For some reason I was very nervous on the drive to Portsmouth today. Keith and Andy and I caravaned to the state park to pick up our race packet. The drive on 32 was pretty uneventful, and Marysunshine and I traded some facebook messages back and forth. She was helping to calm my nerves. I was waffling back and forth between listening between pump up music to get me excited for the race, and calming music to calm my nerves. It made for a very eclectic musical journey. We picked up our race packet and headed into town to get "checked in" to our college dorm apartment. It is pretty spartan, but really great. I suggest thinking about staying here next year if you decide to race. We found food and a Krogers around the corner.
Ok so now the first race of the weekend:
First of all let me start by saying, Check with HFP and figure out what company they are ordering the race singlets from. They are incredibly small and everyone was having trouble squeezing into them.
All of the players were there... Dave A, Missy, Squirrel, Eddy, Ed, Kieth, Andy, Rob, AA all representing the team.
The water was around 68 degrees and I decided not to go with a wet suit. I did not want to waste a bunch of time peeling off the suit as I look like I am from the ministry of silly walks. I started the swim in the middle of the pack, and by the time I swam out, the water was pretty stirred up and the seaweed monsters were out. I hit one thermal which was refreshing, but not to bad. I finished the swim out of the water at around 5 min.
The bike was a little more challenging, as I was not prepared for the hills. YIKES, it is going to be a long weekend! I threw my chain a third of the way up the hill and had to stop and fix it. I was able to check out the cabins that some of the competitors stay in. The down hill was pretty fun.
The run was slightly uphill. Missy said that the run gets way worse!
I finished in 31 and some change which really puts me at the dangerously at the back of the pack.
some times of note:
Eddy 22 and change 24th over all
Missy around 25
Andy around 26
Keith a little over 25.
I really like the setup of the transition area. Ill try to post the pics!
