Kansas 70.3 Race Recap

So I realize this race was June 10th and its now June 19th, but I'd like to come back and read what I did right and what I did 'wrong'...

My sister and nephew came in town on Friday afternoon from STL.  I don't get to see them often so this was a fun addition to the weekend!!!  Besides family time, I actually practiced my transitions...full fledged riding my bike from my backyard to the front in my aero helmet, my neighbors already thing I'm a nut job, but I'm pretty sure this confirmed after this stunt.

Sat. we all went to the lake to swim/bike/run and bike drop off.  Nothing major, everything went pretty smooth.  We took my nephew Dominic swimming at the lake, he had a ball!  Sat night was the annual crab fest at my former boss's shop.  We bring the sides, she brings the crab and steak!!  There aren't many words to describe the yummy goodness. 

All kinds of yummy goodness!

Robert and I - Love the pre-race body marking!

Robert and my nephew having pirate fun!

Race morning - We arrived without incident...no traffic and a good spot.  If you aren't early enough, you can get in traffic getting into the park for a while.  We arrived around 5 am.   Breakfast was wild rice and egg whites.  Made the hike to T2, set up minimal gear (quick transitions were a major goal here), porta potty stop and trekked to T1.  Got set up and headed for one last pit stop.  Instead of waiting in the LONG lines, I made the genius decision to drop trow in the woods, in the middle of a huge patch of poison ivy...luckily I didn't have any repercussions with that stunt, but when you gotta go...

Swim - 43:10 blah...heinous!  Let's just say we had major winds and the swim was just crazy.  I came out of WF with a swim PR so I was ready to have another, or at least an equivalent.  I just am not used to swimming in that choppy of water.  I guess I'll be heading out to swim when it's windy!

T1 - 2:05 - just about where I wanted it <2' so I have some work to but pretty happy with it!

Bike - 2:50:41  Woo hoo!  I'm getting there!  I was actually was able to race with power this race.  I attempted to keep my power b/t 180-190...I did my best (a.k.a. I didn't quite average what I should have but I am definitely getting stronger).  The spring in Kansas is super windy and I had been out on the course during wind advisories.  So this windy day wasn't much, at least in my own head.  I was really happy with this bike, I worked hard through the wind and embraced it!

T2 - :52 - Yeah baby!  That's what I'm talking about.  Mind you my bike was laying on the ground after the race, I hope it was b/c the wind knocked it down and not b/c I didn't rack it!!  Ha! Either way quick like lightening!

Race - 1:59:42.  Not much to say about this run.  I have tons of excuses...it was hot, it was windy, whatever, I have no clue.  It's done, over kaput, the END.  I'll get over it and move on. 

total time 5:36:30 12 AG 285 OA - Not a horrible day, actually a PR for this course by a couple of minutes, way better AG ranking from last year.  I had a 3 day pity party after this race.  High expectations get me down and I have to learn to shake them aside and learn to move on.  Racing is hard, both mentally and physically.  I had the physical part, I'm missing the mental.  I am learning slowly but surely...I WILL get there!