Post 9/11...yes, it is 9/12

This was a good week. Had a nice birthday and am now officially the USAT age for 2006. For those readers who don't know, and I know there are a lot of readers, the USAT rounds up the age to the end of the year age, so as an age grouper you compete as though you are older for the entire year. My hubby surprised me with a night out for eats on my day. I figured we would not have a sitter, so I was really pleasantly surprised. We went to the spot where we met 7 years ago and had two belts and I schooled him in pool, twice. And then we headed to the oh so written about spot, Town Talk Diner. It was good. The idea is cool. Diner with gourmet fried goodies and cocktails. So, we enter and they greet us and happily have us sit at the diner bar. Very friendly, introduced themselves, shook hands, the whole bit. We totally felt welcome. And we had fried pickles (frickles), cheese curds with some herb in them, garlic fries, and a sandwich. My hubster had a pulled pork sammie and I a tempeh sandwich. It was good. They will make it if not for the fried food, the atmosphere and friendliness. The rest of the week is a blur. We were at a 5k run on Friday night. My hubby, CadesDad was going to run it. And we found that they had a kids run prior to it for a 1k dash. I had asked Cade during the day if he wanted to run it. And the rest of the afternoon, he ran around saying 'runnin' racin', so I knew we had to go. It was cold out and windy. He was a great sport and certainly was the youngest dude out there running. He managed to be a good competitor meanwhile he was very environmentally friendly by hugging two trees and checking out two trash cans to make sure they worked while running the 1k. He was also astonished by the crowd clapping as he ran back in and he stopped to clap with them, not knowing they were clapping for him. Smile.

On Saturday a.m., my lovely sis offered to stay home with Cade, so Brian and I could do the tri thing together...meaning, I was competing and my spousal unit was supporting me on this particular day. So, off we went. I estimated our drive to be 40 minutes and it was closer to an hour. Needless to say, I was frazzled by the time I got there. Bri ran to fill up my foot washing tub and I got my tires aired up and got all ready....too fast for me. I like to figure out the transitions etc. and take a big breather and go from there. The weather was still cold like on Friday night. The water was 12 degrees warmer than the air. I think the water was 70. So, neither were warm. The swim was brutal. I am not sure why. I felt like I kept pulling and just going along, but I was fatigued and my time was slow. I entered the race as an Athena (women who weigh over 145lbs) and in the results, I was 8 minutes behind the first gal in my division. I had some ground to make up. So, I rock and rolled out of the transition, determined to have a better ride. It was really cold on the bike though. And in typical fashion, I didn't have any other clothing to put on, so I rode in my tri suit without sleeves. I was determined to just give it my all but to still try and go easy enough to have some legs left for the run. I have managed to get better throughout my four years of racing in triathlon and as I have, more and more, I am only in the company of men on the course. And this day was no different. However, there were some really fast men on the course and I continuously was passed causing me to think I was really putzing along so I worked harder. I got off the bike at 19.8. Again, not in the 20.x+ that I long for. Perhaps, I should train, like CadesDad says. So, maybe that is what he is not aware of my doing at 4 and 5 am. :) I was happy with my pace. I got off the bike and had totally numb feet. I got out of T2 right behind the same two guys that I followed into T2, so I knew we were fast (about a minute) and I was just determined to give it my all and be able to hold it. We rounded the corner out of the park and onto a gravel road and a long long hill. I just kept plugging away. It was not my best run either, but in my own defense, I have not been running any distances to speak of. Mostly, I have been doing more speed work. So, I just went out and managed what I could. I was 45 seconds per mile slower than on a sprint length. It is ok though. So, without having trained for an Olympic distance, I am happy overall. It was a tough race for me mentally, but partly due to the distance being a tad longer and partly because fall is upon us and I feel like laying under a blanket with a bowl of macaroni and cheese. Very much a bear.

Results rolled in and I was 1 minute behind my counter Athena. It said I was second. Or really it said 2/3. So, I was the first loser of three as I see it. Ok, not really, I was trying to be funny, but that never works online. But when the end was totally in, there were 16 of us, or at least 16 that were able to admit they are over 145lbs. So, I left with some bling. And naturally, I lorded this over my hubby all weekend, oh wait, I am still wearing it. Or maybe he is. I dunno.

Spent the rest of the time with Sis and Cade and CadesDad. It was wonderful just hanging out.

Onto next weekend and the Championship Sprint Tri...Best of the Amateurs. I am very excited. That is the name of the race. I am not one of them....yet.