Holiday Lake

Every race is a learning experience, and the lesson for this race: double check what day your race is on.  Two days before this race I was surfing the web, just checking out different races for the summer, and noticed something about this one.  I had wrote it down when I registered...months ago...that this race was on a Sunday.  But as it turns out, I was lucky to be online randomly checking things out.  If I hadn't, I would've been the only person at the lake on Sunday morning.

Because I thought this race was on Sunday I hadn't taken Saturday off from work.  I was suppose to start at 9 A.M. (the same time that the start gun was to go off) and had to do some (very) last minute scheduling changes.  Thankfully, I was able to wiggle my way out of work for a few hours thanks to David covering for me.  Even at the last minute, he came through in the clutch!

(early SATURDAY morning) Packet pick up, gear set up, and warmups ... check ... check ... and check.  All went according to plan and all went without any hiccups.  My family got to the race about 5 minutes before the gun so I was able to have a little alone time pre-race.  Walking to the waters edge, as the race neared, I placed myself in between two of the fastest swimmers in hopes of catching a nice draft for the short and sweet swim.

I held strong in the opening meters of the swim and my plan was going exactly according to plan (insert evil laugh here).  I was in the lead pack and lovin it!  All the men started in the same wave, so it was easy to see exactly where you were in the race.  Due to this race being on a lake there wasn't any current in the water, but thanks to my pre-race placement strategy, I was able to post my fast swim split...by a long shot!  After a swift T1, I was out onto the hilly bike course within sight of the lead motorcycle.  

Getting onto the bike I was in third place and not far off the pace of the leaders.  I was determined to catch the two in front of me.  It took me a littler longer than I would've liked but eventually I was in the lead!  After the first mile I was in second, and another 2 miles after that I had taken over the top spot.  Good deal!  I had found out before the race that there were two pros and the person who won this race last year competing...and I was ahead of all them!

Sadly, I wasn't able to keep the lead for very long before the train of the two pros came around me.  For the remainder of the bike leg it was a dog fight for third place.  Two other guys and myself had our own little mini battle royale with each other.  Putting in attacks on the hills and taking corners hard made for a fun three-way sufferfest.

Coming into T2. The other two just outside the picture. (Photo cred: Allie)

The two other guys put in a nice attack on the final hill, dropping me off the pace by a few seconds.  Coming into T2 and out onto the run I was only down by (maybe) 10 seconds to third place.  I was in 5th place and looking forward to a very challenging run course.  I tracked down 4th place by the first half mile and never looked back.  I could even see both second and third place for the entire run.  If either person were to falter I was right there to capitalize on the opportunity.  But unfortunately, that opportunity never came and I just couldn't close the gap to them.

Crossing the line in 4th place I had an awkward mix of emotions.  A weird combination of excitement and sadness.  It was discouraging to be finishing only one place out of some prize money, but I was happy to have put in a good fight to come away with 4th place.  I had got beaten by two professionals and the person who won this race last year.  Not bad company I guess.

4th place finish (Photo cred: Allie)

Coming away from this race I can sleep well knowing that:

• I was in the lead of this race at one point...even if it wasn't very long
• I was in a position to capitalize on any mistake from my competition to put myself into third and/or second place
• I had improved on my finishing place from last year
• And I knocked 5 minutes off my time from last year

Now after two races on back-to-back weekends I will finally have some time to get in some quality training.  Until next time and the next race, thanks for reading!