Joan Murray: NYC Tri- "My best 10K by 11 minutes and 39 seconds!
NYC TRI
After last year's 100 degree heat on race day, I decided to do this year's race as part of a relay team. That way we could really enjoy the day no matter what Mother Nature threw at us.
Our first leg, Katy, was an NCAA ranked swimmer who had never swam in open water, or in a wet suit. So she was nervous, and freaked out a little when she couldn't see her hand below her on each stroke. She's a fierce competitor, though, and dug down for an amazing swim. She was the second relay swimmer out of the water, just behind a guy. She goes to run past him, but he throws out both his elbows to block her. This only made her run harder to get by him. Unfortunately, she got sea sick, so she had to pull off to the side and throw up a little. When she started running again, she got a big round of applause from the spectators. She again catches the first relay guy, and again he tried to block her. Well, Katy doesn't play like that, so she dusted him. She was the first relay into transition!
Karen set out on the bike and rode hard, almost a PR. All I could think was, "Oh, no! I'm certainly not the fastest runner here. I'm gonna lose us our first place." I'm not shy to admit I was glad Karen wasn't first off the bike
src="http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/resources/core/images/wink.gif" width=19>.
I set out on the run and was so awed by the crowds lining 72nd St. I tried to really take it all in. Saw Coach Cliff..big surge of adrenaline there. Then the Challenged Athletes crew, and another surge of adrenaline. Next I ran past my parents. They were standing across from the Dakota (where John Lennon lived and died). It is hard to desribe the power of that moment for me; so many things I love all in one place...the Beatles, my folks and triathlon.
Just then I saw the One Mile marker, looked at my watch and laughed. It was the fastest mile I'd ever run in a race. I was wondering if I could keep it up for 5.2 more miles when I heard a little chuckle. I looked at my HRM and realized it was mocking me. OK, time to take it down a notch. Well, I thought, maybe I could keep this pace up. That's when I heared a deep voice...It was the Harlem Hills, sounding a lot like James Earl Jones a la Darth Vador, saying 'Bring It!" OK. OK. I'll run smart. No more adrenaline for me!
I had one goal for this run: to finnish knowing I gave it absolutely every single thing I had. I kind of had a time goal, but it was so much faster then my last 10K, I wan't sure I'd get there. But I did! I bested my last 10K by 11 minutes and 39 seconds!
We ended up 9th of 17 female relays. But I just tell people we were in the top 10 src="http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/resources/core/images/wink.gif" width=19>
~Joan
After last year's 100 degree heat on race day, I decided to do this year's race as part of a relay team. That way we could really enjoy the day no matter what Mother Nature threw at us.
Our first leg, Katy, was an NCAA ranked swimmer who had never swam in open water, or in a wet suit. So she was nervous, and freaked out a little when she couldn't see her hand below her on each stroke. She's a fierce competitor, though, and dug down for an amazing swim. She was the second relay swimmer out of the water, just behind a guy. She goes to run past him, but he throws out both his elbows to block her. This only made her run harder to get by him. Unfortunately, she got sea sick, so she had to pull off to the side and throw up a little. When she started running again, she got a big round of applause from the spectators. She again catches the first relay guy, and again he tried to block her. Well, Katy doesn't play like that, so she dusted him. She was the first relay into transition!
Karen set out on the bike and rode hard, almost a PR. All I could think was, "Oh, no! I'm certainly not the fastest runner here. I'm gonna lose us our first place." I'm not shy to admit I was glad Karen wasn't first off the bike
src="http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/resources/core/images/wink.gif" width=19>.I set out on the run and was so awed by the crowds lining 72nd St. I tried to really take it all in. Saw Coach Cliff..big surge of adrenaline there. Then the Challenged Athletes crew, and another surge of adrenaline. Next I ran past my parents. They were standing across from the Dakota (where John Lennon lived and died). It is hard to desribe the power of that moment for me; so many things I love all in one place...the Beatles, my folks and triathlon.
Just then I saw the One Mile marker, looked at my watch and laughed. It was the fastest mile I'd ever run in a race. I was wondering if I could keep it up for 5.2 more miles when I heard a little chuckle. I looked at my HRM and realized it was mocking me. OK, time to take it down a notch. Well, I thought, maybe I could keep this pace up. That's when I heared a deep voice...It was the Harlem Hills, sounding a lot like James Earl Jones a la Darth Vador, saying 'Bring It!" OK. OK. I'll run smart. No more adrenaline for me!
I had one goal for this run: to finnish knowing I gave it absolutely every single thing I had. I kind of had a time goal, but it was so much faster then my last 10K, I wan't sure I'd get there. But I did! I bested my last 10K by 11 minutes and 39 seconds!
We ended up 9th of 17 female relays. But I just tell people we were in the top 10
src="http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/resources/core/images/wink.gif" width=19>~Joan
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