GJCC Tri Race Report
“Ninty percent of life is just showing up.”
-Woody Allen
I am discovering as I get older the truth in this statement, particularly as it relates to age groups and races.
Gayle and I left the house about around 5:45 for the Gordon Jewish Community Center Memorial Day Triathlon. This is a great sprint tri that focuses on beginners (200m swim, 8.5 mile bike and 2 mile run).
This is the second year that I participated so I felt a little less apprehensive going into it.
When we got to the Center, the parking lot was filing up. Folks were prepping their bikes and gathering their gear. I left Gayle at the car and went and picked up my race packet, number and chip.
The line was moving slow but I finally got everything and headed back to the car. Got all my stuff together, checked the air in the bike tires and headed toward the transition area. Got body marked and then set up my stuff.
By then it was 7 am, just hung around with my friend Stephen from work.
Finally they started lining us up for the swim.
Last year, they had us get in the pool. When it was our time to start we ducked under the rope and stood by the wall until they said “Go” and off we went. This year was different. The had us stand on the edge of the pool and then jump in when they said, “Go”. From that point on the swim was a disaster! I struggled through and was just glad to make it out.
T1 went smooth and was on the bike in no time.
This was my first race with the bike I purchased last summer. I could really tell a difference. A lighter bike really makes a difference. The course is rolling hills with one big hill just after mile 5.
Made it back to the Center and didn’t crash getting off the bike. Changed my shoes and headed out for the run. As a ran out of the transition area there was a water station and I took some PowerAid from Lana.
It is really funny running after biking, you just feel like you are barely moving but you know you are moving faster that you feel.
By this time it was getting humid and I was just ready to be done. Made the turn and headed back to the finish line. As I made the final turn, I heard Lana cheering.
My time was 1:00:22.
I found Gayle and we hung around for a few minutes until Amy found us. She had trouble getting to the race because the roads were closed. I am glad she came.
Loaded up my stuff and headed home. About 11:00, Stephen called to say that I won 3rd place in my age group for beginners. I couldn’t believe it! I had only done a 1:15 better than last year and was last place in a field of 12. This year I was 3rd in a field of five.
Sometimes it increases your odds by just showing up…even for old guys like me.
May 27th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Really nice race David … great race report.
May 28th, 2008 at 7:10 am
That’s GREAT!!! Glad you showed up.
May 28th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Congrats on the hardware.
Wish I could have made it up there to cheer you on.
So is McMin next?!?!?!?
May 29th, 2008 at 4:41 am
“Showing up”….indeed. Much can be said about that, alone!
That swim does sound chaotic…all those folks in a pool, flailing around!!! Oh my! And so very glad you de-clipped ok at T2!!
Congrats on the trophy…very cool…enjoy!