my race report

I did it! After taking time off to get pregnant, have another baby (number three) and nurse a broken leg (while said baby number three was merely three months old and my 'big helpers' were three and five respectively), I trained for and competed in my eleventh triathlon. It was a lot of fun, and it was a lot of work. I followed a pretty challenging training plan for this race, but I am quite proud that I didn't get as crazy about training as I have in the past. I guess I have finally learned that putting the needs of three or four other people before mine will not ruin my race. But I definitely put in the effort and it paid off.
My swim was okay. Solidly okay for me. I came out in the top quarter of the women in a time that was a little more than what I would have liked. But I felt good in the water and it was pretty uneventful other than jockeying for position at the turn and at the end. My bike was a little more interesting though. One of the downsides of being a decent swimmer is that you come out of the water with, and sometimes in front of, a lot of really strong triathletes. Then when these competitive athletes make their comeback move on the bike they can be so focused (or so unconcerned with others? maybe so out of breath from the swim?) that they don't give you the courtesy of a shout out as they pass. Sometimes this is no big deal, but one woman came within six inches of my handlebars without so much as a "boo". But rude bikers aside, I had a really strong bike. I can credit my fast time in some degree to the unleashed Rottweiler at mile twelve who decided to run along with me for a block or so. He certainly helped to shave some seconds off my time, as I shot by the bikers in front of me like they were on a leisurely Sunday ride instead of mid-race. My run was about what I expected. I would have liked to go a little faster, but I did fine. And I could not keep the smile off my face during that run! I just kept thinking, "I'm back! I'm doing it! I am so excited to be racing again!!" I finished the half mile swim, fourteen mile bike and three mile run in one hour and forty minutes and placed fifty-third out of one hundred sixty-nine women.
If this keeps up, I might have to change my blog name from Midpack Mama to Top Third Mama. =)