The race that almost wasn't

We made good time to Aiken, and got to the race venue in time to pick up my race packet. I checked my phone and noticed a text from Wes asking if we had left home yet. Hardy freakin har! So I called him back and made some loose dinner plans. Knowing the layout of the area, Mendy and I decided to just drive to Aiken and meet Wes and the lovely Dee Dee at their hotel, vice checking into ours. This wound up being a very good move.

We arrived on the directions Wes provided Mendy, and noticed the RSV (Race Support Vehicle) of Chris and his lovely wife Janis. Looked like we were at the cool club meeting place! By the time the ignition was de-keyed, Chris was on the balcony, and Wes and Dee Dee were coming out. All of us made the introduction rounds, while Mendy and I quickly decided we would just stay there vice the motel that would offer a more treacherous route to the race site in the morning. We got a "non-smoking" room that smelled like a thousand cigar enthusiasts had taken turns living there for the last 10 years.

Chris and Janis went for milkshakes, and the 5 of us went downtown for grub. It was a great dinner, but even better company. Sadly, it had to end for some bike preps and some sleep. It was all going to plan...

So, we get to the race site, and the clouds look ominous. The forecast was for 10% chance of rain until about 11 AM, where it turned to 40%. Yeah, not so much. As Jeremy Davis, the evil race director/route planner for the SCTS was calling all the eager (smart) athletes in from the water from warming up, moments before the race...

*FLASH* BOOM!

"Uh, we are going to have a short delay...about 15 minutes, and then start the race. So, uh, about 10 minutes and we'll get started."

*FLASH* BOOM!

Then the animals began to line up, two-by-two, as the flooding rains came down.

So, eventually they let us get started, 1 hour late, no warm-up time, and with a shortened bike course. My heart had already decided I wasn't swimming, so I wasn't mentally prepared anymore. But, I got going with a bit of drama (some choking, some bracingly cool water, and a lot of human traffic), and then settled into a nice comfy pace. I strayed a bit after one buoy, but largly it went well.

Back on sweet dry land, I was almost ready to vommit: high heart rate while running while peeling a wetsuit off while wearing goggles is not a good combo. I made it to my bike, poured 3 inches of water out of my helmet, and got going. I hammered as well as I could, but my cycling hasn't been up to par of late. Into transition, rack the bike, and off on the run. Holy crap, my butt was hurting me like I just did a hitch in the state pen! I guess it was that I did a lot more climbing than I was used to doing on my tri saddle, which I normally ride just on the ol' taint. It slowly worked out, and I was making good time. I hoped for 7min/mile or better, and was happy to see 13:xx as I passed mile 2.

Near the turn-around, I saw regional speedy girl, Katie Malone just a bit ahead. She looked like was facing some nutrition challenges, probably due to the 1 hour delay. She absolutely smoked me on the run at Festival of Flowers last year, so I was happy to be this close. Katie was now my rabbit, but with all respect in the world. I finally caught her about 1 mile from the finish, and as I passed I tried to light-heartedly encourage her with, "Come on, you aren't going to let some boy beat you, are you?" She laughed and encouraged me right back with well wishes, and I was ready to finish. I tried to stair-step the pace up in that last mile, finishing with as close to a sprint as I could muster.

So, I was anticipating great results, but found that many of the dudes in my age group came in from out of state. And were blisteringly fast. As in, 4th and 9th overall fast. Of the "regulars" to the SCTS series, I think I went 2nd in my AG, but on paper I was 7th. Disappointing, but my numbers were decent (for me): 8 minutes faster on the swim than last year at Festival of flowers, 21mph average speed on the bike course that included a long uphill, and a 6:39 average run pace.

Post-race, there was sort of a feeling that most people had resigned this to a B or C race, and it became almost laughable as the torrential rain started again, and the RD announced that all sound equipment they had didn't work.

It was a good weekend, and a fun time. The race? Well, it was a nice training day. And we got to hang out with Wes & Dee Dee, Chris & Janis, the rest of the dudes from our team, Ashley and our mutual friend Matt, Chris, and a bunch of other cool peeps.

**Update: okay I just found out the winner of our AG was Rafael Fiallo, ITU pro from Venezuela racing as an age grouper. Thanks dude.

Gratitude!

My sincere and heart-felt thanks to all the fast men (30-34 years old) for NOT racing in the Paris Mountain 5K today!

So, the alarm went off, and I was very tempted to turn it off, wake up when I felt like it, and hopefully catch Neese after the race. In fact, almost every fiber in my body was screaming for this. But I figured I wouldn't wake up in time, and we wouldn't make it over to Furman U, and I would let Neese down. Mendy and I both wanted to hang out with her again, because she's just so darn sweet and fun to talk with. And the chance to meet her husband and Anne was an additional draw.

Anyway, we made it there in time to enjoy the pandemonium of pre-race activities: ran out of shirts (even for pre-registered), apparently no race packets, delayed start, etc. Neese, Rhett (her husband), and Anne (Rhett's daughter) were right out front waiting for some slow pokes to finally arrive...us! By the time I got my bib number, there wasn't much time before the start. I did a couple hundred yards of warm up, and I am now a believer in this. Moments before the gun, I tried to share some last minute experience and tips with Neese and Anne, and then we were off.

I felt great, and was running a nice pace with a great feeling of efficiency. And I had my tights on, so I looked great! LOL I passed a bunch of people (I should have been way closer to the start line) and crossed the 1 mile marker at 6:09. SWEET! Then the wind came: 46 degrees and about 14 mph whipping across the lake through most of mile 2. Mile 3 greeted us with a little bump: a very steep up and down hill that just totally messes up your rhythm. It was about this time that I started regretting the large coffee (with 4 espresso shots) I drank on the way to the race.

I kept with my chosen pace group, wasn't passed, and traded places a couple of times with a young guy that finally edged past me. I crossed the line with 20:04 showing (a PR for me), but figure that if chipped, I would have actually had a 19:58. WOO HOO! It was good enough for 2nd place in my age group. Neese and Anne also had a great race with a very strong finish! This course, and today's weather was no joke, and it appeared that times across the board were down compared to other 5Ks with the same people.

I was happy that I braved the morning and weather, very glad to have hung out with Neese and her crew, and very happy to have Mendy and Grace there cheering me on ("Doing great, Daddy!"), which overshadowed the unfortunate disorganization of pre-race activities. I'm sure next year will be better, and I hope the race directors from this year direct next years race, as I'm sure they will iron out all the bugs. They really did a great job considering they had to handle two very separate races today with their full schedules with their running store. And, they are nice people, extremely easy to talk to.

When's the next one, Neese? :-)

You're supposed to prepare for a race?

I have nobody to blame but myself. And, certainly, I can't really have high expectations when I do the exact opposite of proper race preparation. I stayed up until 1 AM (-ish), enjoying a few glasses of wine and a couple of cigars. Needless to say, I wasn't feeling on top of my game when I got up this morning.

Okay, the race sucked, and I didn't reach my goal. Something much better resulted from the day, however, since we got to hang out all morning with Neese and her co-worker Wayne, as well as spending some time chatting with the G-Man. I tell you, folks, Neese is one of the sweetest and best natured people you are likely to meet. Grace normally takes a while to warm up to new people, but not her; instantly she grew comfortable and even sat with Neese during the door prizes and awards presentos. Thanks Neese for encouraging me to run today, giving us the chance to finally meet. Mendy and I had a really great time!

After that, we went and had a (quite sinful) lunch at Sticky Fingers. Cheddar fries for an app (about 3K calories each), followed by a beef brisket sandwich for me. We both felt hugely guilty afterwards, and went for a walk around lovely downtown Greenville. A nap was attacking me, so we went up to CT for a jolt of caffeine: "dirty hippie" for me and skinny mocha for Mendy. Ben rocks! I also got some (fairly stern) advice about doing the full marathon in Arizona. I think, as much as it pains me to say this, I really won't consider doing it. Just the half for me. Good thing, because running is the devil!

Then some shopping ensued, and we picked up some running and fitness gear. We ran into Holly and her mom, and chatted for a bit. Hopefully she will hang out with is some while Roby is out of town. Interesting shopping note: Brooks has these neat dayglo yellow running hats with reflective panels and a blinky light on the rear. Pretty sweet! We got matching ones. Time was running out, and Grace wanted fries for dinner. Yep, fries. Since we were in the Shops of Gridlock (as Neese calls it), we opted to go to Red Robin. Due to the guilt from lunch, we opted for healthy meals (salad for me, wrap for Mendy) while Grace tore up a corn dog. Funny thing: didn't eat ONE french fry.

Finally we made it home to watch Clemson play well until they were allowed the opportunity to throw away the game in the 4th quarter like a bunch of ding-dongs. Same as it ever was.

Hope you all are having a great weekend!