Yesterday was a day of first tri's (pun intended). Dave, Cody and I competed in our first team triathlon. Although this was not Cody's first triathlon attempt, it was his first triathlon done as a team.
Cody getting pumped up for the big race.
The game face.
Sweet talking the competition
As a team, we were truly the embodiment of a well oiled, triathlon destroying team. I was the chosen candidate for the swim. Natural choice, seeing that I had not been near a pool in roughly 4 years...it made perfect sense that this would be my best event. I did swim twice this past week in preparation, and am happy to say that I was not the last out of the pool in our heat of swimmers. I finished my portion in just over 20 minutes, for the half mile swim. Then it was out to the transition area...apparently a lovely shade of blue/green and trying not to toss cookies as I handed the bike off to Cody.
Into the great blue yonder.
Cody served as our fearless cyclist, without even a moment on the bike in six months...also a good choice for his respective leg of this journey. Cody was slightly ill prepared for the terrain here Gatlinburg...due mostly to an unintended campaign of misinformation on the part of Dave and myself. We managed to describe the route in such a way as to leave out one monstrously terrible hill and about 4 miles of distance. This, portion, easily the toughest part of this race, took roughly 47 min.
Photo Finish
Then came the run...obvious choice on this event is the Notorious Dave. When planning for this event last week (when we first decided to compete) we really thought Dave would be our ace in the hole...the ringer...the miraculous Mr. Worth, able to potentially bring us out of whatever hole Cody and I had dug for ourselves to close this race with a respectable time....Out of nowhere ...BLOWHEE.... the final blow to our team... Dave is stricken with a nasty case of gastrointestinal critters(diagnosis still not yet received) which puts him on an all liquid diet for the several days before the race...this leaves him absolutely exhausted, albeit determined... and not without his natural abilities.
Dave completes the 5K portion of the race in 18:35...just under 30 seconds off his 5k PR. A success he attributes to his exhaustion induced delirium and rapid weight loss due to aforementioned stomach critters. (Which is, as it turns out, "An extremely effective, albeit controversial method of weight loss").
Happy Team...if only just to be done with the madness.
Overall...although we did come in dead last in the team competition of the day, this event was a rousing success. As usual, the obvious composure and strange obsession with plaid struck fear in the hearts of the competition....no doubt making it difficult to sleep last night without the prodding fear of the DUTCHOVEN NIGHTMARES. --- Caitlin
Oh thank god, another night without a DUTCHOVEN NIGHTMARE!!!!!! Ooooohaha.
ReplyDeletehey did you find that synthetic long sleeve black top i left there last year (or two years ago)??? that was the only time i ever wore it :( wish i could've been there to jeer ya'll on. i'll perform a dutch oven on the lady tonight in solidarity.
ReplyDeleteno luck on the long sleeve dude... don't worry about the quantity of jeers though. when you compete in a tri wearing a plaid button-up theres a plenty of jeers.
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