Frank Dunn Race Report

Well..there was more good about the day than bad...but still some bad which is crappy.

Stayed with Jenna in the RV, very nice and comfortable! THANK-YOU Jenna! Much appreciated. Up at the crack of dawn and had my bagel and banana and grapefruit. Puttered around the RV getting things organized and that would include Jenna's children. Then it started to pour rain just as we were leaving the RV for the beach. This made me seriously grumpy. But when we arrived at the beach, the rain had stopped and you could see the clear skies coming. Hooray!! Wandered around the transition area and got my timing chip and body marked. We did not have alot of time to spare but it appears I have my systems down for this sport!! Not like last year when I was totally frazzled and panicked and freaking out. So this was good. Went into the water for a warm up swim...everyone else warmed up, I just stood around in waist deep water. Have never been much for warming up for the swim!! Positioned myself way to the left of the group right in front. The horn went off and away we went. The swim course is a T and a tight left turn at the first bouy...I ducked under and swam UNDER the bouy!! Not sure if this was legal but nobody touched me and I had clear water for most of swim!! Caught a pack about halfway and assumed that someone was sighting properly...nope!! I looked up once and OMG we were WAY off course!! RATS!! Rounded the last bouy and swam right up next to Jenna...I was going to pinch her but not sure if she would feel it through the wet suit!

Onto the bike. This is what the day was for me...a really good bike ride. Last year I was scared to death to get on that bike...62km was like an eternity...at the end my back and neck and legs and butt were spent. This year, I had made my mind up I was going to pedal that bike like I was being chased...which is not far from the truth, actually!! I had a really good ride!! I don't know exactly what my time was but I am sure I took a whole chunk off from last year. Felt good and strong the whole way. Still got passed by too many people but I think that is just going to be the reality of my triathlon life. The course went through town about half way and I slowed right down as I knew Jenna was worried about leaving her kids so I wanted to look for them...once a mom, you are also the surrogate mom for all your friend's kids. I did not see them...but one of my tri-buddies passed me right after that and she asked why I had slowed down and to save her the story, I told her I was looking for the cameras!! Ha Ha!!

Anyway, the highway out there was super rough and I saw many, many with flat tires. So the triathlon gods were looking after me today in that respect.

Then came my horrid run. Okay, it wasn't horrid but close. I was pleased with my bike ride, started the run, found my legs at about the 3km mark, started to feel really good. Then about the half way mark, I did not feel like running anymore...I cannot explain it any better than this...I was not sick, nothing really hurt, I was tired but I had just pedalled 62km as hard as I could, my head just turned off. Jenna caught me and we ran together for a bit and then she took off on me and I walked a good chunk of that last half. I was disgusted with this!! And when things aren't going my way, I tend to pout and feel really bad for myself and then my mental state just hits the toilet. But I have analysed this a bit more and I had said the most important thing was the bike ride...I got that done. I did run a pretty solid 6.5km...that must count for something!!?? I have not ran for very long since the half ironman in July...I guess this would be important in hindsight. I wasn't even going to do this race...just not into it but I did something that just one year ago I was terrified to do. It was a gorgeous day, I knocked about 15-20 minutes off my time from last year...overall a pretty good day!! Will post the official times when I get them.

Jenna had a great day...but will let her tell you all about it...her Dad will be super proud!!