This past weekend kicked off one of four triathlons for Play Tri's North Texas Tri Series.This first one was a 300 yard pool swim, 13 mile bike, and a 3.5 mile run, held at the McKinney High School. Honestly, I was fortunate by the Grace of God to be alive that weekend and make it to the start line. (Right Tracy?). I had a great host for this event. A friend from college, Tracy Bailey let me stay at his place and we went to the Grapevine Mills Mall to shop for our mothers, but ended up buying stuff for ourselves. Funny how that works out. (Sorry Mom). Long story short, we leave the mall on a busy freeway, when Tracy says, "This road sure is bumpy". He switches lanes and it get's worse. I say, "I don't think it's the road, I think you might have a flat". He merges over and we see the passenger rear tire roll past us on the drivers side. The tire pretty much came completely off. Once we got back, Tracy cooked up this great pre race meal. Baked chicken topped with red, yellow, and orange bell peppers, placed on a bed of (non-salt) seasoned brown rice. served with a spinach salad with advocados, tomatoes, and carrots. Also with whole english green beans, corn bread and a boiled egg.
The race itself was low key, but good, and organized. It was a 300 yard pool swim with swimmers going in both directions in each lane. I was out of the water at 4:30, for the 13th fastest swim. Off to my bike next for the 13 mile bike portion, it started flat in town but ventured off on some country back roads with some rolling hills and some sharp curves thrown in. I didn't see anybody for awhile on this road and was wondering if I was lost, missed a turn or something. Finally, I came up on Pedro and then once I got close to Aaron the lead cyclist, I backed off the last 2 miles and did some soft pedaling. Even with slowing down a lot the last 2 miles I still averaged 24.4 mph on the course for the fastest bike time by 0.9mph. During the run portion my calves were cramping right away, but I ran through it until it went away, the run was quite hilly with one hill after another, especially the first 2.5 miles. We ran from the high school to downtown McKinney and back through a park and back. The course was supposedly 3.5 miles, but my Garmin 310xt measured 3.6. It was showing the mile markers as being right on with the course mile markers until the very end. Either way still finished in 20:27, my splits were something like this 5:42, 5:45, 5:34, and just under a 5:30 mi/pace the last bit, for an average of 5:40 mi/pace for the fastest run. The race benefited the McKinney Kiwanis which supports the youth and other variety of charities. Thanks to my Lord for another good race and Tracy for being an awesome host and cooking up a delicious meal! I am excited to start another block of training tomorrow. I already have my water bottles filled and in the fridge. I won't race again until June 6th at the 2nd North Texas Tri series, the Play Tri Festival. I am doing the intermediate distance race then.
Thanks for everyone's support!
WILLIAM
