Not Florida Hills

This race season I picked the Ironman 70.3 in Washington State as one of my races. I would not have traded this experience for the world. If there is one thing I love about triathlon is doing races in all different places and with different challenges to take on. This race offered up all of those things. The swim was about 68 degrees but they gave us a line as a guide which was a very cool perk. The bike was nothing shy of amazing. Hills, mountains, winding hills, heart pounding, quads moaning, but man did you know you were alive on that bike course. I loved it. As a Florida girl there is no way I could have trained those hills at home. But I trained hard and went out west to see what Washington would hand me. It did not disappoint. I felt a wee bit sick when we drove the course the day before as I knew these "hills" would be a whole new experience but I told myself "you love hills" and I just went with that. It was hard but amazing...I biked it in 3:17 which was two minutes shy of where I thought I would be. However, the run....not so amazing! I have been fighting an injury resulting from the bike all season and unfortunately that little pain decided to show up that day. On a positive note...I was able to enjoy the beauty of the run course...unfortunately at a way slower pace than I would have liked. But I knew this was a possibility so had kind of expected this outcome. Overall an amazing and beautiful venue but you had better love winding hills on the bike and lots of hills on the run to take on Lake Stevens. I was lucky also in that my husband and uncle escorted me to this race. It was fun to have family cheering you out of the swim and coming into the finishing chute. Another perk is that John took lots of photos...so this event is my first event that is documented. That is a race I will be able to see forever! Big thanks also go out to my cousin Daniel who reluctantly agreed to ride with me as a warm-up on Saturday. Goodness knows I would have never found my way back to the parking lot as I lack a sense of direction. It was also so great to share a common interest with him and to have him check out my bike one final time before race day! I can never thank my cousin, uncle and husband for their support that day. Let me not forget my aunt who took on my four boys in Portland for a few days so that I could race with an uncluttered mind! Thank you so much to a wonderful family!!