Greg and I decided to make the trek up to Gilford NH for Timberfest this year (despite not racing, too close to IM WI for us!) we got up at 4am on Saturday to shower and hit the road to try to get up to Ellacoya State Park for the Sprint Race. We arrived as the Pros were coming out of T1 (perfect timing!) We hung out at the Park entry/exit and watched hundreds of racers exit/enter the park on their bikes. It was so fun (and over quick!) We hung with Matt and Rex, cheered and laughed. It was fun. Cait and Tim Snow won the race…Tri couple extraordinaire. So fun!
We headed over to Gunstock where we parked and prepared for a bike ride on the 70.3 course (it’s the first year in four that we have not raced, this was our first race ever, we both relayed the bike leg three years ago and after that signed up for our first half iron, Timberman ’06!) Anway, we hit the road and I rode G’s wheel the hills were moderate (didn’t’ feel as bad as years past) but I am still having saddle issues so we stopped a couple times to make small saddle adjustments. Met a guy who was lost riding the course (he was from Texas) so we rode back with him toward the start of the course. My ergomo battery died (hate that thing) so I had no data, but G said we were riding 21mph and I was hanging with these guys easily (until the hills!) but it was fun! Got back to Gunstock and hung out, saw Amanda and Matt..had some food with them then we headed out to grab a coffee and meet up with Curran (we were staying with her and her Dad locally, a huge thanks to them for housing us and being so generous!!) We had dinner with Curran and watched the Olympics. So fun!
Got up Sunday to watch the stacked field of Pros race the 70.3 course. Andy Potts, Bjorn Anderson Chrissie Wellington, just to name a few. We went to the swim exit and watched the parachuters come down to start the race! Andy Potts had a serious lead out of the swim, once he came out we went back to the same spectating spot from the day before to watch all the athletes exit T1 and go off on the bike. Some crazy fast people and some serious bike bling. It was cool to watch! We collected quite a few other spectators waiting for the athelets to come back. We were with Rex again, Pam and Daniel, Cory (Janda’s brother) and Michelle (Janda’s gf) and quite a few other people we met for the first time! We had a great time! We were happy to see Amanda go out on her bike with an aerohelmet on, I told her at dinner on Friday night she could justify it. A female who rides 2:40 can most definitely justify it in my book :) Go Amanda! The race finish was cool to watch, these Pros run sick times..I think they said Andy Potts ran a 1:14 half marathon. Just crazy. And Chrissie Wellington winning the women’s race (in 4:11) and finishing 6th overall is just crazy! She was SO happy to be racing. Smiling, high-fiving, dancing…coming back up the chute and celebrating after she crossed the line. Never met the girl, but she is a pleasure to watch race. She is just so happy to be wherever she is…it’s so uplifting and easy to cheer for someone like that. Makes you realize there are just happy people racing out there…she has to work hard, but she clearly enjoys what she’s doing! I had so much fun this weekend…I’m off to ride my (still uncomfortable) saddle tonight since I bagged my ride yesterday in order to watch the race. A worthy trade off in my book!
A couple props…Amanda, I know you are always your worst critic, but you had an amazing race yesterday. 2nd in F30-34 with a 5:05 finish. I’m in awe of your ability to perform consistently with so little experience (only your second year of racing) it’s been so fun getting to know you and watching you race. I’m learning a lot from you and hope that your perfect race comes soon. You deserve it! Until then, keep up the good work and keep your chin up…you’re a stellar athlete.
Janda had an amazing race despite puking on the bike. I saw him come out of T2 (he was like 7th or 8th overall) and it looked like his lip was bleeding. I said to Greg “I hope he didn’t crash” but he ran along shaking his head. The Pro athlete in him pulled it together and ran an awesome run to come in around 4:09 for 5th overall was sick (no pun intended!) Saw him after and asked if he was ok, turns out he had crazy stomach issues (thankfully no crash!) so to see him after pulling together a great race despite his issues. I’m in awe. Just met Janda this year through Amanda, but it’s been cool to see him rise through the ranks of the pros, he’s having a great season so far!
We left the race early..I was fried to a crisp from being out in the sun all day. We headed home and napped/watched the Olympics. A very inspirational weekend being around all these great athletes.
We headed over to Gunstock where we parked and prepared for a bike ride on the 70.3 course (it’s the first year in four that we have not raced, this was our first race ever, we both relayed the bike leg three years ago and after that signed up for our first half iron, Timberman ’06!) Anway, we hit the road and I rode G’s wheel the hills were moderate (didn’t’ feel as bad as years past) but I am still having saddle issues so we stopped a couple times to make small saddle adjustments. Met a guy who was lost riding the course (he was from Texas) so we rode back with him toward the start of the course. My ergomo battery died (hate that thing) so I had no data, but G said we were riding 21mph and I was hanging with these guys easily (until the hills!) but it was fun! Got back to Gunstock and hung out, saw Amanda and Matt..had some food with them then we headed out to grab a coffee and meet up with Curran (we were staying with her and her Dad locally, a huge thanks to them for housing us and being so generous!!) We had dinner with Curran and watched the Olympics. So fun!
Got up Sunday to watch the stacked field of Pros race the 70.3 course. Andy Potts, Bjorn Anderson Chrissie Wellington, just to name a few. We went to the swim exit and watched the parachuters come down to start the race! Andy Potts had a serious lead out of the swim, once he came out we went back to the same spectating spot from the day before to watch all the athletes exit T1 and go off on the bike. Some crazy fast people and some serious bike bling. It was cool to watch! We collected quite a few other spectators waiting for the athelets to come back. We were with Rex again, Pam and Daniel, Cory (Janda’s brother) and Michelle (Janda’s gf) and quite a few other people we met for the first time! We had a great time! We were happy to see Amanda go out on her bike with an aerohelmet on, I told her at dinner on Friday night she could justify it. A female who rides 2:40 can most definitely justify it in my book :) Go Amanda! The race finish was cool to watch, these Pros run sick times..I think they said Andy Potts ran a 1:14 half marathon. Just crazy. And Chrissie Wellington winning the women’s race (in 4:11) and finishing 6th overall is just crazy! She was SO happy to be racing. Smiling, high-fiving, dancing…coming back up the chute and celebrating after she crossed the line. Never met the girl, but she is a pleasure to watch race. She is just so happy to be wherever she is…it’s so uplifting and easy to cheer for someone like that. Makes you realize there are just happy people racing out there…she has to work hard, but she clearly enjoys what she’s doing! I had so much fun this weekend…I’m off to ride my (still uncomfortable) saddle tonight since I bagged my ride yesterday in order to watch the race. A worthy trade off in my book!
A couple props…Amanda, I know you are always your worst critic, but you had an amazing race yesterday. 2nd in F30-34 with a 5:05 finish. I’m in awe of your ability to perform consistently with so little experience (only your second year of racing) it’s been so fun getting to know you and watching you race. I’m learning a lot from you and hope that your perfect race comes soon. You deserve it! Until then, keep up the good work and keep your chin up…you’re a stellar athlete.
Janda had an amazing race despite puking on the bike. I saw him come out of T2 (he was like 7th or 8th overall) and it looked like his lip was bleeding. I said to Greg “I hope he didn’t crash” but he ran along shaking his head. The Pro athlete in him pulled it together and ran an awesome run to come in around 4:09 for 5th overall was sick (no pun intended!) Saw him after and asked if he was ok, turns out he had crazy stomach issues (thankfully no crash!) so to see him after pulling together a great race despite his issues. I’m in awe. Just met Janda this year through Amanda, but it’s been cool to see him rise through the ranks of the pros, he’s having a great season so far!
We left the race early..I was fried to a crisp from being out in the sun all day. We headed home and napped/watched the Olympics. A very inspirational weekend being around all these great athletes.
1 comments:
Sounds like a great weekend. How fun that you got to see all of the pros and the people that you were cheering on are impressive!
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