Starting June The Right Way

Who doesn’t want to take a breath AND get hydrated at the same time. Some may call it humidity. I call it efficiency. There were of course some other subtle reminders encountered along the way, just in case I had forgotten which state I was racing in #boulderbubbleoutthewindow

You know you’re in Texas when:

The televisions automatically default to Fox news when turned on. No matter what channel they were when turned off.
Explains. So. Much.

The bike course passes Exxon/Mobil corporate

You got to your hotel by driving on the George W. Bush thruway

There is a shooting range nearby said hotel, which apparently is open on a 6am-6pm schedule…including Sundays.

Anyways, travel to the Lonestar State was smooth. Usually there’s a glitch (or series of glitches) somewhere along the line, but departure was just easy. Right down to zero line at security in DIA. (Little did I know ALL the “glitches” were being stocked up for my return flight) Flora and I got into Dallas around 1:00. Plenty of time to get situated, sneak in a run, swim in the lake, gander at a few gorgeous Latino athletes from Nell’s lake view balcony and grocery shop. All-in-all, a good day.

Got to spend some time with Dad, which was great. Our weekend of course included several spontaneous dancing breakouts. We’d be great instigators of flash mobs…except the dancing is below par at best. Rhythm and choreography aside there’s nothing like totally rocking out to some Ghostland at 4am on race morning…in your kit…with your dad.

Race Day

“I don’t know about you, but I love reading long race day recaps…especially the ones including details of every thought, emotion, food consumed, ritual followed, twinge of discomfort, interpretations of competitors, a step-by-step guide on how your transition area is set-up, and for heavens sake please don’t leave out the minute by minute weather review. No recap is too long”
SAID NOBODY EVER.

That being said….Here's my official race day recap
Thought: No wetsuit?! Yes! Yes! Yes!
Emotion: Never to high, never to low
Food Consumed: White rice, banana & honey
Ritual Followed: Wore my grandmothers earrings
Discomfort: The time between the swim start and the finish line.
Interpretations of Competitors: “There goes my dad! That’s so cool”
Transition Set-Up: I put my bike on a rack & my run flats next to it
Weather: Resembling the surface of the sun.
What was Missing?: As always when I travel...a cup of quality coffee. #missedmyRedRockCoffeeHouse

Results:

3rd Place Woman
Swim: 22:58
Bike: (22mile course) 56:31
Run: 38:15

Post Race

Packed bike, ate a Breeze Bar, got slowly cooked by the Texan Sun, fell asleep with shoes on, had lunch with dad, was escorted by TSA, flagged as a ‘watch-list traveler’ AND taken through security twice. That renegade CO2 cartridge certainly caused some excitement. Glad I could keep the boys at Dallas Love Field Airport on their toes.

On the plus side, at check-in I didn’t have to pay for my bike! *Totally wearing the bootie run shorts to the airport from here on out……or continuing to say that it’s not a bike, but my mothers wheelchair that is in the bag. Yep. Let’s see you question me on that without sounding like a complete ass. (Credit/Thanks goes out to my mom for the idea...she’s awesome) But get ready, because Kharma doesn't mess around. Got to DIA and they lost my bike bag. Spent 3 hours waiting to ultimately leave with no bike and no answers.

Well. There you have it.
Texas in a nutshell. Airport traveling in roller coaster form.

Next on the docket: Small, local and fun @ The Boulder Sunrise

Quote of the moment:

“Life is too short to blog without wine”

Here’s to Peace, High Altitude Triathlon and Being surrounded by wonderful people,
Aubrey