Buffman and Squeaky Triathlon

Buffman and Squeaky Triathlon

1500m swim, 40k, bike, 10k run

Just in case you were wondering how the race directors got the name of this triathlon I figured I would let you know.  They named the triathlon after their dogs.  It is sort-of funny considering at one time the race directors did not care to have pets.

I woke up at 5 am after going to bed at close to midnight.  I looked up the weather and it was saying it was going to be in the 50’s.  I really hate cold weather and almost went back to bed.  The only problem is that I had already had my red bull and was wide awake.  Thank goodness I packed up my stuff for the triathlon before I left for California.  I was a little out of it this morning.  I hoped in the car and was half way to the race start and got to wondering if I had gotten my wetsuit.  I looked and sure enough I did not have it.  I turned around and came back to the house to get my Zoot wetsuit.  The water is a spring fed lake and really cold.  Personally I hate swimming in wetsuits but not when it is cold.  After I arrived at the start I had a little trouble getting things together but thank goodness I own a big van in it that has stuff all over it.  I managed to find all the gear I needed and also came across my spinergy racing wheels to put on the bike.  I was set!  Was I looking forward to it…not really.   Isn’t it funny that I would rather do a 12 hour bike ride rather then a sprinting triathlon?

When I got the transition I saw my competition.  There was the girl that beat me a few times last year (maybe the year before) and she was looking lean and mean in a Hammer Nutrition skinsuit.  I already decided that I would most likely be looking at 2nd next to her.  There were some other girls I did not know that had come from the Dallas area so I really was thinking that I did not stand a chance at placing.  My legs were pretty trashed from all the training in California and I just did not think the juice was going to be there.  After I got all set up for my race I went to visit with my friend Keith and put on my wetsuit.  Next thing I knew I looked down and my goggles and cap were gone.  Some other guy had picked them up but Keith was able to track him down to get my stuff back just in time for the race. 

The Swim-  I really do hate the start!  Even though I am a good swimmer I still get beat up.  I did my usual lecture to the people around my about being nice and not kicking.  I think that 90% of the time I usually get knocked around by someone.  It is like being in a washing machine with nails and bricks.   You get scratched and kicked for the first part of the swim no matter where you are.  I think today it took about 500 yds and those goggles that I got out of the van were pretty much useless.  They rubber strap was tied in knots and some of the rubber was in my sight.  That really did not matter cause the goggles were so old that the fog proof stuff was gone too.  The key to my fast swims is that I always keep my eye on the buoy but today all I saw was blue fog.  I suppose it was better then seeing the actual green water we were swimming in.  I did stop at about 500 yds to lick the goggles and see where I was going.  There were only about 3 or 4 people ahead of me and I was ahead of the mob.  This is when I got into my groove and starting swimming good.  I did catch up to two of them and might have even moved into second until we turned into the sun to come home.  The fog was back on the goggles and I could not see the shore.  I decided to swim next to one of the people that I had caught up to.  The next thing I knew I was being getting smashed between those two swimmers swimming into each other.  I stopped and went around but got a glance to the shore and was able to make to the shore just ahead of them.  We really got there all about the same time.  I looked back and that girl in the Hammer stuff was right there.  I just knew the race was over and she was going to win after this.  I usually have a chance when I get out ahead.  Darn! That girl was in and out of the transition faster then I could blink.  I was still trying to get my wetsuit off that was stuck to me.  You see we usually put something like Vaseline on our ankles so the wetsuit slides off.  I forgot this so it took me a little longer and I have never been quick at transitions.  I prefer to get my buggers out of my nose and primp a little.

The Bike-  It was chilly but not to bad.  It actually had warmed up and I was able to ride in my Zoot stuff without arm warmers.  I did pass one rider on the way out of the park and was gaining on someone else.  I decided to just take it easy and enjoy the day.  I was not in the mood to really “race.”  And then…. I saw her.  Yes it was the Hammer girl and I was actually catching her.  I did not think it was possible.  I considered staying behind her and driving her nuts but then I got to thinking about how I needed some cushion for the run.  She is a good runner and I am not.  I decided to pass her and go ahead.  We then turned into a headwind and that was the last I saw of her.  Just after I passed Hammer girl this woman came blowing by me like I was standing still.  She was ripped and the muscles on her legs were huge.  She looked like one of those athletes that you could put in front of an anatomy class and point out all the muscles.  I really do not think I have seem many people as fit as this women looked.  I knew she meant business and I was not even able to hang with her.  She passed me just before we went into the canyons.  Sometimes these canyons can really suck with a headwind and I had my screaming monkey ( you can read about him in past blogs) screaming his head off the whole way downhill.  He must have known what I was thinking and he was getting after it.  It seems as if the screaming monkey does not like wind or scary a scary downhill and he lets you know.  This only made me smile.  The course was an out and back so I was able to check to see how I was doing at the turn around.  Hammer girl was still there but I was doing ok.  Maybe our wind was getting to her…not sure?  The skeletal fit woman was out of sight and reeling the men in one by one.  It was amazing to watch her ride!  The bike was almost over and I did get passed by some boys but I was really feeling like I did not put to much effort into it.  I did not have the juice I wanted but I had more power then I thought easily.  Perhaps all the mountain biking is helping.  Mountain biking is getting my heart rate up really high on a regular basis.  I did not feel like my heart rate got all that high today.  The bike was really pleasant and I had a really good time.

The Run-  This is one of the transitions that I do a little quicker.  I do make sure that there are no buggers in my nose before leaving but I am faster about it .  I did do the rookie thing and take off with my helmet on.  Thank goodness some guys pointed it out before I got out of the transition.  I felt really good and there was a guy running with a huge American flag just ahead of me.  My vet was also just ahead of me and moving quick.  My vet Dr. Paulk has just been doing triathlons a couple of years and has really improved.  I was doing all I could to keep the flag man and Dr.Paulk in sight.  This seemed to be going well also and I was not breathing like a dragon like I normally do when moving like I was.  I was moving real great and then….I fell down.  Yes!  I fell down on flat pavement with a bunch of kids around and some cool looking motor cross guys staring at me.  I am glad that I was close to the grass and did not get too banged up.  There was one other runner behind me that saw it but Dr. Paulk did not.  I don’t think that I have even done that before.  I was down for about a second hoping that no one else would see.  I just acted like nothing happened and continued on with my pace.  This was another out and back so I was able to see how far behind I was behind the leader and also see all my buddies.  This makes the run really fun since you can hoop and holler. I saw a buddy of mine and he said he was going to catch me.  This guy just did the Boston marathon so it would have been fine if he did catch me.  I did decide to take a little hammer gel for the last couple of miles and run fast…Boston boy was going to have to work a little to do catch me. There were two girls that were a little two close for comfort behind me to worry about too.  The Hammer girl was in the process of getting passed when I saw her.  I guess you could say that by comparing where these girls were on the course I started racing.  I was not going to get passed in the last mile!  That sucks!  I did expect Mr. Boston marathon dude to pass me but he never did and it was a while before he made it in to the finish after me.  I think I picked up the pace and he did not.  The run was great and lot’s of fun!

I got second overall and won my age group.  I was very happy with this and some of the boys that I usually gage myself off of I beat .  I guess you could say that today went really well and I am glad now that I got my butt out of bed to do the race.  I had a really good time and was able to hang out with people after the race. I usually have some long run to do and have to keep training but my coach let me just enjoy the race for a change.  After the race I helped Mike and Marty Greer (race directors) clean up instead of coming home.  They are the ones that got me started and I have not been much help to them at races the past couple of years so I decided today was community service day.  We got done and I headed home around 4pm for a nap.

By the way…I am a Hammer Girl myself and that is the nutrition I use everyday.  I also had the same outfit as her but I changed when I saw the other girl in it.  My dad likes to take pictures and he would have most likely got some of her too.    Oh yeah…I never caught the guy running with a the big flag.