Tri-Dummy 2006: Part Deuce

2006 Ironhorse Sprint Triathlon

August 12, 2006, North Platte, NE

Two distances; Super Sprint (200m swim, 8mile bike, 2 mile run) and Sprint (500m swim, 15 mile bike, 5 mile run) and two categories of racers; fitness and competitive. 

Last year, Tri-Dummy (Triathicus Stupidicus) won his age group and the overall for the Fitness Super Sprint.  This year TD decided to take on the Fitness Sprint.  Yeah, I know… I’m writing in 3^rd person.  I’ll stop.

The swim took place in a 50m pool…I’ll do the math for you, 10 lengths or 5 laps.  I swim in a 25-yard pool, so I was bummed not to be able to push off the side as much!  I swam in Heat 2 and felt pretty good during the swim. I know I swim slowly and I’m okay with it.  I crawled out of the pool at around 10:37.  I heard a guy tell his son he was the fourth out of the pool, putting me 5^th.

I ran a short distance through a grassy area to my bike.  I swam in my singlet and shorts, so I plopped down and threw on my bike shoes.  I noticed grass all over my feet I had to clean off!  Note to self:  Get bucket of water to clean off dirty feet for next triathlon.  I saw three other guys in the transition area and one guy pedaling away.  I was the next one out and caught the guy before we got out of the park.  This wasn’t looking too bad!

The route has a slight upgrade, a couple miniscule hills, and one pretty good hill.  There were also two turnarounds in the course.  I made it past the first turnaround, which was around 5 or so miles in without anyone catching me.  I was able to catch a couple of mountain bikers from Heat 1 along the way.  As I was just about to hit the big hill, a guy (Adam) caught me and passed me.  I saw the 4 series number on his leg, so I knew he was in the competitive group and wasn’t a worry to me.  Another guy (Darin) caught and passed me near the peak of the hill, at the point I was gasping and my tongue was dragging on the ground, as I was cranking an impressive 9MPH.  I continued on to the next turnaround and really wasn’t gaining on these guys.  No one else was catching me, so everything was okay.  Coming down the hill was fun and I was cranking in my top gear!  I drank all of the Acclerade in my aero bottle, which I wanted to do.  I made it back to transition, changed shoes, and took off.  I was at 57 minutes and some change.  Note to self:  Find out if there is a medical reason I can’t fart in the aero position.  BTW, later I checked my time for the bike: 44:38 (20.1 MPH)

All the liquid in my stomach was sloshing around…other than that the run felt really good.  Surprisingly, I caught Adam and passed him.  He drafted me a little, which made me feel pretty special.  I was catching a couple of people here and there from Heat 1.  I’m a ¼ mile or so from the turnaround and I see Darin and he is moving!  I hit the turnaround and see Speedy Gonzalez aka: John Marsh hoofing along.  I need to talk to Trudy about triathlon doping because John runs too fast after biking as fast as he does.  Something’s up…I need to contact that yellow-bellied French rag newspaper about another US athlete doping up.  It’s not like he’s a spring chicken either!  He’s 47 and runs like a deer.  I’m going to snitch off Jim Kueffner, too.  He’s in his late 40’s and is fast, too. Something’s up…they must get some blue pill or other drug when they hit 45.  It can’t possibly be training or hard work.  Note to self:  Talk to doctor friends and get some tri-roids.

Some dude in an orange jersey (sorry man, can’t think of your name!) passed me just after the turnaround…another competitive racer.  Anyway, I just tried to go as long as I could without John passing me, which was about ¾ mile from the finish.  Adam passed me at the very end, too.  I never caught Darin and he ended up winning our age group and the overall for the fitness division.  Great job, Darin! 

I finished second to Darin in the age group and overall fitness.  I finished in 1:38:31.  My watch said 1:38:28, so no complaints!  At the James O’Rourke Tri, Trudy Merritt (Queen of All Race Directors) gave me a hard time about my watch not matching her “official” time.  Now we know I was right the last time!!!  Note to self:  Shut up and don’t tick of the chick that makes triathlon happen in North Platte.

Shout out to John Marsh for winning the “overall” overall and a nice award of 20 dollars cash money!!!  Shout out to my homey, Rick Heirigs for winning his age group and finishing 3^rd overall fitness.  Shout out to Kearney’s Kathy and Chris or is it Chris and Kathy?  Just kidding!  Shouts to Chinda, Megan, Steve Bowles, Dave Carpenter, Brad Okamoto and pour out some of my 40 for my homeboy Rob Smith RIP (Relax in Peace) for watching and not racing.

My next race is the Harvest Moon HIM in Aurora, CO on September 17.  Good luck to everyone racing the upcoming IRONMAN WISCONSIN.  Go kick some booty.

Tri-Dummy OUT.