Sunday, June 24, 2007

McMinnville City Triathlon Race Report

Amy picked me up at 5:30 Saturday morning and we went to McMinnville.

Amy had picked up her race packet on Friday so she just waited in the car while I ran in and got mine. They had the age group break downs hanging up. I checked out my age group. There were 16 35-39 females, the largest female age group. I think the next largest female age group had 7.

We got our timing chips and set up our transitions. We had plenty of time to hang out around the pool before the race finally started.

I was number 119 based on the estimated swim time I had entered when I signed up. I used last years swim time of 6:54.

Tom, a guy that works with Lana, was 120. We talked while we waited for our turns to get in the water. I told him about my concern to swim that fast and told him that last year I had Lana a few people ahead of me and wanted to catch her.

Finally I was off. Tom caught me in the first length. We battled back and forth then more people joined the battle. There was at least three of us reaching the wall at the same time at each wall. I would just touch and go deep and get under everyone. It was a full contact swim and I didn’t get that minute back.

350 meter swim 7:42

Tom and I came out of the water at the same time and he says “Lana would have beat you this year

T1 was 1:38. This race is the only one I have done that we are allowed to ride out of and into transition.

My magnet for my bike computer must have gotten bumped on the way to the race because the speed and distance where not showing up. I HATE not knowing how I am doing.
The bike route for this race is some rolling hills, nothing steep.
I caught up with Amy at mile 5 and cheered her on. She was doing great.
Mile 13 is a long hill and my legs were feeling the toning class I did Thursday night.
Finally, I rode back into transition.

15.25 mile bike 48:05

T2 was 1:07

I remembered this run from last year and knew that there are several short steep climbs. It was getting hot. I passed some people and got passed by others. I saw the finish line but was all alone at that point so had no one to chase down and no one to prevent from passing me.
I crossed the finish line with less push then usual.

3 mile run 25:43

Total Race time 1:24:17, that is a 20 second improvement from last year.

Amy and I hung around for the awards. I tried really hard to win a door prize but guess I wasn’t loud enough (can you believe that).

Our friend Leslie got 2nd overall female, she is awesome.

Amy beat her personal goal that she had set for herself by 4 minutes. Way to go Amy!!!!!!

I ended up with third place in my age group. I was SHOCKED. I got a nice plaque and a bag of powerade.

8 comments:

Phil said...

Congratulations on your 3rd place age-group finish. That's fantastic.

Lance Notstrong said...

Awesome race and 3rd place on top of that.

I wonder why the 35-39 ALWAYS has the most people? I would like 3 people in my age group just once :-)

TriSonq said...

Way to go Michelle!!!

I did the Harpeth River Ride. You talk about HOTTTT!

Guess who I saw there?!? Lana. I met her sister. Cuteness runs in her family.

Think about doing the Fall Creek Falls tri on Aug. 19.

jen said...

Congrats on a course PR and the AG place! You did great. :)

(ps, saw a big thing on TV about Bonaroo, and now I feel like a loser for not knowing what it was! :D)

Afternoon Tea With Oranges said...

Congrats Michele! Tom called and was telling me about the race...he said you guys were really battling!!

Laurie said...

Hey! I wish I could have gone to that, but Doug had a Golf Tournament..as usual. Congrats on the 3rd place!

Joe said...

> I checked out my age group.
> There were 16 35-39 females,
> the largest female age group.

It's always like that at my races and swim meets too. What's with us late-30-somethings? Why do we feel the need to compete?

> It was a full contact swim

Hehe.

> 350 meter swim 7:42

Well done, considering all of the traffic and the bodychecking.

> Tom and I came out of the water
> at the same time and he says
> “Lana would have beat you
> this year”

I bet you wanted to kick his butt after that remark!

> 3 mile run 25:43

Excellent!

> Total Race time 1:24:17,
> that is a 20 second
> improvement from last year.

20 seconds is better than a kick in the butt. Good job.

> I ended up with third place in my
> age group.

Woot!

> I got a nice plaque and
> a bag of powerade.

A bag of powerade? I hope it was a Costco-sized bag. :-)

Rae said...

Awesome job!! I always figured pool swims were less contact but that one sounds pretty fierce!! Congrats on 3rd, that's great!