So.... I've been doing triathlons since 1992 (when I was just a pup), mostly casually. My times have never been impressive and I always land smack dab in the middle of the pack in whatever race I'm in. It is pretty fun, really.
But a strange - and I mean whacky strange - thing happened to me last month... I took the podium in my age group! First place! Granted, I was the only one in my age group (39 by 12/31/15). The only reason I raced it was because it was just 15 minutes from home. It was a good race for me and I felt great, but my performance would never strike anybody as particularly interesting. It was a USAT qualifying race for the Age Group Championships and I just got the invite to participate in Omaha NE. And probably the only reason I was the only one in my age group was because of this California drought and the severe lack of open water swimming venues - it was almost a duathalon, but we got a good storm in the week prior that made the race a GO.
Now, I have no dreams of ever winning anything, but dang! How fun would THAT triathlon be? And when would I ever get this opportunity again?? And I've never been to Omaha. Or Nebraska. Or National Championship anything. And they probably have very cool swag. What does THAT t-shirt look like?
So.... am I a fake out glommer if I sign up for this? I looked at last years results and I definitely wouldn't be LAST place, but certainly bottom 1/3rd. And I'll probably have the lamest bike of everybody (2002 Bianchi road bike with clamped on aero bars). I just feel like my "qualifying" is a fluke.
Hillary
Hillary Trout
San Luis Obispo, CA
Your trip is short. Make the most of it.
https://www.slogoing.net/
But a strange - and I mean whacky strange - thing happened to me last month... I took the podium in my age group! First place! Granted, I was the only one in my age group (39 by 12/31/15). The only reason I raced it was because it was just 15 minutes from home. It was a good race for me and I felt great, but my performance would never strike anybody as particularly interesting. It was a USAT qualifying race for the Age Group Championships and I just got the invite to participate in Omaha NE. And probably the only reason I was the only one in my age group was because of this California drought and the severe lack of open water swimming venues - it was almost a duathalon, but we got a good storm in the week prior that made the race a GO.
Now, I have no dreams of ever winning anything, but dang! How fun would THAT triathlon be? And when would I ever get this opportunity again?? And I've never been to Omaha. Or Nebraska. Or National Championship anything. And they probably have very cool swag. What does THAT t-shirt look like?
So.... am I a fake out glommer if I sign up for this? I looked at last years results and I definitely wouldn't be LAST place, but certainly bottom 1/3rd. And I'll probably have the lamest bike of everybody (2002 Bianchi road bike with clamped on aero bars). I just feel like my "qualifying" is a fluke.
Hillary
Hillary Trout
San Luis Obispo, CA
Your trip is short. Make the most of it.
https://www.slogoing.net/