N.O. 70.3 2011 RR

When I first moved to New Orleans and saw the abbreviation NO on various street signs - I thought it literally meant the word no. After a few days I eventually figured out that it really was the abbreviation for New Orleans.

Anyway given how the race played out, I found it even more appropriate to title this race report: "NO 70.3". As most of you already know this weekends race definitely wasn't a 70.3- it was only a 69.1

The swim was cancelled because of the rough waters below:

With the swim cancellation, the race officials opted for TT bike start. Even more fun! I wasn't thinking and ended up in the very last pair to leave for my age group. I initially thought they were going via numerical order but that never happened. Regardless, I miraculously did a flying mount past the dismount line and passed a few girls right from the start.

Given the circumstances and knowing the course, I knew things were going to be dicey out there. Negative energy seemed to thicken the air: drafting was everywhere I look

ed, the cross wind was my worst nightmare, and the 30-34 age group girls were just plain MEAN! My race goals were quickly thrown out the window. My new goal was to survive this course.

Eventually the crowds thinned, the drafting ceased, and the wind shifted a little. Despite the bad energy, my nutrition was spot on. I had 3 bottles of Infinite and 3 Gu's. Heading back to transition, I was feeling good.

Goal time: 2:38

Actual 2:40

Bike pace 20.9

I grabbed a Gu in transition and was off to the run. I knew I had to make

up some time here if I wanted to be top 10 in my AG. I started off running comfortably in my heart rate zone around a 7:22 pace. I was passing lots of people. After the first mile or so, I started getting some foot numbness bilaterally. Grrrrrrr~stupid Yankz shoelaces were too tight. Too LATE now.....

I stayed around 7-min pace until mile 7 and then dropped to 8s for miles 8-9 and then to the 9s for miles 9-13. You can do the math as to how I felt during those miles.

Goal: 1:38-1:41

Actual 1:50:22

Final AG: 17th in a stacked field of fast ladies

Final time: 4:33:30

For some reason, I just can NOT get the run together in the 70.3+ distance. Although I'm stoked to have dropped 6 minutes from my bike time last year and 20 minutes from my run time, something still isn't right. Luckily, I've enlisted some help from a new coach to fix this in the future :)

Regardless of what happened on race day, this weekend I made some great new friends and caught up with some old ones. Just to name a few Marni, Karel, Flex's new friend Campy, Barb, Tamra, Michele and her hubby.

And of course can't forget my house guest Kim :)

Cheers to getting the first race of the season done and to many new friendships! I think that is what makes the sport worth it! Thank you for your cheers and support :) Great job to all who raced-