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Race Result
| Racer: |
Holly Gannoe |
| Race: |
Kinetic Sprint |
| Date: |
Sunday, April 22, 2007 |
| Location: |
Spotsylvania, VA |
| Race Type: |
Triathlon - Sprint |
| Age Group: |
Female 35 - 39 |
| Time: |
2:23:10 |
| Overall Place: |
157 / 166 |
| Age Group Place: |
8 / 9 |
| Comment: |
Executive Summary: Beautiful Day for an Early Season TRI! I love this BIKE |
Race Report:
*race Athena in this race...
SWIM (750m): 24:38
T1: 4:11
BIKE (18 miles): 1:11:58
T2:1:51
RUN(5k): 40:35
The rest of the story:
We drove down to Lake Anna on Saturday evening and met with my friend Keri
to pick-up packets and meet her friends for dinner. We had excellent
Italian meals and returned to the hotel to relax. The race was scheduled to
start at 10AM, giving us time to wake up at our leisure and get down to Lake
Anna for around 830AM.
We arrived at the Lake and were stunned to see that the first parking lot
was already full. I imagine many athletes from the DC area simply drove in
from town (a quick 1 hour drive). We parked our cars and were unloading
bikes when Debi B. (TRI-DRS & TRI-RATS fame) pulled in the parking lot! She
wasn't even out of her car but I walked up to her open window and said "We
saved you a parking spot!" It was great getting to see her again.
Keri and I headed over to transition to drop off our bikes and gear and get
settled. The time flew quickly and soon enough it was time to wiggle my way
into my full sleeve wetsuit rental. Just about 9:45, they did the National
Anthem and then the race director gave some quick notes before the waves
started. During the notes, I listened as I stood in chilly Lake Anna (56F)
trying to acclimate to the water temperature. I did a few stokes and got my
face in the water so that the start would not be shocking. I left the
warm-up session confident that *this* was going to be the first of many good
swims this season.
As we awaited the wave start, a tall, friendly blonde asked Keri if she
could help her zip her wetsuit. Keri was happy to help and we talked about
the water temps and suggested she take a little dip, that it doesn't seem as
bad after that first plunge. She said she planned to do just that and then
wished up luck and asked our names. When I said "Holly", her response was
"Holly who?" LOL That is the moment that Marie P., a fellow TRI-RAT, and I
met in person! Upon recognizing each others names we gave each other a big
hug and then off she went to the water!
SWIM (750m): 24:38
I chose to race Athena for this race and our wave was mixed with the 30-34
females in the 4th wave. Our wave started and I was right their in the
thick of it with all the hot pink caps right up until the moment that I had
to put my face in the water and then it happened. Again, as in the last 2
races of the 2004 season. I went into full panic mode on the swim, in spite
of having plenty of gear (full wetsuit, neoprene cap, ear plugs and wet suit
socks). I also spent 10 minutes in the water warming up so it wasn't about
the water temps. I really need to open water swim weekly, I think, to get
over this issue. It is obviously mental because physically, I am covering
3x this distance 2 times a week and not having any issues keeping my face in
the water. I almost gave up but when I got to the first turn buoy, I just
kept moving forward in the most pathetic front crawl/doggy paddle...<sigh>
T1: 4:11
Transition went well. I was happy to be out of the water and getting out of
the wetsuit is always easier for me!! As far as my swim, I was able to let
it go. It helped that my boyfriend Jim was right there to tell me "Let the
swim go and remember to have fun and enjoy the rest of the race." That is
exactly what I did.
BIKE (18 miles): 1:11:58
I had a fantastic bike! I really love this course. It is a beautiful
rolling course that I excelled at when I raced here in 2005 and I was
secretly hoping, in spite of the addition of an extra 40 pounds, that I
would do a great job on this course again. I kept my eyes on the road and
focused on my cadence and tried not to look at the bike computer at all. At
one point I looked at my watch and thought that it must have stopped because
I had less than 3 miles to go and my watch said 1:04. I was so upset that I
had screwed up my split but I just let it go and focused on how I felt.
When I pulled into transition, I shocked my boyfriend Jim with my arrival.
As I left T2 I told him that I thought that I had a fantastic ride and he
confirmed that "Yes, you just rode in 1:12, Good Job HONEY!"
T1: 1:51
Hmmmpp... 50 seconds wasted in the first T2 of the season, room for improvement!
RUN(5k): 40:35
Run felt good, I took it easy and did 5 run/1 walk. I felt like I was
comfortable and could have run further. I didn't try to run faster cause my
focus was *FUN* and remembering what it felt like to be out there since this
was my first "post cancer" triathlon. The course was rolling and very
exposed. I briefly worried about whether my sunscreen has lasted through
the swim and bike (it did!) and then just spent my run cheering other people
on and getting lots of cheers from fellow triathletes.
FINAL: 2:23:10
Quite a few people would look at these times, especially the swim and run
and never imagine how that could be a good race. But I had only one goal
for this race. "TO HAVE FUN" and even after the swim, that is exactly what I
did.
Overall, I had fun and I felt I was definitely Living STRONG while I did it! So begins my 2007 TRI Season!
Holly G.
------------------------------
--
"Anything is possible. You can be told that you have a 90-percent chance or
a 50-percent chance or a 1-percent chance, but you have to believe, and you
have to fight." - Lance Armstrong
My Blog: http://triandbehappy.blogspot.com
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