Tri Zones Training

This is my first tri for this year..

 The morning started out a bit chilly, but that is never something I consider an issue, being from Colorado.  So, I was wide awake and ready for a great race.   When racking I saw that we had a great Trizones turnout, there was plenty of room to rack and being amongst Trizoners you know that they understand the rules and wont "accidently" mess your stuff up or take up a ton of room leaving you none.   

I was in the 2nd wave of swimmers, which was not quite as big as some of the others, but I still really struggled to catch my groove in the water.  I got kicked and scratched several times and the sun was very bright.  I got out to the big orange bouy and heard them starting the next wave, I thought WOW I am making great time, 3 minutes in and I am at the 150 meter point.  Since I am strong swimmer but always struggle by letting people go around me or treading water to let others go out of fear of drowing someone, this was a great start.   Then, wouldnt u know it the seal on my googles ripped and tons of water started leaking in my left eye.  I tried just closing my left eye and sighting with my right for about 10 strokes but it was very hard so I had to stop and try to repair my goggles, I was only able to get about 10 strokes in each time before I had to stop and empty them out.  My swim time ended up being 8:37 not my worst but not nearly what I know I can do (OH ONE DAY) 

T1 I struggled with getting my trizones bike jersey on, I really should have practiced that but I thought it would be similiar to any shirt.  It was not, my T1 time was 3:00 my worst ever. 

The bike started out ok, that big hill at the start is just MEAN!  I made it through the winding tree lined winding roads.  It was beautiful out there, not hot, lots of trees and shade.  I got passed by several trizoners who always made an effort to say YEA Trizones and several of them shouted out Go Nicole!  VERY encouraging..  As the tree lined roads ended and the first "hill" hit several girls came flying up on me without a word, went 4 wide (YES 4 wide!!) and a 5th girl came flying up the road, much faster than them and tried to pass on the right of 2 of them and within about 6 inches of the other girls.  The girl on her left panicked and they came within about 2 cm's of hitting each other.  It was really bad to see, I had to slow down I thought they were all gonna get wiped out.  Someone needs to re-explain USAT rules to these people!  Overall though, I felt great on the bike and never got sick!!!   As I am at the congested dismount I spot my SO and his daugther yelling for me, then he shouts out with all his encouragement "NICOLE, Hurry up!"   About 3 people around him and me started cracking up, I however shouted back "SHUT IT!"   He has never done a TRI and doesnt realize after a swim and bike I dont need no body telling me to HURRY UP.   He will be on the couch tonight!   My speed was 14 mph this is an increase of 1 mph over last years TRI at this venue.   WHOO HOO!!

T2 time was 1:05 pretty typical for me, so it went fine. 

Got off the bike and was feeling great I didnt sick on the bike and the huge downhill at the end saved my legs.  The run went great, I wasnt hurting at all, it was not too hot and I saw all the Trizoners that passed me on the bike doing the run back down!!  I felt so good that I shaved yes its true 2minutes and 20 seconds off per mile minute...a whopping 4 minutes and 40 seconds improvement over my time last year....All those DRILLS paid off Coach Tracy!! 

The best part of this was that my SO was there and the kids and I felt great afterwards!! 

GREAT START to my TRI season!