I woke up @ 4am to finish getting ready for Aggieman. Jenifer got up a little later and we left and got to the Eliot Boat Basin before 6am.We dropped the kayak off near the boat dock, then I parked the truck. We were the 1st ones there.
While I was doing my Drill Sets, I heard thunder off in the distance. Soon it was over us thundering and raining.
I went and did my 16" warm-up run, then headed over to registration to get my timing chip and body marked.
Then while I was setting up my bike trainer, a person from Aggieman annouced that the kayak was going to be cancelled due to the weather. "Great" If that was the case, we would do a duathlon or the race would be cancelled.
While I was warming up on the bike trainer, Ed Harvey (Race Director) announced that the weather is going to clear up but he wanted to wait a while before he decided if we were going to kayak.
My support, Jenifer, had to go to the 7:30am support crew meeting.
Just as she started heading over, Ed said that we were going to kayak but was going to start the race a little later.
At 7:50, Ed had a pre-race meeting on the beach. He said that the kayak was a go and the men were going to start at 8:11 and the women at 8:14. After the meeting, all the men got in their kayaks and headed out to the start line.
I've only kayaked a few times before the race and I was nervous.
Ed stood on the beach and he was the start line.
"1 minute to go. 30 seconds. 15 seconds. GO!
I started to paddle and shortly after I watched everyone pull ahead of me.
The kayak course was to go around an island, then head back to the finish. There were 3 of us bringing up the rear.
Halfway to the finish line, a few women passed me.
When I got out of the kayak, I had to run up the stairs to T1.
I had to take off my life vest and Teva's when I got to my bike. I forgot to wipe my feet off and when I did a flying mount, I had grass and small pebbles in my bike shoes.
Due to the rain, the bike course was slippery.
Halfway through the 25 mile bike course, it started to rain. Then it started to rain hard.
I stood up on the pedals to stretch my legs. When I raised my heels for a calf stretch, my left calf cramped up and almost knocked me over. I slowed down a little and most of it went away.
I didn't have a problem with the rain but when I was going fast on a curvey section of Josiah Norton Rd., I almost lost it.
Soon I was getting close to T2. It was a bit deceptive because I started passing parked cars on the right, but T2 was way ahead of me.
I didn't see my truck parked on the road and I got a little nervous. "Did Jenifer make it?"
Just before T2, I saw my truck, YES!
When I dismounted, Jenifer was there with my transition towel and Zoot visor and Kapilani's. It was a good thing she was there. My feet were numb and she had to hold me up while I attempted to put my Zoots on.
I finally got them on, then I headed down the dirt road. I started off slow because my left calf was still hurting. Soon I picked up the pace.
Once I got on the Cedar Brook Tr., I got a hamstring cramp on my left leg. I had to walk until the pain subsided.
Before I turned onto the Goosefoot Tr., I saw a man standing there in a red rain coat. When I got closer, he pulled out a camera and took my picture. He was from Capstone.
It was still raining hard. I had to duck under many branches that were weighed down by the rain. I also started to feel lonely since there was noone around and I had no idea what position I was in for the race. I had to walk several sections because they were steep and slippery. Also I ran through some mud but the big puddles washed my sneaks clean.
Only 200 yards to the finish. Once I was out of the woods, I sprinted to the finish. Jenifer was there and Ed asked me if I was alright.
Jenifer got me a water and I grabbed a sandwich. We didn't stay long since we were both drenched and cold.
Even though it wasn't the best conditions for a tri. I had a great, painful time!
Thanks Ed for a great event. Thanks Steve for lending me your kayak and thanks Karen for the helpful kayak tips.
