However (here comes the 'but'), if I’m completely honest, I was a little disappointed in the race as a whole (damn my high expectations, haha).
So, from the beginning….
My swim was good. The first turn buoy was exceptionally close, and so to put it mildly, it was freakin’ rough and chaotic up to that first turn. Can you say washing machine? In an attempt to escape the crowds a bit, I went slightly wide out of that first turn and found some open water.
Aside from the horrible smell of gasoline that seemed to be hovering on the lake surface as I crossed the back stretch of the swim triangle (did anyone else notice that?), the next bit of the swim went really really well. I found a great rhythm and really just felt strong and relaxed through the whole thing. I came out of the water in a good position and was looking forward to a good hard bike and a solid run.
T1 was also a high point. I cut a few seconds off of last year’s time (good enough to be the 2nd fastest T1 in the women’s field) and I had a great bike mount (if I do say so myself). I was on the road pounding the pedals in no time.
Unfortunately, the bike leg was my main source of disappointment on this race. I don’t know why, but I just felt BAD. Every part of my legs burned and ached with every rotation of the pedals and I just never felt like I found any sort of flow at all. I jockeyed back and forth with a couple women throughout the loop, but for the most part, it seemed like people were passing me as if I was standing still. Top that off with the fact that I felt like I was pretty much hyperventilating the whole time (ugh) and the feeling that I was working WAY too hard for how fast (or slow) I was actually moving, and well, it wasn’t my finest moment. Having never really experienced a bike leg like that before, it’s a bit hard to explain.
Needless to say, I was happy to arrive at T2. My dismount was smooth and I was in and out of transition in 43 seconds (26 seconds faster than last year – yay!). I think I managed to approach the transitions calmly, but with enough speed, that I was in and out without too much thought. (Sometimes I think transitions are actually my strongest part of a short race, haha).
As I was heading out of T2 and onto the run course, I was pretty confident that I was going to have a good run.
My legs were still definitely hurting a bit (my damn calves were screaming!), but I actually felt like I was pushing through it and it seemed like I was moving at an okay pace. I didn’t get passed by anyone (that is until the last 1k when two girls overtook me - they were flying!) and seemed to be holding my position on the run. While I was in the moment and the race was happening (and even right after), I actually didn’t feel like I had a bad run. It wasn’t my best effort ever, but it was okay.
Unfortunately, when I looked at my time after the fact, I was really surprised that, while it was faster than last year at this race, it was slower than just two weeks ago at Shawnigan, and admittedly, I was really disappointed that it took me almost 26 minutes!
I suppose, the source of disappointment with my run came from the fact that I don't feel like I should be running that slow. Much like the bike, I just felt like I was working too hard for how fast I was actually moving.
Negativity aside, it was still a really fun day (there is something really addicting and thrilling about the fast short races) and there were lots of positives. I was really happy with my swim and transitions! There are more races to come this season and, as always, I’ve left some room for improvement.
I guess my perfect race is still out there, just waiting to be had :)
Also, big love to Kirsten who smashed her pervious Half Iron PB by nearly 20 minutes! That is pretty amazing if you ask me.
