Ironic, serendipitous, or just plain masochistic?

This is my 100th post! And just as it began a year ago, it ends up being about Wildflower. 100 posts later, and it's still all about triathlon.

Wildflower by the numbers:

The Swim:
Last year: 44:33
This year: 37:18



I actually swam this year instead of flailing around in the water hoping it would propel me forward. Unlike last year, when the first time I put on my wetsuit and swam in open water was the day of the tri, I was a little more prepared. However, I will admit that Triathlon Training the Mountain Biking Way does not lend itself to long distance swimming. I was ready to quit after a half mile. To find the encouragement to keep going, I had to employ the old "is this better or worse than Sea Otter XC?" Answer: you're still wet, but at least you don't smell like sheep poop. I kept swimming.

Out of the water, I couldn't find my strap to undue my straight jacket...er...wetsuit. The crowd, ever so helpful, starting yelling. "It's on your left shoulder! No LEFT." So embarassing. I can't even undress myself.

T1:
Last year: 8:42
This year: 3:59

Transition this year went much smoother. I got out of my wetsuit, put my bike helmet on, grabbed my shirt, took my bike helmet back off, then put my shirt on...obviously don't know how to dress myself either. I did manage to run out of transition, with my hand on the seat of the bike as I ran. So I looked cool for half a minute. Then I had to stop and redo my shoe laces. *blush* Damn bike shoes.


The Bike:
Last year: 2:03
This year: 1:54

The bike part was insanely easy. The hills were not a problem. I probably would have finished a lot faster, but I had some gearing issues. Something strange going on with my derailleur, and my chain. No, I lied. I'm a complete idjit when it comes to changing gears and I think I discovered a strange gearing combination that only works in the fifth dimension. My bike was like "what the hell do you want me to do with that?" "Um, go up the hill?" "Yeah, right, you've put the chain into a figure eight. Screw going forward...we're just going to stop..." "Ooooh, oh sh*t! Unclip, unclip!!" I had to stop twice and put my chain back on. But at least I didn't fall over for no apparent reason at the top of the hill like the guy in purple did.

And I need to know something. Why do people pedal downhill? Downhill is like a get out of jail free card. You're suppose to coast. All those real bike people pedaling downhill, make the rest of us look bad.

Final observation: road biking is kinda, slightly boring. I'm really sorry. I'm trying to find the joy in it, soak up the beauty of being on the bike outdoors. That lasts for about 6 miles. Then I get bored. Pedal, pedal, pedal...pavement, pavement, pavement...bored, bored, bored.

T2:
Last year: 4:49
This year: 3:10

I don't know? Just moving faster I guess.

The Run:
Last year: 1:07
This year: 1:09

Oops, must have been that two minutes I stopped and talked to my friend. *grin*

The end:
Last year: 4:09:16
This year: 3:48:08


There is nothing better than finishing! My friend Elaine is a triathlete rockstar. She didn't think she could do Wildflower. But I knew she can do anything she puts her mind too; as long as there is a training plan and gold stars involved.


All done, and time to pack up and head home. Last year I floated all the way home. It was my first triathlon ever, my first race ever. This year, I was glad to be done, and happy to finish with a better time, but it's kind of sad that nothing beats the glow of your first time.

Next year (oh god) I'm doing the short course. I know I said I would never combine mountain biking with triathlon, but... never say never.