The Jersey Genesis Triathlon. The first triathlon of the year for me. The first time using my new wheels (Zipp Disc!). The first time racing when it was 40 freaking degrees when I got out of bed that morning.
So I almost didn’t even race because I had a little mini fiasco with a local bike shop…you guys gotta call your customers when you’re closing early on a Friday. How the heck is someone supposed to know you were going to close if you don’t tell that person? Seriously. Luckily though, after posting on their social media, someone contacted me and opened up shop to get me my bike. Saved. Thanks Facebook.
Anyway, despite the little bit of chaos the night before, I made it to the race. It’s a good, fun, local race put on by good, fun, local people. The swim was in a lake that wasn’t as disgusting as some of the other lakes that you swim in Jersey. And it wasn’t nearly as cold as I thought it would be either. I mean, I came prepared. I had a second swim cap to put under the race sanctioned one.
This is my 7th year doing this but I still get this jitters so bad. I don't why i get nervous...the race really doesn't matter...it's not like people really care about my athlinks profile...but I still get nervous...I can't help it. I think that's why I prefer racing at smaller, off-the-radar races, less people I know. It's just that everywhere you go, everyone looks so fast.
The swim was relatively long for a sprint, so it completely suited me. I came out of the water first by a pretty serious margin. I had a really smooth transition and that’s when things kind of came unhinged. I got on my bike but couldn’t get my right foot into the shoe. Eventually (after getting passed by two guys), I pulled over and worked it out. I probably lost a minute and a half. Dummy.
So after that, I had a nice bike…not as fast as I would have hoped but it’s also early in the season and I had only ridden outside once prior to this…so I felt good. The run went great…I’m really starting to run with confidence. I negative split which I think is so paramount to my success. Chill that first mile. CHILL. Being that it was 4 miles long (again a little on the long side for a sprint), it really gave me some confidence looking forward to TriRock.
Thanks to a guy getting bumped up to OA, I finished 1st in my AG, 9th overall.
The food afterwards was amazing. Seriously. The only thing I wish that they had (only because it was so cold) was coffee. But a Belgian waffle bar? Ridiculously awesome. Thanks, so freakin’ stinkin’ delicious.
Also, a kids’ race. It’ll be awesome when Finn can compete in these…if he so chooses of course.
So I almost didn’t even race because I had a little mini fiasco with a local bike shop…you guys gotta call your customers when you’re closing early on a Friday. How the heck is someone supposed to know you were going to close if you don’t tell that person? Seriously. Luckily though, after posting on their social media, someone contacted me and opened up shop to get me my bike. Saved. Thanks Facebook.
Anyway, despite the little bit of chaos the night before, I made it to the race. It’s a good, fun, local race put on by good, fun, local people. The swim was in a lake that wasn’t as disgusting as some of the other lakes that you swim in Jersey. And it wasn’t nearly as cold as I thought it would be either. I mean, I came prepared. I had a second swim cap to put under the race sanctioned one.
This is my 7th year doing this but I still get this jitters so bad. I don't why i get nervous...the race really doesn't matter...it's not like people really care about my athlinks profile...but I still get nervous...I can't help it. I think that's why I prefer racing at smaller, off-the-radar races, less people I know. It's just that everywhere you go, everyone looks so fast.
The swim was relatively long for a sprint, so it completely suited me. I came out of the water first by a pretty serious margin. I had a really smooth transition and that’s when things kind of came unhinged. I got on my bike but couldn’t get my right foot into the shoe. Eventually (after getting passed by two guys), I pulled over and worked it out. I probably lost a minute and a half. Dummy.
So after that, I had a nice bike…not as fast as I would have hoped but it’s also early in the season and I had only ridden outside once prior to this…so I felt good. The run went great…I’m really starting to run with confidence. I negative split which I think is so paramount to my success. Chill that first mile. CHILL. Being that it was 4 miles long (again a little on the long side for a sprint), it really gave me some confidence looking forward to TriRock.
Thanks to a guy getting bumped up to OA, I finished 1st in my AG, 9th overall.
The food afterwards was amazing. Seriously. The only thing I wish that they had (only because it was so cold) was coffee. But a Belgian waffle bar? Ridiculously awesome. Thanks, so freakin’ stinkin’ delicious.
Also, a kids’ race. It’ll be awesome when Finn can compete in these…if he so chooses of course.