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Post by yetichick on Feb 12, 2012 22:11:27 GMT -5
Saturday was the Winter Challenge Triathlon and Duathlon at Dome Farm in Springfield, SC. The tri event included a 7 mi. run/6 mi. kayak/10 mi. mountain bike. The duathlon was a 2 mi run/8 mi. mountain bike/2 mi. run. Becky and I signed up for the tri, and Michael did the duathlon. This was a first for all of us.
We got there early and Nevin and Michael prestaged the kayaks.
We then got our bikes set up in the transition area and waited for the start of the event.
The duathlon and tri runs started together on seldom used farm roads and we headed across the dam, up a steep hill and onto single track.
Running the single track gave me a preview of what I would later mountain bike--rather handy. We looped back to the start (2 mi.) where the duathlon participants transitioned to their bikes while the tri participants had another 5 miles to go on the run.
Becky and I started together, but she pulled ahead a good 20 yards. The last 5 miles were again on single track and fire roads, and we were heading back in with about half a mile to go when Michael came barreling past on his mountain bike.
He rang his bell and gave us a shout out before he headed back in to the transition area for his final run. I caught up to Becky at this time, and we took it in together, through our transition area, and over to the kayaks.
We jumped in our kayaks, and volunteers launched us into the lake. We would be paddling three laps around the lake, which was half covered with cypress trees. Did I tell you I am a beginner paddler--this my 3rd time in a kayak. Was I nuts?
Becky started in front of me, and I just waved her goodbye as she disappeared in the distance! That girl can paddle!
The lake was beautiful--cypress trees, lilly pads, and 20-30 mile per hour winds. Ha!!! There were times I couldn't tell if I was making any progress. I would aim my kayak one way, and get pushed by the wind the other way. There were flags on the cypress trees around the perimeter, and you had to stay between the flags and the bank. I missed one, and had to loop back around it. I can't tell you how many other kayaks passed me during those three laps. I have never done anything so hard as paddling in that wind, but I was determined to finish even if I came in dead last.
I was hoping Becky wouldn't lap me! I did take the time to enjoy the views, though, as it was gorgeous out there. I finally finished my 3rd lap and made it back in.
Michael had finished his event
and Michael and Nevin were there waiting on me. Becky had finished a good 15-20 minutes ahead of me, but she didn't lap me!!! I also wasn't last!!!! That surprised me. A volunteer pulled my kayak in, and it was hard to even stand up and get out of the thing.
I headed over to the bike transition area, changed my shoes, etc., and got on my bike.
My bike--YEAH!!! I LOVE my bike--back in my comfort zone! Okay, my face doesn't look like it, but I was transitioning from the kayak to the bike. :-)
Michael told me I would love the course and to go get em. Again it was farm roads and single track--a nice mix of both. There were log piles and other logs to jump over, and I was able to jump most of them. I will admit that it made me feel good to see one of the girls that had passed me in the kayak stop and get off her bike at the first log pile. She moved over and I jumped it, and the look on her face was priceless. I thought "Okay, I don't paddle well, but I can ride my bike!" I passed several ladies that had gone by me in their kayaks, and passed some guys, too. YEAH!!!!! Loved the single track, and most of the farm roads. There were several places were the sand was deep and it sucked your energy, but I just kept turning the cranks. The finish was on the same farm road where Michael had passed us earlier when Becky and I were running, and it was downhill. I had it in the big ring and went as hard as I could. The last thing you had to do was go over some hay bales. By the time I got to them, they had been ridden over and knocked down enough that I could jump them and then head across the finish line.
Afterwards Becky and Nevin gave us a beer, and the organizers served white turkey chili. It was awesome. During the awards, Becky got second place for the overall female category. I took first in the female masters category and first for the female mountain bike section.
The event was low key and all the participants, volunteers, and organizers were some of the nicest people I have met.
Thank you, Becky, for wanting to do this event and asking me to do it with you.
A big thanks to Michael and Nevin for being our support throughout the whole day.
We got there early and Nevin and Michael prestaged the kayaks.
We then got our bikes set up in the transition area and waited for the start of the event.
The duathlon and tri runs started together on seldom used farm roads and we headed across the dam, up a steep hill and onto single track.
Running the single track gave me a preview of what I would later mountain bike--rather handy. We looped back to the start (2 mi.) where the duathlon participants transitioned to their bikes while the tri participants had another 5 miles to go on the run.
Becky and I started together, but she pulled ahead a good 20 yards. The last 5 miles were again on single track and fire roads, and we were heading back in with about half a mile to go when Michael came barreling past on his mountain bike.
He rang his bell and gave us a shout out before he headed back in to the transition area for his final run. I caught up to Becky at this time, and we took it in together, through our transition area, and over to the kayaks.
We jumped in our kayaks, and volunteers launched us into the lake. We would be paddling three laps around the lake, which was half covered with cypress trees. Did I tell you I am a beginner paddler--this my 3rd time in a kayak. Was I nuts?
Becky started in front of me, and I just waved her goodbye as she disappeared in the distance! That girl can paddle!
The lake was beautiful--cypress trees, lilly pads, and 20-30 mile per hour winds. Ha!!! There were times I couldn't tell if I was making any progress. I would aim my kayak one way, and get pushed by the wind the other way. There were flags on the cypress trees around the perimeter, and you had to stay between the flags and the bank. I missed one, and had to loop back around it. I can't tell you how many other kayaks passed me during those three laps. I have never done anything so hard as paddling in that wind, but I was determined to finish even if I came in dead last.
I was hoping Becky wouldn't lap me! I did take the time to enjoy the views, though, as it was gorgeous out there. I finally finished my 3rd lap and made it back in.
Michael had finished his event
and Michael and Nevin were there waiting on me. Becky had finished a good 15-20 minutes ahead of me, but she didn't lap me!!! I also wasn't last!!!! That surprised me. A volunteer pulled my kayak in, and it was hard to even stand up and get out of the thing.
I headed over to the bike transition area, changed my shoes, etc., and got on my bike.
My bike--YEAH!!! I LOVE my bike--back in my comfort zone! Okay, my face doesn't look like it, but I was transitioning from the kayak to the bike. :-)
Michael told me I would love the course and to go get em. Again it was farm roads and single track--a nice mix of both. There were log piles and other logs to jump over, and I was able to jump most of them. I will admit that it made me feel good to see one of the girls that had passed me in the kayak stop and get off her bike at the first log pile. She moved over and I jumped it, and the look on her face was priceless. I thought "Okay, I don't paddle well, but I can ride my bike!" I passed several ladies that had gone by me in their kayaks, and passed some guys, too. YEAH!!!!! Loved the single track, and most of the farm roads. There were several places were the sand was deep and it sucked your energy, but I just kept turning the cranks. The finish was on the same farm road where Michael had passed us earlier when Becky and I were running, and it was downhill. I had it in the big ring and went as hard as I could. The last thing you had to do was go over some hay bales. By the time I got to them, they had been ridden over and knocked down enough that I could jump them and then head across the finish line.
Afterwards Becky and Nevin gave us a beer, and the organizers served white turkey chili. It was awesome. During the awards, Becky got second place for the overall female category. I took first in the female masters category and first for the female mountain bike section.
The event was low key and all the participants, volunteers, and organizers were some of the nicest people I have met.
Thank you, Becky, for wanting to do this event and asking me to do it with you.
A big thanks to Michael and Nevin for being our support throughout the whole day.
