Iron Girl

***Iron Girl DISTANCE***

Swim: .62 miles
Bike: 17.5 miles
Run: 3.4 miles

***RESULTS***

Overall

Overall: 1:36:54, 10th/1632 overall, 1st in age group
Swim: 13:48
Bike: 54:22/19.3avg
Run: 25:56/7:38avg

***PRERACE***

Iron Girl was the 2nd of our Team LUNA Chix DC events and my 1st Iron Girl event. Friday and Saturday were the Iron Girl Expo. We set up our Luna tent both days to promote LUNA, BCF, triathlon, and to raise some money for BCF. This year we decided to do a raffle for Shonny Vanlandingham's jersey and a LUNA saddle. Both were hot items and we were able to raise over $600! During my time at the tent I talked to so many great ladies and was really inspired by everyone. The Expo/Packet pick-up were huge...so many vendors, goodies, etc. I was a bit overwhelmed. I left the Expo around 5pm and headed to Centennial Park for bike check-in. That was easy and I wa son the road back to DC by 6pm. Got home, got my stuff ready, and was in bed by 9pm.

Up at 430am on Sunday and on the road by 445am. Got to the park around 530am and headed to transition to set up. I did not expect to see any of my LUNA teammates until after the race...I was in the 1st wave at 645am...the elite wave (also the pro wave). A lot of the team did not go off until after 730am. It was still dark and I had somewhat of a hard time pumping my tires and lubing my chain...I think I lubed the whole area. nice. A girl I met in transition really calmed me before the race. She was a riot. Her name was Erin, it was her 1st triathlon, and somehow she had gotten herself into the elite wave. She thought it was pretty hysterical. I loved her laid-back attitude. She had forgotten water bottles, so I ran back to my car and grabbed her some LUNA bottles. She was very grateful and my new best friend.

It was then time to head down to the water. I was freezing. The water was 84 so wetsuits would not be allowed. Once I got in I would be fine.

***RACE***

SWIM - They called us up to enter the water. We all waded in and all lined up treading water. Thew ave was only about 25 people so it was not hard to find a spot. I positioned myself on the end right of the line and waited for the strange Aflac duck go signal. BUHAHA. We were off. It seemed like a more calm start than usual. I had positioned myself on the right so that I could just site off everyone to the left (I breathe to my left). We started to separate. About 6 ladies were out in front...I was not far behind them. And I did not see anyone to either side, just a lot of splashing behind. I settled into my rhythm and started to focus on myself and not everyone around me. It was sort of a rectangular course. On the long side I saw no one around me, just the few out in front, and felt someone at my feet constantly. ARGHHH someone was really drafting me. I just tried to kick a lot :) Finally I spotted the finish chute. I sprinted in. As I ran out of the water I saw Laura and Andie, they were there cheering me on.

T1 - Nothing too exciting. I was off on BANANAS. YEAHHHHHH BANANAS.

BIKE - I had never rode the exact course. Came out the beginning of May to ride the Columbia course with DC tri and I knew it was hilly. Which is good...my strength. The girl who had come out of the water right behind me passed me after a few miles. I wanted to hold my place so did not want her to get out of my site. I was feeling decent. I had taken a few weeks off riding and did not feel as strong as I had been at the beginning of the season...but not bad...legs did feel fresh. Each hill I gained on the girl that had passed me. There were 2 roundabouts on the course. After the 1st one I saw I was not too far behind Dede, the leader. Exciting! With about 5 miles to go I passed the girl who had passed me. I felt I was maybe in 7th or 8th place overall as I came into T2.

T2 - Quickly got outta there...Newtons...no socks...should be interesting :) My blister situation has been much better. I have been putting iodine all over my feet and they were pretty tough now. But still for anything longer than say 4 miles I should wear socks.

RUN - I was in 8th. I wanted to make top 10. So this is where I get nervous...and people usually start passing me. I could see someone behind me maybe 100 feet. Yes, she would surely pass me. I tried to set into a pace with high cadence. Looked behind again about 5 minutes later and no one. Mile 1, still no site of anyone behind me. Mile 2, same...no one behind me. I picked it up a bit...if no one passed me on the run that would be ridiculous....I would make it happen. Mile 3, no one behind for as far as I could see. GEEZ...haha I guess I am pretty paranoid when I run. Only .4 to go! I busted it to the finish. Crossed the line in 8th!

***POSTRACE***

All of the sudden I was sweating like hot yoga. I needed water. I talked with Megan, who had finished 5th! and then headed to the LUNA tent to hang/regroup and wait for others to finish. My teammates started coming in. Everyone was in the best mood and really happy with their strong finishes. Then I headed over to get a post-race massage...never done that...why not though..it was free!

Iron Girl was an excellent event and Team LUNA Chix DC did good....promoting the sport, raising money for BCF, and team togetherness. :) Thanks everyone! I love you all.

***LESSONS LEARNED***

-Iono.

-Up Next: Reston Triathlon, Reston, VA, September 7, 2008 (look for the big blue tent!...we will have lots and lots of YUMMY snacks for all)

LUNA Pro team athletes in the Olympics

Catharine Pendrel Only 9 Seconds From Bronze, Georgia Gould Finishes a Solid 8th

August 23, 2008 Vail, CO
Congratulations to Catharine and Georgia for an outstanding race at the Olympics! I went online last night and watched the entire race from my computer. It was amazing coverage, except I had to make up my own commentary. I was thrilled that we actually got to watch the entire race, and not a five minute highlight segment squished into the NBC swimming and gymnastics show. I have few details on the race, but from what Isaw and read, it was brutally hard.

Catharine had the ride of her life and finished 4th, only 9 seconds out of the bronze medal. Georgia got the hole shot off the start line and then rode steadily in the top ten to finish eighth, just 23 seconds behind her fellow US teammate Mary McConnelog. It was an incredibly difficult course with many of the athletes saying it was the hardest circuit they've seen all year.

Catharine rode in the top five the entire race. She was third with two laps to go. An unfortunate missed shift on the last climb of the last lap allowed Irina Kalentieva, the 2007 World Champion, to squeak past her and claim the bronze by a mere nine seconds. "Irina and I were together for most of the last lap," said Catharine. "There was one little 'popper' climb before the final descent, and I made an error there. I tried to downshift to my granny [gear] on the steepest part, and had to put my foot down, and that's when she got by me. It hurts, but it was still a fantastic ride for
me, and I feel that I didn't lose third, I won fourth."

After a strong start, Georgia rode steadily up through the field. With one lap to go Georgia was in 12th behind China's Ying Liu, winner of the 2007 test event. A last lap surge saw Georgia come across the line in 8th.

"It wasn't what I was hoping and dreaming for," said Georgia, "but it's a solid result. I had a strategy to be conservative at the beginning, because I knew people would be blowing up at the end. If you're tired, you can't make it up those climbs." Still, a top ten finish at the Olympic Games is outstanding!

Congrats to both Catharine and Georgia. Enjoy the Closing Ceremonies and safe travels back home.

Swim Clinic - Tuesday August 19th 7:15pm