Awesome. Incredible. The island, the people, truly beautiful. More than I expected. The race course was more than most expected too!! It was thee most challenging Olympic distance to date. It is an ITU race where many aspiring 2012 Olympians race for points in effort to make their countries Olympic team. About 40 elites from several countries competing and about 75 age groupers as ourselves(for the challenge and podium).
The race directors Leslie and her crew put on a incredible race. Purely one of the best I have experienced. The whole package was exciting, challenging and beautiful. Big monster hills on this island. At steepest, 20%!!!!! We have hills here. Long grinds. They have nutty straight up stuff that so many were off the bike and walking. We never unclipped but both could have used a 25 tooth cog! My borrowed entry level Kona(compact cranks and all) from Corey worked great but the serious age groupers brought their serious artillery. I'm still glad I kept mine safely @ home, but 15 lbs of carbon and deep dish wheels would have been sweet on that course.
I could see Jodi on the turn arounds on the bike and she had the lead of all women age groupers. With the ITU elites starting a half hour before us and way up front in packs on the bike, it was spread out from our start. I had a typical lethargic-paced swim but by the 1st turnaround 8 miles out(and damn high) I could count 6 age groupers on the bike ahead of me. I pretty much held that(damn compact cranks)! place to the run transition..
At one mile the run course went straight up for a long time. Then straight down. Then we got to do it all again on the 2nd loop 10K. I kept my head down and ran those beasts.I love the hot hilly quad busting hills they offered and caught and passed 3 runners during the run and finished placing 3rd overall. Stoked? Yep. And it's always a treat to see Jodi on the course multiple times.. She left the field near another border as she was running like the wind. She placed 1st female age grouper overall handily. Thank you Leslie Pojoul Brown, Jennifer and all the crew, volunteers, everyone that made this race awesome. It was all that and more. We met and made many a new friends. Locals and travelers alike. Truly one epic trip. Hope to see you all again next year.
