CliffsNotes of Cali

Pacific Grove
Highs:
Matt, Cyrus, and I all had good races. It’s always fun to race well!
One great thing about the race was the fact that it was a loop course. I love knowing what’s going on in the race. Sometimes it feels like a 40K bike course can take you to the next state before you end up in T2. Racing against myself doesn’t always produce the best results for me. (I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Don’t over-analyze it por favor.)
I have never been cheered for by so many people I’ve never met - it was a very uplifting atmosphere and had such encouraging volunteers and spectators.
Cyrus and I flew into San Jose and felt beyond suave driving around in the bright blue metallic PT Cruiser. Thank goodness both our bike boxes squeezed in there, because we hadn’t formed a Plan B if they didn’t.

(Transition)…Before I start with the “Lows”, let me just mention that at every triathlon I’ve ever been to, there has always been at least one moment during the race weekend before the gun goes off when I catch myself wondering how I decided that this was a good idea!! Obviously, the “Lows” of triathlons are arguably what is also uniquely attractive about triathlons.

Lows:
Swimming in mid 50ish degree water temps with kelp tangled on my chip and around my neck is not ideal…perhaps partly because I haven’t yet found a wetsuit that fits me. One that I have lets a constant flow of water down my body through the neck, so it probably keeps my body cooler than if I didn’t wear a wetsuit. After almost freezing in a warm-up swim the day before the race, I decided to rent a wetsuit. It was a lot warmer, but my neck was completely chafed to the point that about 1/3 of my neck scabbed over for the next week. (Needless to say), it was interesting explaining that to my class of international students since it looked like either A.) my husband got a little too frisky or B.) I had a “very strange rash” or C.) _________ (fill in the blank - some people didn’t say anything but took a double glance at my neck.)

Best of the US
Highs:
I won! Mission Viejo is absolutely gorgeous - the course was beautiful and the roads were smooth. (If you live in OK, you might appreciate the smooth roads even more!) My parents and my aunt (who lives in LA) were there, so it was fun to have a little fan club.  BOUS is a one-of-a-kind race that was fun to be a part of. Fortunately, I had developed some authentic Soonerland pride for the state of OK. (Rocky Top will always be the best fight song ever, though!) It was the first time in any race that I thought the bike leg went by fast - usually, I am dying to get off and start running. In addition to being healthy & training hard, Zipp wheels and a TT bike really do help. I’ve heard some people sort of discount them, but I’m a fan! Thanks to Schlegel’s (local OKC bike shop) for giving me loaners! :o)

Lows:
The swim was easy (in a lake), and I was excited to exit right behind Alice, who swam on Natalie Coughlin’s NCAA relay team. After the swim, the course got tough with hills. For an OK girl, this was challenging…But the good part was that at the end of every brutal hill, there was an amazing view. There was a cross country feel to the course since part of it was on a mulch trail. A great poster/sign was on the last and most brutal hill. It read: “Keep going - you’re almost there! Your times will be posted on the internet FOREVER!!!”
Haha.