I hate to write this, but I'm going to anyway.....I never ever wanted to be this kind of MountainGirl, yet, here I am, bearing my soul and being honest.  Here's what's up:

I did a triathlon on Sunday morning at the Aurora Rez.  It was a really fun event, and the participants were of a more a 'normal' crowd given I had left the Boulder bubble with all our professional and Olympic caliber athletes.  So, back to me, and why I'm a bit horrified at ME.

I had a good race.  I did great on pre-race hydration and nutrition, got lots of rest and managed well in the heat.  I felt great and finished strong.  I did the race in under 2 hours (which outside Boulder is a respectable time).  Here's the problem,  I came in third in my wave....I missed first by 37 seconds.  Yup, less than a minute.

So, here I sit....always the one just happy to be out there....feeling good about being able to do this kind of thing at my statistically middle aged existence.....and now I'm re-running the race in my mind....over...and over....and over.  I can easily point to a number of things that wasted valuable seconds....which all would have added up to enough seconds for me to come in first.

I lolly-gagged a bit on the bike on one hill.  I coasted sometimes when I could have been pedaling.  I didn't have my biking shoes ready and I had to actually untie them before sliding them on my feet.  I stopped at the water stations to dump water over my head.  I was thoughtful and kind on the swim....navigating around some of the really bad swimmers as opposed to pushing them out of my way.  I could have swam, run or biked just a teeny weeny bit faster. 

There....I've said it.  Got that off my chest.  Not sure if I like this venue of public confession.  Yet, here I sit.....still very thankful I was out there.....still amazed I can do these kind of things....and still wondering about 37 seconds....

Hmmm.........