Tricolumbia (in Columbia, MD, between DC and Baltimore) has a number of great events and this year they started the Celebration Sprint that runs the same course as IronGirl.  These events draw some elite athletes so they are always great to participate in.

The warm weather was already here in late June — forecast for the day was 95 and water temps were 84.  Wetsuits banned.  Hey, though you might not have as much float, you don’t have to deal with getting it on OR off!  T1 time is already shorter!!!  I felt like I have become a bit stronger as a swimmer and IronGirl was my first tri a few years back and since it’s the same course I was going to be test my time.  Guess again.  After a few minutes in the water I starting feeling nauseous from the temps.  Not good.  Just took it easy.  So slow compared to what I wanted.  But, I finished.

Got on the bike, cruising along (it’s a hilly course), dropped my chain on an uphill.  GRR!  Strike two of the day.  I had taken a class about simple tips on bike ‘fixing’ — they make it look so easy.  Finally got back on the road and cleared my head and just kept going.  Toward the end of the ride I did accomplish one thing I’d always wanted to do — get my feet out of my shoes so that at dismount for T2 the shoes stay in the clips and I just run barefoot to the rack.  That was very fun and a mental boost that I needed.

Got all set for the run, about the leave T2 until a marshall pointed out that I needed my bib.  Strike 3.  Ok, went back and got it.  Now I was thinking we had a huge hill at the start of the course but that’s only when you do the Olympic race on the course.  YEAH! — flat-ish.  But, now it has to be mid-upper 80s.  We eventually get to the hills.  It’s a long 3.4 (yes, .4) miles but eventually it ends.  And no matter what I was thinking during the race I smile with happiness and excitement as I cross that line.  I tri, I finish.

Pictures:  http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=65768&BIB=902&LNSEARCH=1