Last night I was rounding up my gear for the Boulder Sunrise "Tri for your Cause" event and I couldn't find my tri shorts.  I looked everywhere... 3 times.  I searched my cars.....  twice.  The dryer..... once.  Finally, I gave up, and after consulting with Gear Girl, determined that looking cute was more important than functionality and I should opt for one of my running skirts.  I carefully selected one that might provide the least amount of chaffing on the bike.  Tough call since I've never ridden my bike in any of this gear soaking wet after a swim! 

Well, I was resigned to the "risks" associated with this decision.  I was excited to wake and find the sun just peaking over the horizon...the thunderstorms of last night were long gone, leaving the sky fresh and clean.  I ushered the dogs outside while I loaded my bike and all the other stuff and then headed off the the Rez.

It was a very non-Boulder tri group.  Lots of first timers, even some mountain bikes.   I found a nice spot and began setting up my area.  Then, off in the distance I spotted the Outdoor Diva's booth in the race expo area!  Wonders for me, they actually had a few different brands of tri shorts in my size, and I found some to my liking.  Even more amazing, the wonderful woman just took down my name, phone number and my promise to return and pay so I didn't need to venture off to the remote parking lot to fetch my money. 

So, outfitted with my snazzy new shorts I was all set!  

The Rez water was perfect...probably around 65 degrees.  The swim was short - 500m instead of the more typical 750m for a sprint, kind of a bummer since the water was so nice and my swim mojo was working.  The bike was longer than typical, 17M in lieu of 12M, and the run on target at 5k.   I'm not sure of my final times yet, but the entire morning just felt great.  Unlike my first tri in May I had no wet suit induced claustrophobia!   The bike was fun.  I ride the course frequently so I knew when to shift, when to push it and when to back off with out a second thought.  Almost meditative.  The run even felt good!  The finish line even better!  

Shortly after my finish line Woo-Hoo I stopped at Outdoor Diva's to let my new BFF know how much I LOVED my new shorts and they for certain made me faster, and now that I was done I would take my fast bottom out to my car for money.  Which of course I did.  (Mom and Dad raised me well!!!). 

I hope I never need to know if my cute running skirt actually would have been better than functionality!  Tomorrow, Olde Stage to Jamestown with the ladies, wearing REAL bike shorts.  Phew.