Stacy's Seattle Sagas

I Did It Again

Back out to the ExCel centre today to compete in the mixed olympic triathlon. Another start with mostly men. Fingernail gouged out part of my chin. Goggles ripped off my face. Several kicks to the head. Someone yelling for help; kayakers paddling to the rescue telling the swimmers to get out of the way.



Then I'm finally climbing up the exit ramp, over the timing mat, through the rinsing sprinklers and stripping off my wetsuit.



A good reccy beforehand ensured I found my bike with no problem. The cycle course this year took us into Westminster, turning just in front of Big Ben. It was exciting to race along Embankment and take in the famous landmarks.



The bike being my strongest portion of the race, I was able to pass a lot of guys.



And lots of those guys passed me on the run. I did manage to trot by a few men, but I'm not sure they were in my start group. B managed to get a shot of me with both feet off the ground! Not an easy task. In most running photos, both of my feet are firmly planted.



On the second lap of the run, the woman in the grey tri suit passed me at a pace a bit faster than what I was doing, but a pace that I thought I could keep up 'till the end. Don't know if she was in my wave or if she was on her first lap of the run, but the strategy worked. I kept the faster pace, even up the hill 100 meters before the finish.



I sprinted across the line with a time of 2hrs 40mins. Most importantly, I enjoyed every minute of the race. And the bagel with cream cheese afterward.