Someone PLEASE help this man!At last: The remake of last year!!! The event WE all have been waiting for!!! This is the event where Daddy is going to break the 3-hour hurdle… or so at least he dreamed! Well??? It was definitely another body breaking torture adventure!
So…! ? ! It all started about a year ago when a friend suggested participating in this race. Run, Bike, Run? Why not. Run I can, Bike I can. Run again? Mmmm – why not? Glad there is no swimming involved to say the least. So, we signed up last year (there is an earlier blog for this!), and have been waiting for the remake ever since we crossed that finish line last year. While we had nothing but rain last year, it was nothing but sun this year! Niiiiccccccccccccccccceeee! And!!!!!!!!! Half the neighborhood signed up for it – so we had all kinds of friends running around all morning! Definitely made for a more fun day for sis and myself, not to mention slow-moving mom these days!
But ok, back to the beginning! Up at the crack of dawn, Daddy makes his way to the race with Rick, Kathy and the rest of the clan. The bike is put-up in the transition area, and one is tempted to contemplate on how to warm up and where to take that last pee??? Bob and Klaas are discovered in the crowd, and last minute race-pep talk is exchanged: “So, what you end up doing last night ???” Dad almost misses the start as he is walking up to the starting line next to Kathy. Come on, dude – it’s a race and you signed up for it! The MEN (!!!) get to start 3 minutes early (only to be later passed by a bunch of fast women)…but Dad apparently was off to a good start, and only later disappointed that his run time (39:54.95 – 8:02 min/mile – 57th place) wasn’t as fast as it had felt to him (maybe it is time for starting to wear a watch during these races???) – he kicked ASS in the transition time though (1:11.00 min), but the bike didn’t feel as good as he had expected it to feel! Are we finally getting back to being the runner we thought we had always been? Well, probably not, but the day made for a beautiful bike ride! The bike pace was steady and fast with an 19.1 mph average (I know!!! That is unbelievable 30.6 kmh – 48th place). There was a group of approximately five bikers Dad was “hanging with” – naturally there is no drafting allowed in tri races, and an undercover race sheriff driving by at high speed in his VW Touareg makes a point of reminding everyone (is this still the neighborhood race we thought it was???) – I think the "sheriff" was actually coaching one of the women. Wow, Daddy! Now you're good! You are actually keeping up with one of the faster women!?! The last “older” gentleman Daddy passed was sure to pass him again on the second run. Daddy knew he had that coming for him…(just like last year…only it was more women passing him last year!).
Anyway, more running on cleats as Daddy transitions again from bike to running. Dad did manage do to his homework this time though. Constant foot gymnastics and low gear peddling during the last 2 miles of the race guaranteed legs that weren’t asleep when he had to get off the bike again (and not forgetting to mention not closing the shoes too tight this time – duhh, Dad!). But what was this pain in the rest of his body he was feeling??????? What was all this shoulder ache, this hip pain, these legs that didn’t want to run again, and these feet that forgot how to roll from heel to toe and wanted to land like a flat piece of 2x4 every time they touched the ground?? Who had forgotten about them? What about THEIR homework? Well?!? Apparently more training is in place for them?!! Mmmm…. After a quick hug and kiss for the whole family in the transition area (1:08.15 min), and a quick but painful “everything is going GREAT” (ahhh, this fu*king pain? where the hell is it coming from?) Daddy was off to run again, tip toeing in the beginning (Mommy laughs! – I say: What are you doing Daddy??? Is that how you are going to run the whole thing?!?)) – but at last this time feeling like he can actually move and feel his feet and legs again, determined to kick butt on the second run….he constantly shifts from “wow, I can’t believe the speed I am running at…..to….wow….I don’t think I can keep running at this pace…..am I going to finish??? But yes, we did finish. As I see my poor old man struggling up the last hill, mom shouts out to him: “we’ll meet up with you after that last turn-around and you can pick up the kids!” ??? Huh? Pick who up??? I am going to run!!! This is my high time now!!! Little sis briefly contemplates running into the finish, too – but than decides against it as I clamp onto Daddy’s hand and once again, and drag him across that finish line in: 3:11:53.55 – 54th out of 91 participants, 5th out of 8 in his age group, and 40th amongst MEN!
So, he improved by 15 minutes over last year! Wow! Not bad at all. But he still sucked win on that second run -> only 27 seconds over last year! Huhhh – I’m telling you, he is not a runner!!!
So that’s it! But since it was such a nice day, we decide to stick around for the awards ceremony as we are promised lots of free giveaways! The first pleasant surprise is that Rick and Kathy who participated as a Team won 3rd place! The next pleasant surprise is that they also win a free nights stay at a Motel (not sure what that is good for, but anyway), and then vintage T-shirt giveaways from last year's race are being handed out. Sorry, already got one! The whole time it seems like Dad is not really into it, and Mom is getting a little frustrated with him: "Don’t you want to win anything?" Oh, YES HE DID! Just as the race crew is wrapping things up he reminds them about the free-entry giveaway for the 2009 Chapel Hill Ramblin Rose Triathlon (a fabulous and famous WOMEN ONLY Super Sprint Triathlon). The friendly race hand sends Dad back into the “crowd” and after a couple of other things, when Daddy starts jumping up and down vigorously and spraying Mommy and me with his water bottle the same friendly race hand announces: “ The free-entry to the Ramblin Rose goes to??? THE MAN! And he points at DAD! We WON, we won, WE WON! Mom is ecstatic! Being 27 weeks pregnant with number 3 obviously limits her ability to be jumping up and down, but she is all smiles and so proud of Daddy. She has competed in the last two editions of this beautiful race, but was afraid to sign up for it this year, since it will be approximately 3 month after delivery. The race sold out quickly anyway, and before she could have made up her mind the window of opportunity had passed by – only to come back now! Mom and Dad walk up hand in hand (so beautiful) to accept the price, and the race hand wants to know their names and starts chatting with them. A few words of encouragement to Mom: Ohh, you can do it!!! – and the happy people remember that they still have a couple of kids on the lawn! Alright, wrap it up gang – we are out of here and high tailing it into Spring Break! I got this Dad all to myself for the next 8 days!
So…! ? ! It all started about a year ago when a friend suggested participating in this race. Run, Bike, Run? Why not. Run I can, Bike I can. Run again? Mmmm – why not? Glad there is no swimming involved to say the least. So, we signed up last year (there is an earlier blog for this!), and have been waiting for the remake ever since we crossed that finish line last year. While we had nothing but rain last year, it was nothing but sun this year! Niiiiccccccccccccccccceeee! And!!!!!!!!! Half the neighborhood signed up for it – so we had all kinds of friends running around all morning! Definitely made for a more fun day for sis and myself, not to mention slow-moving mom these days!
But ok, back to the beginning! Up at the crack of dawn, Daddy makes his way to the race with Rick, Kathy and the rest of the clan. The bike is put-up in the transition area, and one is tempted to contemplate on how to warm up and where to take that last pee??? Bob and Klaas are discovered in the crowd, and last minute race-pep talk is exchanged: “So, what you end up doing last night ???” Dad almost misses the start as he is walking up to the starting line next to Kathy. Come on, dude – it’s a race and you signed up for it! The MEN (!!!) get to start 3 minutes early (only to be later passed by a bunch of fast women)…but Dad apparently was off to a good start, and only later disappointed that his run time (39:54.95 – 8:02 min/mile – 57th place) wasn’t as fast as it had felt to him (maybe it is time for starting to wear a watch during these races???) – he kicked ASS in the transition time though (1:11.00 min), but the bike didn’t feel as good as he had expected it to feel! Are we finally getting back to being the runner we thought we had always been? Well, probably not, but the day made for a beautiful bike ride! The bike pace was steady and fast with an 19.1 mph average (I know!!! That is unbelievable 30.6 kmh – 48th place). There was a group of approximately five bikers Dad was “hanging with” – naturally there is no drafting allowed in tri races, and an undercover race sheriff driving by at high speed in his VW Touareg makes a point of reminding everyone (is this still the neighborhood race we thought it was???) – I think the "sheriff" was actually coaching one of the women. Wow, Daddy! Now you're good! You are actually keeping up with one of the faster women!?! The last “older” gentleman Daddy passed was sure to pass him again on the second run. Daddy knew he had that coming for him…(just like last year…only it was more women passing him last year!).
Anyway, more running on cleats as Daddy transitions again from bike to running. Dad did manage do to his homework this time though. Constant foot gymnastics and low gear peddling during the last 2 miles of the race guaranteed legs that weren’t asleep when he had to get off the bike again (and not forgetting to mention not closing the shoes too tight this time – duhh, Dad!). But what was this pain in the rest of his body he was feeling??????? What was all this shoulder ache, this hip pain, these legs that didn’t want to run again, and these feet that forgot how to roll from heel to toe and wanted to land like a flat piece of 2x4 every time they touched the ground?? Who had forgotten about them? What about THEIR homework? Well?!? Apparently more training is in place for them?!! Mmmm…. After a quick hug and kiss for the whole family in the transition area (1:08.15 min), and a quick but painful “everything is going GREAT” (ahhh, this fu*king pain? where the hell is it coming from?) Daddy was off to run again, tip toeing in the beginning (Mommy laughs! – I say: What are you doing Daddy??? Is that how you are going to run the whole thing?!?)) – but at last this time feeling like he can actually move and feel his feet and legs again, determined to kick butt on the second run….he constantly shifts from “wow, I can’t believe the speed I am running at…..to….wow….I don’t think I can keep running at this pace…..am I going to finish??? But yes, we did finish. As I see my poor old man struggling up the last hill, mom shouts out to him: “we’ll meet up with you after that last turn-around and you can pick up the kids!” ??? Huh? Pick who up??? I am going to run!!! This is my high time now!!! Little sis briefly contemplates running into the finish, too – but than decides against it as I clamp onto Daddy’s hand and once again, and drag him across that finish line in: 3:11:53.55 – 54th out of 91 participants, 5th out of 8 in his age group, and 40th amongst MEN!
So, he improved by 15 minutes over last year! Wow! Not bad at all. But he still sucked win on that second run -> only 27 seconds over last year! Huhhh – I’m telling you, he is not a runner!!!
So that’s it! But since it was such a nice day, we decide to stick around for the awards ceremony as we are promised lots of free giveaways! The first pleasant surprise is that Rick and Kathy who participated as a Team won 3rd place! The next pleasant surprise is that they also win a free nights stay at a Motel (not sure what that is good for, but anyway), and then vintage T-shirt giveaways from last year's race are being handed out. Sorry, already got one! The whole time it seems like Dad is not really into it, and Mom is getting a little frustrated with him: "Don’t you want to win anything?" Oh, YES HE DID! Just as the race crew is wrapping things up he reminds them about the free-entry giveaway for the 2009 Chapel Hill Ramblin Rose Triathlon (a fabulous and famous WOMEN ONLY Super Sprint Triathlon). The friendly race hand sends Dad back into the “crowd” and after a couple of other things, when Daddy starts jumping up and down vigorously and spraying Mommy and me with his water bottle the same friendly race hand announces: “ The free-entry to the Ramblin Rose goes to??? THE MAN! And he points at DAD! We WON, we won, WE WON! Mom is ecstatic! Being 27 weeks pregnant with number 3 obviously limits her ability to be jumping up and down, but she is all smiles and so proud of Daddy. She has competed in the last two editions of this beautiful race, but was afraid to sign up for it this year, since it will be approximately 3 month after delivery. The race sold out quickly anyway, and before she could have made up her mind the window of opportunity had passed by – only to come back now! Mom and Dad walk up hand in hand (so beautiful) to accept the price, and the race hand wants to know their names and starts chatting with them. A few words of encouragement to Mom: Ohh, you can do it!!! – and the happy people remember that they still have a couple of kids on the lawn! Alright, wrap it up gang – we are out of here and high tailing it into Spring Break! I got this Dad all to myself for the next 8 days!
This is THE ONLY way to finish!
2 comments:
that last pic with dad and luc is priceless! love it!
congratulations to you guys, that was another great post and better race!!
Good job family!!
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