Tiara Tri, (because you can never have too many crowns!)

Yesterday was the 3rd Annual Tiara Tri and I'm proud to say I've participated all three years. It's an all women's race in El Dorado State Park and I love being able to share this event with my friends.

Cara, me, and Kate all smiles with our Tiaras

Kate H. and her friend Cara C. were also doing the race so we left in the wee dark hours to get a good spot on the rack. Turns out everyone else had the same plan and the racks were almost full when we got there. This race has exploded from less then 60 entrants the first year to over 100 this time around. We wedged our bikes on the rack and checked in and got our lovely body markings. They put your bib number on your arm and your age on your leg. I am notorious for looking at that age number as I scope out all the really fast looking old ladies.

We went down to the water and were happy to see the marker buoys were much closer in this year. Last year the swim was a lot longer so things were already looking up. As usual I sized up the ladies in my group and only saw a few but the ones I did see looked pretty fit. Rats. But I would give it a good try and see what happened.

They started in three waves and with this many entrants it was crammed and legs and arms were

Over 100 women all sharing a huge dressing room.

everywhere. You can plan you swim all you want but when you get in the mix it's all about staying above the water and not getting smacked or kicked. I ended up having to keep my head out of the water for the first third and by the time the pack thinned out my heart rate was too high to manage a good freestyle stroke rhythm. So it was scissor kick all the way to the shore and off to the transition area.

The bike was the same course and wasn't any smoother this year then last. Also, the hills didn't get any smaller and the speed bumps didn't get any lower. I managed to pass quite a few on the ride and was feeling pretty good about my pace.

I sparkle!

The run is the run. I know I'm not a good runner and never will be. One of the ladies in my age group passed me and she was looking way to fresh and relaxed for me to ever think about staying up with her. But I didn't see the other ladies pass me so I was hopeful. I finished pretty strong and was happy with my pace.

Turns out I was 4th in my age group. Apparently the other two really fast ladies blew by me on the swim and I never saw them again. Dang. Oh well, that's the way racing goes. It all depends on who shows up and who stays home on any given day. This year they gave string bags instead of place medals so I didn't miss much. Come to think of it, the finisher medal was pretty small this year and the crown was smaller too. Hmmmm. I hope they fix that for next year because I'll be back for my 4th crown. A girl can never have too many tiaras!

I'm Not Alone!!

It's easy to feel like you are the only one battling through issues but I learned recently of another athlete in our area who has Rheumatoid Arthritis and is not letting it stand in his way. While the majority of RA warriors are women it does strike men as well. Most think of arthritis as an old person's disease however RA actually strikes most often in the 20's and 30's. This athlete was hit at the age of 17.

Let me tell you, he is amazing! I've watched him run for years and thought how smooth he was. He makes it look effortless yet all the while he's been fighting through the pain, fatigue, and swollen joints. He's a private man and doesn't share his story with many but when I asked him about it he showed me his hands. Unmistakable.

His philosophy is simple. "Someday I may not be able to do this, but today is not that day."

I'm humbled.

Triple Threat Triathlon Series

This was a new series in my area and of course I had to be part of the fun. It consisted of three triathlons three weeks in a row, each one a little unique. The prize for doing all three was a really nice jacket. How could I pass that up? The bonus was three triathlons within very short driving distance and a chance to hang out with some really awesome friends every weekend. The hidden bonus was I actually saw improvement from week to week.

Race 1: Reverse Tri at Scott City

First race finished.

Holy cow, this one had me worried. It was run in reverse order with the run first and swim last. Yikes! I totally suck at the run and was so worried about being exhausted that I would be worthless on the bike and flounder in the water. But it really worked well and the transitions were actually easier. You were taking things off not putting things on. The only down side for me was my shoulders really tightened up as I rode and the swim stroke was pretty painful. I even managed to maintain my normal pace for each segment. Finished with a smile as there were no age group awards.

Race 2: Double Triathlon at Holcomb

Second Race Finished

This triathlon give you the option to finish a mini sprint and then do it again, backwards. So you can swim, bike, run, run, bike, swim, to complete the double. I'm crazy, but not that crazy and only did the first part. The distances are 225 swim, 9 mile bike, 2 mile run so the single is pretty doable. Since one of the ladies in my age group did the double it bumped me up to second place in my division. Woo Hoo!

Race 3: Arkansas Trails Triathlon at Garden City

Third Race Finished!!

I was really looking forward to the swim part of this race and dreading the run. The Big Pool in Garden City is huge by pool standards and I lobbied hard to get a perimeter swim to simulate an open water swim in a clear water environment. Those who were leery of lakes and murky water could see the bottom and those who didn't feel strong enough to swim in a lake could get that feeling and still have the side near enough to grab if they needed. Each lap around the pool is approximately 200 meters so twice around the pool was a perfect distance. The bike was the normal route through the Sand Hills and back. But the run was scary for me. It was a 4 mile run through trails along the Arkansas River. The sand was loose in many areas with lots of hidden rocks and uneven gullies. I took my time and survived. I finished 3rd again, just out of the medals behind the same two ladies. But I finished.

Final Thoughts

It was a fantastic turnout for this series. Over 25 people took up the challenge and completed all three races. It points out the popularity of this sport and the desire of people in our area to try new things and step out of our comfort zones. Many others participated in one or two of the events and all three races were well attended. I'm in awe of the fast people and inspired by everyone who steps up to the start line. The positive energy that flows at events like this is like nothing else in the world. I hope this series continues to grow. It's unique and fun and has brought me many new friends. That's a win in my books.

Triple Threat Triathlon Finishers. (I'm at the far left)