strong suit but this swim was great. I felt great through out and had people around me all the time. When I would loose someones feet I worked to get on them again. We went in 5 waves. I was the 4th wave. There were 69 people in my wave. It was women under 50. The three ladies I was talking to in transition were in my group. I did a 48min+, which I think is a PB for me. Have to check to make sure. Looking forward to workin on getting this time down. I plan on doing that in the off season. Sorry EN have to.
Transition was my fastest to date: 2min33seconds.
Ride was a loop. First 5 miles is uphill out of town, followed by the first 90 degree turn with a steep short hill. The volunteers were super at these corners, as they would yell out, short steep hill, gear down. The ride was awesome except for the bee sting on my right jaw 10 miles into the ride. Ouch. I would say the ride is technical because there were lots of turns, 3 railroad tracks, 4 bridges I think. First 40 miles was rolling hills and then from 40-45miles there were some steep hills and then the last 6 miles were flat followed by downhills. Saw |Chris G at around the 35 mile mark and saw Jim at the turn onto to Canada road coming home to transition.
Ride time: 3hour10min+
When I got off my bike Steve.my husband was in transition yelling at me to go and that he was done. In my haze I thought we had done his run already and was 2 hours ahead of me, but he was feeling less than perfect, so he called it a day and decided to stay behind and cheer me on through the run. Keith from EN came out to, but with no sleep the night before because of bad hotel neihbours he call it a day after the bike as well, but it was good to see him before the race.
Transition time: 3min (I think)
Now onto the run. Ugh, this sucker was tough. Allison, my friend from Ottawa. had told me that the run was tough, as she did part of what we did the day before and she was not wrong. The first 2.5 miles is uphill, followed by 1 mile of down hill, 1 mile of up hill and then rolling hills until you reach the transition, where you ran by and then did it a second time. First loop I came in just shy of 1 hour and thought that maybe, just maybe I could pick it up, but the humidity was brutal and the sun was out and the run was in covered trails, with no wind. Needless to say I am proud of myself because I did not let the walk demons get me. I even motivated others to get running. My goal was to run to every aid station and then walk 30 steps getting water into me and a gel at 3miles, 6miles and 9miles. Goal met
Run time: 2hours8min
Overall time: 6hr13min+
After the race, they had frozen protein drinks, chocolate milk, subs, pizza, cookies, other sweet stuff and as an added bonus french fries or fried dough (kinda like our beaver tails but much more bland).
Tim and Tiffany from ottawa. Told Tim I had to take a pick of him eating the fried dough if he got it.
After getting some protein drink and chocolate milk into me, I saw a couple from Ottawa (Tim and Tiffany who are with the Packed Apps team). We called them over and chatted. I then had to gt to the ladies room and on my way saw one of the gals from transition. She had a tough day and when we saw me she burst into tears. I could not help but hug her and tell her what a great job she did. Once I came out of the ladies room, Steve suggested I check out my results, which i promptly responded with, I don't care what my results are, and he said that they were good and I should check, so up I go. I look for 6:13 and then look across and see a number 1 beside my name. A women was standing beside me and she says to me "you won our age group. i came in 2nd" i said "really and then gave her a hug and congrated her", so now I want to stick around so I can get whatever it is they are giving away. So we go back to car and I change into some dry clothes and head back and sit with Tim and Tiffany).
Tiffany came in 3rd overall and then another lady that I was talking to before the race in transition came in 1st in her age group and then it was my time. I got a camp chair and a subscription to Triathlete Magazine. Woo hoo. Who what of thought that a 6hr13min HIM would win your age group. Just goes to show you that it depends on the race, who shows up and the conditions, but I will take it. Suhwheat end to a season.
Me with the second place winner and my camp chair
Thanks for reading and thanks for all the support.
Now onto a week of transition and then training for the Philly marathon.
Comments
Awesome job out there. Great to see you two again. You looked great each time I saw you out there. The course is difficult. The bike route is hard and to add insult to injury is nearly a mile long [there was no way to avoid it based on the limitations with the roads]. A win is a win. Whenever I have won my AG based on the fact that the super fast folks stayed away I just assume it was because they were scared to race me
Great job! I think the double combined with a prospect mountain time trial will be my A race/races next year. That would be fun.
Stinks for Steve and Keith...
Brenda,
Great job. Glad to see some of the JuJu coming back to you - after all you're our GREATEST Cheerleader! I know you were a little frustrated early season after Beantown but what a great way to finish the season!!! Just goes to show that hard work and perseverence will reward those that who are willing to endure.
Jeff