The pressure was on August 17 - in 2013 Ross, Erin, and I competed in the Traverse City Triathlon for the first time. I somehow pulled out a win in the female category of the sprint triathlon just a week before my Ironman Louisville race. It definitely caught me by surprise when I won overall female. So this year, just 2 short weeks after feeling completely defeated by Ironman Boulder - I set out to defend my title. We drove up mid-afternoon on Saturday to Grayling --- stopping along the way in Grand Rapids for a nice picnic. Then stopped about an hour south of Grayling for some gas AND an ice cream treat! Yes, I actually ate ice cream!!! :)
We woke up race morning and I felt like I didn't sleep at all the night before - I was SO nervous about defending my title. Ross and I got in a nice running warmup and a couple miles on our bikes. I decided to wear my wetsuit - it was chilly out and the water was FREEZING - well not freezing but really cold water in the Traverse Bay :)
Coming out of the water, I thought I was about 4 or 5th in the race. I hopped on my bike and began "cranking" as Ross calls it :) I couldn't seem to get the same speed that I had last year and that made me really nervous! My legs were tired. I passed a couple girls in my age group and as I neared the last mile or so of the bike course, I caught up with what I thought was the first female. I came into transition JUST seconds before her - but she sprinted out of transition (23 seconds to be exact!) and her friends and family were cheering VERY loud for her. I tore out of transition as fast as I could after her! I ended up catching up to her in a similar spot to last year where I caught the first place female. I lagged behind her just a little, looked down at my watch only to realize that we were doing a 6:30/mile pace (I was hoping to stay around 6:45/mile for the race). I thought to myself - this IS going to be a LONG 3.1 miles today if I have to maintain THIS pace. I got up the courage to pass her - and I passed her with intention! Then, what does she do? But come back up on my like I'm standing still - I immediately thought - OH ??!:!!!!????? what is happening? This is not supposed to happen when I pass someone. :) She stayed with me for about 45 seconds (trust me, it was a LONG 45 seconds) and then she disappeared. I was now at the turn around point for the 5k (it was about the 3/4 mile mark in the race). As I rounded the corner, I looked back and could not find her! I kept going because as I turned around, I saw at least 2 other females not too far behind me. I NEVER looked back for the rest of the race for fear that someone might be getting close to me. I rounded the final turn of the race to find Ross cheering for me but about 50 feet in front of me was ANOTHER female and my heart sank - I knew that I MUST catch her!!! As I passed her, doing a 5:30/mile pace at this point, I noticed the "D" on her calf that indicated she was doing the Duathlon - phew!!!! But I did end up passing her anyway and defending my title of overall sprint distance tri female!!!! I was so happy! and I earned FREE entry to next year's race ---- where I will try to make it 3 years in a row! No pressure, right? :)
and the age of the girl that got second place - 17 --- 21 years younger than me :)
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