Athena Nationals - GR 70.3

I love the Grand Rapid tri. I have done it three times now and loved both the Olympic and 70.3 races. Last year and this year I did the 70.3 (Half Iron) - 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run. This race is also the Athena/Clydesdale National Championship and so I get to compete in that, which adds extra fun. Athenas are female triathletes over 165 pounds.

David and drove up to Grand Rapids on Saturday and went straight to the expo/packet pickup. For the national championship there is VIP check in. Athletes also have to weigh in. I took care of all of that and then we checked out a few tables before heading to the hotel.

Sunday morning I was up at 4:15 to eat, have David apply my race tats, and head out to the race. David dropped me off at the athlete drop and I went to transition to set up and hit the bathroom before putting on my wetsuit. I didn't have enough a time to get in the water before the swim practice was over, but still felt good about it. In the corral the Athenas greeted one another and did introductions before we got in the water for the wave start. The 70.3 Athenas and Clydesdales were the first wave. 

I had been saying that my goal was 7:15 (a small PR), but I had another goal that only one person knew. I had planned out what I needed to make it.

The swim plan was a realistic 45 minutes and I came in just under that. There had been some swimming on top of people and getting chased by the fast Aquabike participants so it was as well as expected. T1 was just a shade under the planned 5 minutes. I knew I was on track if the bike went well.

I knew from the weather that the eastbound parts of the bike course would be into the wind and the north/south would have a crosswind. I also knew from the race last year that the middle part is hilly, especially the stretch just past Saranac. It was as expected. My goal was 3:15 and I was a touch over 3:20 with the wind and a brief stop because I was checking to make sure I didn't have a flat (I heard a noise). T2 was a touch over the planned 5 minutes for a potty stop. I still wasn't distracted from the goal even though I was a little behind.

I was aiming for 2:45 on the run to give me just under 7 hours and I knew I had used my extra 5 min on the bike so it I was going to make it, I would need to run the plan. I did 3:1 run/walk with the idea that if I felt great at 10 I could extend the run or just switch to run. But I realized on the first loop that one of the big annoying hills was after 10 so I basically knew I wouldn't be extending until at least 11. At 11 miles I felt good, but not fantastic enough to want to run hard just yet and I knew I planned to check total time at 12 to see where I was, when I did I was at 6:40 and knew I was going to break 7 hours. I almost cried. I decided to stay with the run/walk through 13 and then I closed hard.

My total time was 6:52:23. I am very, very happy with that. It wasn't strong enough to make the podium this year but that is about other people, not about me. Last year was nearly an hour slower and I was 3rd. This was an amazing race for me.