STP. SAG. DNF. WTF.

This last weekend was the Seattle to Portland bike ride. In a move that I will later come to regret, I chose to ride the Hornet. Here is my STP photo diary.

This is where the Hornet started STP.










This is where it finished STP at mile 125 after my left knee became a fiery ball of searing pain:

Bad hornet.








The adventrue started out at 2PM on Friday. Joel drove the minivan and successfully got all of the bikes in the back of the van. The Hornet is quietly plotting my demise.



Here is Joel. We like him even though he wears a polka dotted hat everywhere. He was a good driver and even though it took us 2 hours to get through Olympia and Tacoma, he did not yell or swear at anyone. That is the reason that I was not allowed to drive the minivan. My favorite part of any vehicle is the horn.

Five hours after leaving Portland, we arrived in Seattle. After a meal of mediocre pasta and good beer, we settled in for the night at Sue's house.

By 6AM, we were ready to rock n' roll.

Smokin. Pink. Kuota.

An old picture, but for those of you who haven't seen it, this is the still unnamed speed machine. Yes, that is a pink seat and pink bar tape. It now also sports pink pedals, pink water bottle cages and a pink bento box. You wish you could be this sexy. Pink bike + bulgarian wrestler tri-tard=I'm going to rock your ass on the bike.

Hagg-Laga-Ding-Dong

July 7, 2007. Hagg Lake. The day of the obligatory yearly sprint triathlon. Sigh. My least favorite distance, but also the one that I inevitably podium in. The irony. Yes, I am a huge whiner for no reason.

I knew this day would be a good one, though. The date was 7-7-07 and our wave had PINK swim caps. PINK.

We were the second wave in the sprint event. I took off like my ass was on fire. Since I only breathe off of my ride side and couldn't see anyone, I had not idea where I was until the first buoy. At the buoy, I saw one other pink cap and though "holy s#*$, I'm in second!!" Turns out I was really in third, but hell yeah. Swim-ming-mach-ine.

I busted through T1 and got out on the bike before the two women that beat me out of the water. It was the first time I've ever lead a race (although I know it isn't a real lead, but work with me here). The ride was hard. Up the hill, down the hill. Up the hill, down the hill. Not my favorite thing to do. The course itself is already tough, but I had a hard time getting into the sprint mentality on the bike. I kept settling in until someone would pass me and then I would remember to pick it up. I'm sure that annoyed everyone around me. Two women in my age group passed me at mile 8 and I stayed within spitting distance of them until T2.

Had a great T2 and felt great until the first downhill out of the boat ramp. The a massive side stitch took up residence in my right side. I could only breathe deep enough to maintain about a 8:30 pace and watched the two women in my age group quickly pull away from me. My frustration probably didn't help matters, as did my refusal to stop and try to stretch it out. Which culminated in my all time favorite race photo. Its like I've just realized that I actually have to get myself to the finish line.

With a half mile left, one more person from my age group passed me. She wasn't moving too fast, so I made up my mind to try and stay with her as long as my aching side would let me. Up the last 300 meter hill, the stitch miraculously cleared and I was able to sprint up the hill, past age group lady and into the finish area.

Stats:

Overall 1:22:27
Swim 13:44
T1 2:22
Bike 38:44
T2 1:24
Run 26:13

Third in my age group. Eighth overall female. Good results even with the log roll/run.