Another Sprint- "Mister You Rock," and "When I Grow Up, I Want to Be You."

 

CB & I Triathlon

May 1, 2010

Woodlands, Texas 

500-meter swim-15-mile bike–5K run.

It all seemed like I was not supposed to do the CB & I triathlon this past Saturday. Friday, it looked like we were going to have race-day thunderstorms. Then, in doing a final bike check, I find a sizeable slash on my back tire. I hate to do events on untried tire changes, so I did a quick road check Friday.

It was raining when I dropped my bike off late Friday at the transition area. This did not bode well.

The next morning though, it was just steamy; no rain. The swim went OK, though I took a shot on the jawbone from someone's elbow. The bike was just marvelous as it always is for me at this event. I held the tempo and finished in about the time I did three years ago on the same course. The run told the tale of my decreased fitness. Though it was not too much different than my other run times, it was worse than other times on this course. The main difference was the extent of determination and effort it took to just do average. Clearly, my overall fitness is not where it needs to be.

 

However, in that last mile, several runners, seeing my age of 67 on the back of my calf, congratulated me as they passed. One young lady passed and said, "67? Mister, you rock." Another told me, "When I grow up, I want to be you." The bottom line was, though, they were passing me as lots of folks were.

It was great at the finish with my family, my grandchildren along the sides cheering me on taking pictures. What a day that I am glad I have lived to experience and appreciate.