New Orleans 70.3 Race Report

Pre Race:
Friday
This was pretty much the theme for Friday:
I met Toni and Angela at the hotel as soon as I landed. From there we went in search of food and beer. Neither were hard to find. The expo was next. I got to met TriSaraTops, attend the required pre race meeting, and pick up my packet. Then it was more liquid carbs. Dawn showed up later for more food, dancing and of course drinks.

Saturday
A much more low key day. I wasn't feeling great Saturday morning. A combination of too much beer, female issues, and nerves were all wrecking havoc on my stomach. I just had a quite morning in my room then I met Wil from Acme to pick up my bike at 2. I checked my bike into transition and found out transition was HUGE and that I was racked all the way in the far back corner. Lots of ground to cover running in those bike shoes! I left my bike and my friends and I went out for pre race carbs. Pasta this time, no beer for me. I went back to my room and had a quite evening trying to get ready to race.


Sunday
I didn't sleep well and just gave up at 4:13. Dawn, Angela and Toni came to my room to see me off at 5:15. I took a cab to transition and got myself all set up. It was already quite warm and drizzling. I took the bus to the swim start. They didn't ave enough buses running and people were in a panic and rushing to get to the start in time. I had PLENTY of time since my wave didn't go out until 8:28. I stood in line for a port-a-potty, borrowed some body glide since I forgot to do my neck and didn't want a repeat of Florida, met lots of people, and just killed time. I went to the port-a-potty again, realize I still had on my shoes so dropped them at gear check, then FINALLY made my way to the swim start. I still had to wait for two groups before they had us purple cap girls enter the chute and then the water. It was COLD. It took my breath when my foot hit the first step into the water. I waded into the water and waited.

The Race

The Swim
The gun sounded and we were off. I dove under water and the cold took my breath again. I tried to get a rhythm but I couldn't. I started to think "I can't do this, I am going to have to stop, This is going to be my first DNF". I did a few strokes then went to breast stroke then back to free and back to breast. Finally I talked myself down and got my rhythm. The sea wall was to the right and the buoys were to the left. I am a left side breather so I just kept an eye on the buoys. There was TONS of room to swim. It was nothing like any other race. The water was so muddy though I couldn't even see my hands as they entered the water. One time I was swimming along and crashed into something. I thought it was the sea wall but it was just another swimmer. We were told before we started there was a red buoy at the half way point. I saw it and thought I was feeling good maybe this would be a good swim after all. I made the turn to the swim exit, stood, took off my goggles and cap, and saw my watch. 42 something!!!! What??? That can't be right. My swim could not have been that bad. I jogged over to the strippers who had to tell me to sit and they pulled off my wetsuit and handed it to me. I ran across the mat into transition.
swim time 44:03

T1
I was confused when I got into transition. It didn't look the same. Another girl yells we are this way. I ran in that direction and found my rack. I put on my helmet, shoes, bib, grabbed my bike and ran for the exit. It was a LONG run. Other people were not in as big of a hurry and got in the way. I finally made it to the mount line.
T1 3:11

The Bike
I felt great right from the start on the bike. I drank my Nuun and ate some pretzels and shot bloks. I was making good time. I got to the first water drop and THEY WERE OUT OF WATER!! What the heck??? I had just thrown my bottle with the last inch of fluids so that I could pick up a fresh bottle. So now I had to do with out fluids til I could make it to the next drop. I was happy to see that drop and see that they still had water. It was a little crazy but I managed to get a water bottle and move on. The wind really picked up and my speed dropped. I wasn't getting passed so I knew that it wasn't just me. Third water stop was out of water too thankfully I still had some from drop #2. As I got close to the end of the ride, I dumped the little bit of water over my shoulders. It was hot and sunny and my arms were burnt. I reached down and undid my shoes, pulled me feet out and got ready to dismount. I got to the line and jumped off my bike.
Bike Time 2:57:37

T2
I ran all the way across transition again having to say excuse me more then once to get by slower people. I racked my bike and changed shoes and hats. The run exit was closer and I was outta there.
T2 Time 2:56

The Run
I missed the water stop inside transition so it was a mile and a half until I could get water. A guy ran up next to me and asked "You going to keep this pace for the whole run?" I told him not likely. We ran together for a while then I lost him at the first water stop. I found my running friend again shortly, turns out he made a port-a-potty stop. We ran together for a little while again. Then, I saw my girls cheering their heads off in their yellow boas and that gave me a huge lift. I did the short out and back and saw my girls again. I was drinking and walking and they walked with me for a few feet and told me how much fun they were having. At about mile 6 I realized my shoe had rubbed a huge raw spot on my foot, nothing I could do about it so I tried real hard to just ignore it. I dumped ice in my bra whenever they had it and water over my head at each stop. It was HOT. I talked to a lot of other runners unlike on the bike where it was just to windy to try to even speak to anyone. We finally got some shade but by then I had already seen 5:30 and 5:48 go by. Plan A and B were gone all I could was finish now.
I made the final turn and was told "Just 6 more blocks". I prayed they were right and picked up the pace a little. Then I saw my girls. I yelled to them and headed for the chute. I heard my name and I crossed the finish line.
Run Time 2:08:30

Total 5:56:17

Post Race
I got my medal and found my friends. I couldn't wait to get my shoes off so we went looking for the gear check trucks. On the way, I grabbed a beer. They were out of pizza so I had to wait for that.

We went back to the hotel so I could take a quick shower then got a taxi to go back to transition so I could met Wil and give him my bike to bring home.
After getting my bike all taken care of, we went to Bourbon Street where we ate, drank and had some more fun.
So all in all it was a great weekend. I didn't have the race I hoped for but I had a ton of fun.