So, the day dawned cold, wet and rainy. Junior Elite athletes all up and down transition rejoiced, as it meant we would be able to wear our wetsuits for the swim (the cutoff was 20 C, 68 F. No such luck - although the day was freezing, the water was 22 degrees (72 F). At least T1 would be a lot faster that way.
The swim was good, although in the days leading up to the race (while they were chlorinating the lake), dead leeches were washing up on the start line. The only problem was the little biting bugs in the water - they couldn't get into a wetsuit, but they could sure bite through a tri suit. T1 went smoothly, although the blue carpet covering the Elite transition soaked up the rain and spit it right back into our towels and shoes.
The bike course was the toughest part of the race, for everyone, because almost immediately at the start was a steep hill with a curve in the middle and another at the top. The steep downhill started off slick, but dried as the wind picked up. By the time most of us were on our second lap of the bike course, the wind was strong and actually managing to blow some of us to the side. Fortunately, for the strongest winds, we were already on the run course.
T2 was pretty good, too (we won't discuss the fact that I accidentally dismounted almost a meter over the line... ahem...), and the changed run course was a good flat out-and-back that we repeated twice. For a short loop, there were a lot of aid stations there! I prefer the old run course that only the adult Elites do now, with the uphill run, but naturally most people prefer the flat run.
Finishing was a relief! Racing at that speed is wearing... the eventual winner of the women's event (Kirsten Sweetland) was incredible. The time clock under the gantry didn't exactly work (well, it displayed two options: a zero or a bunch of yellow lines), so some of us are still waiting on our run times (should be in within two more hours). Anyway, it was an awesome race and I'm just kind of proud of having raced at that level. And the Elite races were truly impressive to watch (at least the women's, the men's is just starting now).
Naturally, after all the Junior Elites were finished, sometime during the age-group races... the clouds and rain and freezing temperatures vanished, leaving a beautifully warm race day. The wind... remained horribly strong.
Off to the banquet!
So, the day dawned cold, wet and rainy. Junior Elite athletes all up and down transition rejoiced, as it meant we would be able to wear our wetsuits for the swim (the cutoff was 20 C, 68 F. No such luck - although the day was freezing, the water was 22 degrees (72 F). At least T1 would be a lot faster that way.
The swim was good, although in the days leading up to the race (while they were chlorinating the lake), dead leeches were washing up on the start line. The only problem was the little biting bugs in the water - they couldn't get into a wetsuit, but they could sure bite through a tri suit. T1 went smoothly, although the blue carpet covering the Elite transition soaked up the rain and spit it right back into our towels and shoes.
The bike course was the toughest part of the race, for everyone, because almost immediately at the start was a steep hill with a curve in the middle and another at the top. The steep downhill started off slick, but dried as the wind picked up. By the time most of us were on our second lap of the bike course, the wind was strong and actually managing to blow some of us to the side. Fortunately, for the strongest winds, we were already on the run course.
T2 was pretty good, too (we won't discuss the fact that I accidentally dismounted almost a meter over the line... ahem...), and the changed run course was a good flat out-and-back that we repeated twice. For a short loop, there were a lot of aid stations there! I prefer the old run course that only the adult Elites do now, with the uphill run, but naturally most people prefer the flat run.
Finishing was a relief! Racing at that speed is wearing... the eventual winner of the women's event (Kirsten Sweetland) was incredible. The time clock under the gantry didn't exactly work (well, it displayed two options: a zero or a bunch of yellow lines), so some of us are still waiting on our run times (should be in within two more hours). Anyway, it was an awesome race and I'm just kind of proud of having raced at that level. And the Elite races were truly impressive to watch (at least the women's, the men's is just starting now).
Naturally, after all the Junior Elites were finished, sometime during the age-group races... the clouds and rain and freezing temperatures vanished, leaving a beautifully warm race day. The wind... remained horribly strong.
Off to the banquet!
Official Hero: Tom Evans
1:12, 42.4, 3:46 1/2 IM