Tri the Midlands

Tri in Columbia SC June 20-21, 2014 Tri the Midlands Friday woke up sweating in the morning heat - Truck camping.   Drove to Columbia on SC76 then it became 176. A slower, sightseeing route this was, but then I got onto I-20 and then I-77 to get to the venue. The  midlands is a general term for the region around Columbia. The event is held at Lake Carolina near or in Blythewood, SC.  Registered and attached my number (245) labels to helmet, bike and race belt.  Rode the bike course plus some for about 17 miles. Easy pace ave 129 bpm. My right knee was not 100% but I hoped it would be ok tomorrow.  After the the ride changed wheels to my race tubulars.  Headed to a bilo grocery, used the Internet and relaxed.  In bed right after 11 pm. Still so hot and muggy. Noise of hundreds of peeper frogs in a retaining pond nearby.  Also bullfrogs croaked.  Got up around 5:45 after 15 minutes of alarms. My body was revolting at the idea of an extreme workout. Ate an energy bar, went to bathroom, got dressed and headed to the venue.  Hundreds were already there by about 6:45 am. Ride the bike with my gear  a mile or so to the busy transition area. Set my spot up, got timing chip and body marking, ran slow for maybe a mile then headed to the swim start. My wave started at 8:06 am. After urinating in my wetsuit last fall at B2B I have now moved to doing it in my Tri suit prior to the swim. I don't think I got anyone wet. Ha.  To summarize: Poor swim as usual but I did real well on the bike and run. Very hard on the heart. I wore my heart monitor on the bike and run only. More on that later.  I lay flat on the grass for about 4 minutes after the finish due to extreme exhaustion.  I then got up and got a big wrap and lots of ice tea.  Later As I watched some people come into the finish I cheered them in. Then an unusual thing happened. Jeremy the announcer and race director, did a marriage proposal over the PA for a guy running with his girlfriend. She said yes.  I went and found Abbey Russel from Taylors who I met on FB. She was a volunteer that was supposed to be helping with the timing system. I just wanted to meet her and say a few words. She was helping a guy (George) that had pushed himself too hard and was nearly in need of the ER.  So that is how I found out she is a physical therapist. She was holding a 10 lb bag of ice on his head and back. He had blurred vision and was trying to vomit as he sat on a park bench. He was fine after a while. We triathletes are so graceful.  I have not checked the Setup Events website for my split times but estimate 13 minutes to swim, 38 minutes to do the 14 mile bike and 22 minutes for the 3.1 mile run.  Took just over 1 hour and 15 minutes for me total.  So over 22 mph for the bike and my ave HR was 167 for that. The run of maybe ave 7:06 pace and my HR was 177 ave but last 1.1 mile ave 181 with max 188.  Was very happy when I discovered on the results screen I was first in my age group. After i Ate and drank more went to TA got my bike and gear and came back to the finish. Awards ceremony took place and got my reward (Tri the Midlands towel) and stood on the podium with 2nd place finisher (guy i passed on the run). 3rd place guy was Frankie Valle. His name alone is kind of funny in itself. Is he the singer?  But the announcer said he couldnt stay but was just in nations capital and shook hands with POTUS. Military award of some kind.  The guy who came in 2nd to me I remember passing him half way thru the run. I saw his age (53) on his calf before I passed him and just shadowed him a minute till I was sure I could pull away. Told him good luck as i inched past him.  I had no idea how many others in my AG were ahead.   By 11:30 am my heart had dropped to 100 BPM.  Left the venue about noon.   Could have been at a local pub drinking cold beer, but spent a good deal of time at a local Publix on Internet and drinking a cold Bolthouse chocolate protein plus drink in the cool AC.  Left about 2 pm and headed home. My heart was now down to 70 BPM.  Took interstates as much as possible (77,20,26,385) Lots of wrecks on crowded interstates. Had to detour and get gas. Got home at 430 pm and unloaded the truck.   Then watched " this old house" etc. and vegged out, fell asleep. Noticed I got sunburn on shoulders before I took a shower and went to bed. 

Miracle Hill cycling challenge

10th annual miracle Hill Cycling challenge Saturday June 7, 2014 This is a ride that maybe should not have been done. My mom was visiting from Indiana and wanted to spend time with her and yet also had been training and thinking of doing this ride since last years ride. So obsessed with these "challenges". Must try to finish with or before Doug. Last year Doug beat me. I thought that it would help motivate me to finish as fast as possible with her at the finish.  So with her encouragement we drove over to Furman with no time to spare that morning. Got my stuff from the registration table and headed to the bathroom. Changed into my "kit". Hincapie bib shorts, jersey, socks. Ready to roll after putting on lots of sunscreen.  After brief prayer and instructions from Doug we started at 7:02 am. I pushed ahead to faster groups. Thought I might have caught the fastest group. Had to breakaway from other group to bridge up on Hunts Bridge Road.  Started the Ceasars Head climb with Rob Dempsey. I felt Doug was not too far back, but no idea.  CH climb in under 43 minutes. Not too fast or too slow. Was at the reststop about 9 minutes (too long) trying to wait for a group to leave.  I left with Rob after his very quick stop. Just as I pulled out onto 276,  Doug came by and didn't stop. I offered him a gel.  I chased after Rob on the downhill and we pulled ahead of "Deisel Doug".  We rode together a while thenTrey Ingram went by with Bryan someone and I hooked onto them. A 3 man train. we pushed hard (them mainly) until almost Brevard. We caught two more.  Onto east fork road.  I stop for nature break for 90-120 seconds. Rob and some others ride by. I'm alone now and 90 seconds behind Rob's group. At the infamous Walnut Hollow climb I see Rob ahead. Sad face painted on the road - a very hard steep climb. I ride very hard and caught Rob before the summit. Smiley face.  Onto US 178 and the Church reststop  I dilute my bottles of strong Gatorade. Off again after 2 minutes.  178 solo pretty much the whole way. The day is heating up. Im Worn out. I increase my calories by drinking and eating a gel and starting a Powerbar. Cookies too. Right before SC 11 2 riders pass me. I hang on. A guy in a GE kit is one of them.  Manage to cling to them, but cant help pull but a very short way.  At Pumpkintown they drop me, but I  try to keep them in sight. Miracle Hill Children's Home stop is next. More Watermelon to eat and more water to my Gatorade. A few minutes there as Ms. Chris explains the homes and children there.  I'm Feeling better. I ride with Trey and Bryan and Blake. I tell Blake my back is hurting and I'm tired. He says " You were climbing like an old guy". I say "I am". He says your 30 something right?  No 50. What? Wow!  That felt pretty good  Getting hot now. Glad it isn't up to 90 or more. There is more and more climbs!  I take it easy.  I pull away at some point knowing we are about 10 miles from the finish. I can start to go full steam. Finish strong as they say.  Just before 1 pm cross the finish line. 5 hours 52 minutes or so. I was glad it was not 100 miles and I wasn't going to ride 4 extra miles to make it so.  96 miles and 8,000 plus feet of climbing was enough.  About 5 minutes later Rob comes in and then Doug a few after that. Sat at a table under tent with mom and began to eat a big meal of great sandwiches and soda and chips. We talked. Doug's wife Barb and some friends joined us. a great end to another great day.  Days afterward an email said the event raised $190,000 for the needy.