EX2 Xterra - July 13, 2008

We headed out to Rocky Gap State Park in Maryland on Saturday morning. It is not a long drive so we were able to take our time and head out mid-morning. Otmani picked Shawn and I up and we managed to not forget anything. We successfully made it to packet pick-up even after some adventures finding lunch and a grocery stop on the way. After getting our race numbers we drove down the road and set up tent. Rocky Gap is beautiful and has wonderful campgrounds. We had plenty of room and our tents were right along the bike and run route. We thought about setting the cooler up so we could grab some cold drinks as we came through!

Otmani and Shawn tried to help me fix up my bike which had started shifting poorly the week before the race, although it is new I have put hundreds of miles on it already this year. We could not remedy the problem and seemed to make it a bit harder to shift. I was frustrated, but thankful it was still rideable, though not very smooth.

Race morning arrived quickly and as we were eating we looked at our watches and realized we had to get over to the race site. Luckily we were camping so close that we were one of the first to arrive. As we walked in, Otmani suggested I visit the Bike Lane tent and see if they could adjust my derailer. Yes - this race is actually big enough that they had two bike tents providing pre-race maintenance. The dude was ultra quick and made a bunch of adjustments, and even took the cable off entirely, but he came up with the same results we did, though he made it much smoother, smoother even than a week before when the problem started. He said I needed to replace the cable housing and there wasn't time for that. But i felt lucky, it was smooth and I had gotten there in time for him to do that much. A girl came over, while he was working on my bike, and said she had forgotten her bike ... yes her entire bike. He had one she could borrow, but she already looked pretty upset so I was thankful I had my own bike in working condition!

After that I even had time to set up transition and take my bike for a spin, again glad I did this because he had it in a very high gear which would have been a complete surprise when I mounted it after the swim. I also had time to swim a warm-up. All went well and the race was off with the first wave, all men 45 and under. I fell into the second wave, and decided to start far right closest to the bouys. I don't normally do this and usually take the outside route, but something just told me to go the direct route this time; I had been all the way to the left and had to weave through the girls at the start line with my last minute decision. I took off and one girl, who was part of a relay stayed with me. I swam very easy, but no one came up on us. Immediately we swam through the men, this girl went way outside and I just stayed straight somehow swimming through the masses without anybody getting in my way. I feel like the crowd just divided as we came through them, I think they were scared! I swam into the finish of the first lap right behind this girl and stayed on her tail, but again she took the outside route on the second lap and I decided to go with the straight option. I think I swam the straightest, shortest possible route and did it as slow as I could - my time was still a minute faster than last year. I came out first female, the girl never caught back up after her scenic route through the far end of the course. Into transition and I see Shawn and Otmani, I am not out of breath much, a good sign.

I decide to take the bike easy, I just want to make sure to finish this course. It is pretty technical and in years past we have not had good luck as a group (even resulting in broken bones.) I rode through the first rocky section with ease, though there were too many men around me ready to pass. At one point I decided to pull off and let about ten or fifteen guys go by, as I did this I cheered each of them on and that presented the atmosphere I carried for the rest of the race. I went back to the basics and just had fun. I rode smoothly and as each person passed I made sure to tell them great job. It is amazing the responses you get back and how much more fun it makes the ride. My first mistake came at Evitt's revenge where I decided to ride. I rode up and up past a bunch of guys who were walking - about half way up I had to dismount and walk. At that point I had winded myself and could barely push the bike up, then the hill keeps going up for a while, it is rideable at this point, but since I was winded it was harder than it should have been.

After that big hill there is a steep rocky descent, very dangerous and I went slowly down it, though I rode it without hesitation. People did pass me and flew by going down, but as I exited I came upon a race worker and exclaimed how happy I was to make it through. From that hill out it is easy going to the end of the lap. The second lap went just as well, easy going, didn't push it too much but a lot of fun. Talked with each competitor who passed and enjoyed the race.

Coming into transition I was with a guy, I exclaimed we made it! He was just as excited to make it through the bike section. I had to pee though and still had another hour to go in this race, I decided to take the time in transition and take care of that :) Out onto the run my legs felt like dead weight, and my stomach was cramping. We were not even started, my goal was to come in at 3 hours and I was on pace, but would have to repeat my phenomenal run from last year. It wasn't going to happen. My stomach was really on edge and I had to preserve my energy for the climbs. I could not run in places where I made it through last year, and had to actually stop on the rocky uphill hike section to gather myself and gain my breath back. I knew at that point I would not make the three hour cut off that I had set for myself, but just kept running as I could. I allowed the boy to splash me at the water stopped, he was chucking the water into your face as hard as he could and it was pretty funny. He was having fun. I could barely run down the smooth road at the end of the race, but did my best to keep going. Many, many, many people passed me at this point in the race, but I still made sure to have fun. I was so happy that I never saw Otmani or Shawn, meaning that they successfully made it through without technical problems that have plagued them in the past at this specific race.

I finished as one guy passed me 100 yards to the finish line, some guy warned me he was coming, but it was all I could do to keep moving forward! I got through the finish and Shawn and Otmani were waiting. I collapsed in exhaustion at their bike rack, that had collapsed itself somewhere during the race. We all made it back into the lake and relaxed in the cool water. I guess it was pretty hot that day, but by now I am pretty used to this summer heat.

The results were just posted and it looks like I not only took my wave, but had the fastest swim time overall ... I did not expect that at all, I felt as though I held back sooo much! I need some good rest, I think my body is overall just depleted from all this racing. My legs are not firing at the end of these races, but overall this was the most fun I have had all year at a race.

Results:
3rd in age-group out of 12
126 overall including men and relays out of 261

3   125 Alicia Markey           29 Newark DE                                                          3:07:35
Swim: 20:16 (1)          
Bike lap 1: 50:32 (4)
Swim + Bike lap 1: 1:10:48 (2)
Bike lap 2:  50:13 (3)      
Swim + Bike: 2:01:01 (3)
Run: 1:06:34 (5)
Total: 3:07:35 (3)  
   

The camping was fantastic, the night entailed a few more bike rides, a visit to the camp store, a petition for more ice that will be filed in Annapolis, many critters, tree climbing, dirt bike riding, crashes (more blood than at the race), a long-lived camp fire with exploding cans, burnt bean patties with week old buns and two thirty packs. Again, a weekend we will long remember.