Racing with Podcast Royalty

TriBoomer, Emily, and Cara at the TexasMan Triathlon.

OK ‘BoomerNation, taste this…

Take one six-time Ironman Hawaii World Champion winner Dave Scott mingling in the transition area and giving pointers to age groupers...

add the same course used for the year 2000 Olympic Triathlon Trials...

roll in a generous portion of Brett & Emily of Zen and the Art of Triathlon podcast…

and a pinch of two tri-lifestyle divas, Cara and Elizabeth, of the InTransit Duo podcast…

then, simmer in a driving thunder storm and you have the recipe for a heaping helping of Texas Style whoop-butt triathlon. That was the weekend special at the Dave Scott TexasMan Triathlon in Irving, Texas.

When we arrived at the race site the thunderstorms were directly over us and it looked like more were on the way. Nontheless, the athletes set up their transition areas with a determined spirit to race.

Race director Tom Ryan did a fabulous job of keeping us informed and humored with his enthusiastically infectious wise-cracking announcements as the downpour continued. “As far as I’m concerned this race will happen," he said. "Anybody trying to turn in their timing chip will be tied to a bike rack." Soon afterwards he announced a break in storms was on the way and the race would be changed by shortening the Olympic distance swim and bike legs to that of the sprint distance and the 10k run would remain the same. The sprint distance race would not change. After a short time the rain stopped and the field of 1,000 athletes moved to the edge of Lake Carolyn. Dave Scott made an address and pointed out the overcast skies and cooler air made for perfect racing conditions. That’s exactly what we needed to hear and the race was on!

The ‘Boomer race plan was to push until it hurt. Nothing more complicated than that. “Remind your body what it’s like to go fast,” were my coach’s exact words. “OK,” I said, “Let’s do this!” I felt more than ready except for one small detail...

My Specialized Transition S-Works triathlon bike (think high end) is somewhere on the US highways making its way back to Texas from California where I raced in a half-ironman last weekend. Fortunately, I have another bike. It's a Trek 1000 road bike (think entry level) that is used for pleasure rides with the little 'Boomers. Would switching to a bike I haven’t trained on in months slow me down? Or, would not being able to get in the aero position make a difference? Well… I was about to find out.

I also decided to race in my Speedo, just for fun, like I did several weeks ago. And like Flatman would say, "Woots and hoots from the ladies in the house are always welcome." :-)

So, how did it go? Well, I didn’t exactly set the world on fire but my time of 1:30:00 was good enough to place 9th in my age group and 100th overall in the sprint. That's my personal best finish. Woo hoo!

Maaaaaaaaan, I love this sport!

Stay tuned...
46 days until my first Ironman.

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