Here goes. Friday afternoon I drove over 200 miles to Arroyo Grande, CA just north of Santa Maria. My first stop was Lake Lopez where I picked up my race packet for Saturday morning also getting in a "lay of the land" so to speak.
I then headed over to my friend Skip's in Grover Beach where I spent the night after we had a hearty dinner at the local "Girl's Restaurant". Tri-tip, asparagus, curly fries and a piece of coconut cream pie for dessert.
Fell asleep on my twin-size air mattress around 9; woke up about 2 and played around on my Blackberry until falling back to sleep around 4 waking up to my phone's alarm at 5:30.
Pulled myself together and headed out the door at 6 greeted by a temperature of 46 degrees!
After a 15-minute drive to the lake, I learned if I want to leave before noon (Lord, I hope I'm done by then!), I'll need to park in the lot that's about a mile up the road not the one RIGHT OVER THERE I'd seen the day before.
After hauling my gear, UPHILL, to the transition area, I settled-in and began to chat people up. Just across from me were a husband and wife, roughly my age, who, I learned, have done multiple triathlons. They were very nice and very helpful as where to place my race numbers on my bike helmet and such (the wife and I also discussed due to the outdoor temperature, the lack of available, shirtless, eye candy). Next to me, was a young man who'd previously done one other triathlon. After multiple, little conversations, I determined triathlon folk are good people, and I like them.
Race time for me was 7:45. Still cold, and I have no problem admitting I'm a wuss when it comes to the cold, sans the reason I live in Southern California...HELLO.
Ultimately, getting in the water was going to be a welcome relief as its temperature is warmer (about 68) than the outdoor, air temperature (about 53-55).
Sticking to my plan, I'm near last in the water. I swim forward about 20 feet immediately rolling over on to my back and near immediately lose my yellow, race cap that's been assigned to me. I also near immediately head completely off course veering way over to the left whereupon a young, female, water safety, volunteer in a kayak gets my attention and says to me, swear to god, "Sir, are you in the race today, or just out for a swim?". LMFAO
And do you have any clue how hard it is to say afloat when you're laughing your F'n ass off?
I do believe I was the last male athlete (athlete - I like that word) to leave the water after being passed up by most all of the women as well as a bunch of men and women who'd started a completely different race...AFTER ME!! LMAO
After slipping and sliding my way up the boat launch ramp, I made my way to the transition area where everyone, and I mean EVERYONE had left. Did a yeoman's job of getting out of my wetsuit and on to my bike.
Heading uphill out of the transition area, I see the husband of the couple across from me walking his bike downhill toward with his right leg all scraped up.... because he'd HIT A DEER!
About now, I'm thinkin' losing my race cap ain't all that bad.
The 12-mile bike ride was rather uneventful other than, what else, it was cold. Not only was I wearing wet bike shorts but fog, wind and mist rolled in about 3 miles into it; however, there was a lovely view of Lake Lopez and surrounding hillsides in addition to my fellow triathletes heading back in the opposite direction.
When I got back from the bike ride, there were actually people milling around in the transition area who'd just finished the race. A very nice, young man chatted me up and told me to "Have a nice run - it's scenic with a few hills - enjoy". Again, I like my new, triathlete peeps.
He was right. I enjoyed the run even as I was passed by athletes from the other, longer race who would still finish before me.
After telling a group of teenagers manning a water station not to check out my ass as I passed by, on the return trip, told them, "Look, in the end, the first place finisher and I are covering the same distance. I'm just slower...that's all".
I do believe I was second to the last of males to finish but that's just it - I finished.
What's that quote I posted here on Facebook the other day? Oh, yeah,"When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you". Lao Tzu
Better yet, I respect me.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
