Galveston 70.3 Race Report

I was VERY excited for Galveston this year!  I honestly felt ready for this race about a month before it happened, so when race day came I was pumped!  Plus, I was getting to race with Lance Armstrong!!! (In an "I'll get to see him zoom by at some point" kind of way)

Racking the bike the day before.  I was about 5(or more) rows back from Mr. Armstrong - not too shabby :-)

Race day began at 4:30am.  Setting up transition is one of the best parts.  It's the culmination of getting ready for the start.  So much nervous energy is there that it's electric! 

My wave started at 7:45, an hour earlier than last year.  Last year there were several girls I knew in my wave and that was comforting.  This year, I knew no one, but it didn't matter. Yeah, we tri ladies are all super sweet when standing on a pier waiting to jump into the freezing water for a 70.3.  Oh yeah, just chit chatting, helping each other into their wetsuits, putting hair in braids, straightening out goggles, etc.  But once that guns goes off, no one is your friend!! 

Holy cow!!  I was so surprised by the competitiveness in these ladies this year.  It was like a wrestling match for the first 2-300 yards!!!  I panicked, slightly.  I didn't remember fighting for my life in the swim last year.  Last year, the swim was my favorite part.  This year, I wasn't sure that I would live to see the 800 meter mark.

I survived!!  Now get this thing off of me!!

But, alas, I did live.  And I did quite well.  Exited the swim to Kyle screaming "39 minutes - new swim PR!!!"  Even though that swim felt horrible, his words made me feel pretty darn good!! 

Heading in to transition from the swim.  Thanks Kim for the picture!!

And it was actually a 38 minute swim - bettered my time by 2 minutes from last year.  Woo woo!!!

Next up, the bike....which I dread.  Biking this course last year was no, zero, zilch, nada fun for me.  I hated it!  But for some reason, this year I knew I had this bike course dialed in.  The wind was not as strong as last year and I had already biked this distance about 5 or 6 times at least!  So I took off and immediately started looking for Lance :-)

Just getting started!

Around mile 8 or so I saw him.  In the distance, the motorcycles with cameras, all tracking him.  One Mr. Lance Armstrong.  I sat up, gawked, smiled and thought "This is so cool!" as about three other people passed me.  Hey - I was having a moment!!

Then came the very first water stop on the bike course, roughly about 15 miles in (not sure of the exact distance, but that's my fuzzy math).   I reached up for a water bottle from a young volunteer, but just as I was about to grab for it I heard another bottle drop.  I looked down just as my tire rolled over it and slipped out from under me.  I hit the ground HARD.  First on my hip (and squarely on the plastic bottle of electrolyte tablets I was carrying in my pocket), then my elbow, then my shoulder and head.  My cage was rocked.  When I sat up the world was spinning and I could barely make out the volunteers calling for the medics.  I shook my head to get my eyes to stop spinning as the medic sat right in front of me telling me not to move.

I cried.  I thought my day was over.  I couldn't even see straight, so surely I had a concussion and was out.  It's amazing how many thoughts run through your head! 

Finally, though I calmed down and could really take in the damage.  I took my helmet off and the medic looked it over - it was fine!  Great!!  He had me stand up - which HURT, but I did it and walked to the medic's tent.  He cleaned up my scrapes on my hands, elbow and shoulder and then asked me a series of questions.  After several minutes I was ready to go again and said "Can I race now?" 

I spent about 20-30 minutes recovering, talking with the EMT's and getting my bike fixed up again.  Then I took off.  Then, I got mad!  I thought "I fell, that's it, now I've got nothing else to lose except a PR...and that's not happening because of a water bottle!!"  So I hammered it as hard as I could.  Sure, I still got passed - a lot, but I actually felt like I was racing!!  I've never felt that way on the bike.  I loved it!!  It was amazing how a really scary crash could turn into something so fun and enjoyable for me.  It was a great ride!!!  And I got another personal best on the bike too - even with the crash!!!

I rode into transition and racked my bike.  On the run out, I stopped to show Kyle some of the battle scars and all he said was "That's ok!  You've got 13.1 miles to a new PR - keep going!"  Clearly there was no convincing him that this day was over yet, or that I had any excuse not to PR at this point!



Trying to find the strength to run...luckily, Kyle knew what to say!

13.1 miles is a great distance!  Challenging, yet short enough to keep you convinced of its possibility.  This year the course only had 3 laps.  In order to cut it down from 4 laps to 3 laps a little run out on the local airport runway was added.  I, not-so-lovingly nicknamed it 'Death Valley'.  It was at least half as barren and HOT! 

The whole run was hot, but I won't complain about that.  I love to compete in the heat, but this runway strip had me second guessing.  There was a water stop at the very start of the runway.  At each lap I would grab as many cups of water, cups of ice, and sponges as I could - wishing I had more arms and hands each time.

But I made it around three times and ran the whole 13.1!  On lap 2, I ran by Kyle enjoying a hamburger at a picnic table nearby.  Oh don't worry, he was nice enough to yell from his cozy seat, "Good Job Babe!!"  I had to laugh at him.  Never too serious for me, that's for sure.

Then I got to head down the finisher's chute!  Yeah baby!!  Love the feeling of finishing, but it's even better when your darling husband yells out "That's a new PR!!!" as you run by. 

Just across the line!! Thanks again, Kim, for the picture!

It was a great day!!  In fact, in a weird way, I think the crash made it better.  I want to go back and do it again next year just to take back those 30 minutes with the medics!  You can see where this gets addicting, right?!

Next up, a little race I like to call 'Ironman Texas'!!!  Bring it.