After all that... I have no idea what to title this race report....

This is part 1 of my Race Report from Rev3 Half Ironman at Quassy Park. My head was so messed up (aka--NOT focusing on what it was Supposed to be focusing on) during the race, thatI was writing my blog in my head while I ran. I had a title and all sorts of amusing and interesting comments to write on this post.
Now, I am home. I am showered. I am semi-recovered. I am alive. I actually did manage to find that elusive finish line. But the words I want to write to describe that race escape me. I think I left them out there --maybe at mile 11.5 when I crashed into a road sign.

I'll begin with the easy part. We left home on Friday with the big 'ole Suburban packed for a raod trip. All 5 of us were excited and ready to entertain each other for our 5 hour ride to southern CT. I was racing and the boys and Mark were staying at their cousin's house. All was good. The boys were wonderful travellers and we only suffered one 5 minute tantrum from my oldest because he was bored and one 10 minute energy outburst from my 8 y.o. because he's well, an energetic 8 y.o. boy trapped in the car for 5 hours! You're both excused because otherwise, they were good as gold.

It was hot out. As we drove south, the mercury rose. It was humid and around 90 when we got to our destination.
My guys dropped me off with all my gear, hugged me goodbye and headed south to Aunt Leslie's. I settled into my hotel and greeted oodles of other Maine Tri friends who were also staying there for the race.

It was fun to hang with my friends, talk racing, talk IM training, discuss what to eat and what to do (or more importantly Not DO) the day before the race.

The day before the race went well. Nothing too interesting. The heat was high and the humidity was higher. I stayed off my feet except for my 30 minute warm up workout, a quick bike cleaning, and the hour or so it took to get my packet and rack the bike. I ate a gazillion pancakes and watched Top Gun.
Lights out 8:45. Not bad for a couple of girls!!! Oh, I was rooming with Mary! Mary came down to sherpa us and to enjoy some fun training on the hills.

RACE DAY !

4:08 and I'm awake. Alarm 1 at 4:14, alarm 2 at 4:15 and finally the wake up call. Good thing I was prepared! Poor Mary.
Typical scurrying around that morning to gag down my oatmeal, banana, some bagel with some pb, and then to find coffee. I find it So difficult to get food down on race morning. I have to choke it down. Mike, Matt and I met at 5:00 and drove off to Quassy park. Ready for a great day.

There were storms through the night and while the rain had stopped by Sunday morning, the threat was there. The sky was dark and looked like it would surely rain. Despite the lack of sun at that point..the humidity was very high. It was not a comfortable morning.

The bikes are racked in nice little wooden blocks at this race. I had an end spot that was next to the Pro section. It was perfect. I had Plenty of room for my transition gear and I was able to watch the hot shots do their thing. Mirinda, Amanda, Michael, Natasha, Craig Alexander!, Joanna, Desiree, Terenze, and our own Mike Ciazzo! Pretty cool I must say.
Oh yeah...backing up a day. Mark was driving me to the race site for packet pick up and bike racking. We were driving up a back road and 2 cyclists were pedaling up the hill in the middle of the road. They weren't moving over at all. The woman was pretty strong. She looked really really fit. I was having a conversation in my head, "Hmm..she looks like she might be fast. No...you never really know. I can take her. Don't let looks intimidate you." Ok..got that taken care of. Mark was NOT in a rush to pass. I was encouraging him..."hun...please go around them. We need to get there. blahblah..." Finally we went around these two. This woman I was going to take down? Desiree Ficker. Um...well...ok....Maybe not. And now I also know why Mark wouldn't pass. Ha....

I did my typical morning things. Donned my running shoes and did a little warm up. Checked out the buoys in the lake. Stood in line 3x for the bathroom. Headed to the beach with wetsuit in hand.

Here we go.....