to the front of the pack that is.

If you're not familiar, TFC is a women's only sprint, and there's a few around the country. I did Denver's this year because it's the first tri I ever did, back in 2005. Then I had to have my shoulder reconstructed, and my short lived tri life was done (until now). I decided to go back to the proverbial well with a few of my friends who did the 05 tri.

Part of going back was doing this tri with my dear friend, E. E emailed me about how exhausted she was from her kids being sick earlier in the week, and that she hadn't been training due to injuries, and me, a flatlander, was going to kick her butt. Game ON. In my infinite wisdom, I decided spending the night at her house would make for an easier 5 am trek to the site. It would have, except that E got the funk that made her kids sick, and at 5 am, her husband woke me up to tell me she'd been up all night puking and wouldn't be racing. I was crushed. and paranoid that the queasiness I felt was more than just pre-race nerves. I made me my usual peanut butter sandwich, and their dog swiped it off the counter. Things are not going well.

Out the door and down the road, I remember that I haven't lived in the Mile Hi in years, and I don't remember how to get to the reservoir. DOH! Following the crowd works - because this is a sprint race of yeah, I said it, 3 thousand people.

I get set up in transition around 6.30, and chill, and chill, and chill some more. The race is supposed to start at 7 with elites, and my wave going at 7.42. But the race is delayed due to arson fires in the park. Awesome. The forecast was for a high of 98. But, it's a dry heat. Tell myself that. Somewhere close to 8 am, my wave takes to the water - without Ms. E. It's the most cordial, crowded swim I've ever partaken. Excuse me, sorry, excuse me sorry. Oh, sorry. So polite, my friend B who was kayaking said it made things difficult because they had to really listen - help would be hard to hear over all the apologies. Swim time - dreaded 19 minutes for 750 meters. Crashed into a bunch of people, and really struggled getting a rhythm with the altitude. Out of the water, up the eelskin slippery boat ramp for a long, long run to my gear. Quick change and on the bike.

Put the hammer down, as this course is mostly flat. Going hard because I really want to up the speeds from last week. Passed a bunch of women who were really enjoying themselves. Nice to see such a wild variety of women taking on the sport. But for this bike, this day, I was all business, and came in at 38:47. Finally fast enough. Awesome until my shoe, while still attached to the bike tried to implant itself in the concrete. Caught a crack or something, and rather than falling out, brought me to a grinding halt right at the dismount line, somewhat uncomfortably. Live and learn. Running into T2, my bike computer says it's 100 degrees but it's a dry heat.

The run starts with a climb up on to Cherry Creek dam. Not so friendly. But at least once you turn around on the dam, it's down hill all the way home. It's hot, and slow, but there's still lots of people to run with, people with garden hoses showering the runners, a guy promising everything I ever wanted at the finish line. I didn't see a prince on a black horse at the finish line, but they did have BEER. Leaving the race before my clothes melted and the beer gets warm, my bike comp read 113. Dry heat.

Anyway, I finished 1:37, 586 overall and 106 in my AG. Finally in what's technically the front. Nice view from here too, and as of yet, I haven't caught Ms. E's funk nor did I get the infamous Cherry Creek rash.