MUSSELMAN Weekend!!!
Well, THIS weekend was certainly blog worthy!
Where to start? I've already covered the high drama with Sue getting here on the train. ~sigh~
We had a great drive, several laughs and a little adventure on the trip to Geneva, as I wanted to take the "scenic route" from Binghampton to Geneva, through Ithaca, along Cayuga and over to Seneca. North east PA and the southern tier of NY state are just incredibly beautiful.
After my little reservation snafu, we got to the William Smith Inn which turned out to be one of those oh-so-happy accidents! Wow! The B&B is beautiful, Theresa, the owner is just lovely; she was there to greet us, gave us a tour and some of the history. Very interesting. Friday was all about getting settled, packet pick-up, the usual pre-race stuff. And then we met Jules!! Highlight of the weekend and my new bud! Jules and her hubby Derek are from Quebec and they come each year to do this race. Such cool people!! There is something special about triathletes and these meetings are so often pre-ordained. Perhaps, it is a common thread among like-minded and passionate people.
One of the unique features of this race is the Double Mussel. Sprint on Saturday, Half on Sunday. Saturday was PERFECT weather! Coach said to take it easy, and I did. As I headed out to run, I see Dave walking across the park and yelled his name, 'bout freaked him out!!! Crossed the finish line to Sue, Jeanine, NovaLee and Dave. These guys! So, we hung out and chatted and ended up all going to The Belhurst Castle for a lovely lunch on the veranda overlooking the lake. Anita and Billy stopped by and it was old home week. Jeanine gets big props for that suggestion; I don't think I would have gone otherwise. It was perfect. We even got to stalk a wedding!
I said a prayer as I passed Michael's Ghost Bike, as I did last year and will every year I race here. One of the guardian angels of this race.........
Back to race mode. Another tradition of this race is painting the wall. They white wash a wall in the alley across from the Opera House then put up the Mussel logos and everyone can paint or write messages. It's very sweet. Then to the Opera House for the pre-race meeting, where I met one of my Team DRB teammates Chris. Another pre-ordained, be friends for ever situation. I love this sport........
Home, bed, and it's Half Day........my 1st half in 2 years. My 1st big race in 2 years. It was great to have Chris, Jules and Derek all milling about transition, getting ready, wishing each other the best of races. Hugs all around and it's go time!
Yet another of the closely held traditions of Mussleman is the bag piper who plays as we enter the water. I don't know where this tradition began, but I like it. We are in the water waiting for the horn, I say something to the girl standing next to me and she says she is freaking out. I give her a hug and tell her I'm as nervous as a cat in a fan factory (this will become relevant later in the story). The horn blows and we are OFF! I love to swim in open water. Love it. There is some chop and I miss a couple of cracked ribs from a wicked breaststroker by a hair, but it's still enjoyable and a decent swim.
Out of the water and on to the bike. And the wheels almost literally come off. The road for the first 15 miles is like downtown Racine. Water bottle dropping, bolt loosening, tooth rattling ROUGH! And a LOOOONG gradual uphill climb. Into the wind. Have I mentioned the absolute lack of hills in DE? I pass Michael's memorial again. Turning onto 414 with the wind at my back and I am flying! Fun stuff. I never really thought much about it, but the Finger Lakes are in valleys and the high points are between them. You ride up, then down toward the water. It's just beautiful but the hard turns at the bottom are a real buzz-kill. It's dooooooowwwnn to Cayuga, uuuupppppp, then dooowwwnnnn to Seneca. The half is where Lanlin fell, at a water stop. I saw her there that day two years ago and I was certain she was ok. I was wrong. I see her Ghost Bike for the first time and I say another prayer. We have two guardian angels here.
It was scenic ride, it was challenging, and I survived. Back to T2 where I hear Mary announce that I am in transition, I just love that! Then I am off to run. The run goes around the top off the lake through the park. It's pretty and there is a lot going on. You then run through Hobart and William Smith College and into some neighborhoods. And it's hilly. HIL-LY. And then just when you think you might make it, Barracks Road. Gravel. And a hill. BIG hill. I hate Barracks Road. I told the photog at the top that it was all I could do not to flip her off. She laughed and said she takes pictures from there to remind us how badass we are. Love her. The neighbors and vols are great, plenty of water, hoses, ice, etc. But, I'm hurting. The anxious girl from the swim runs past and says she's been wondering about why a cat in a fan factory is nervous........I say "long tails" and she cracks up! She tells me she thought about it the whole bike ride, LOL! I play leapfrog with a woman for the last 5 miles, we pull each other. and then it's the shoot and the finish line and Sue, my Judy's bff Judy, her daughter Jesse, Mr. PR Chris and WOLSKY! YAY! My time is not great, but I am at a different place than I was 2 years ago, and it's all good and I did the Double! Ice bath, chats, hugs and it's time to pack up.
Sue and I head to Rochester to visit with dear family friends, Ed and Linda. White hots on the grill. What else do I need to say? Sue heads off to visit friends for a couple of weeks in Roch. and I head home to start a new chapter of my life. Before I left for this epic weekend, I was promoted. Funny how things work out.
I <3 Musselman.
Where to start? I've already covered the high drama with Sue getting here on the train. ~sigh~
We had a great drive, several laughs and a little adventure on the trip to Geneva, as I wanted to take the "scenic route" from Binghampton to Geneva, through Ithaca, along Cayuga and over to Seneca. North east PA and the southern tier of NY state are just incredibly beautiful.
After my little reservation snafu, we got to the William Smith Inn which turned out to be one of those oh-so-happy accidents! Wow! The B&B is beautiful, Theresa, the owner is just lovely; she was there to greet us, gave us a tour and some of the history. Very interesting. Friday was all about getting settled, packet pick-up, the usual pre-race stuff. And then we met Jules!! Highlight of the weekend and my new bud! Jules and her hubby Derek are from Quebec and they come each year to do this race. Such cool people!! There is something special about triathletes and these meetings are so often pre-ordained. Perhaps, it is a common thread among like-minded and passionate people.
One of the unique features of this race is the Double Mussel. Sprint on Saturday, Half on Sunday. Saturday was PERFECT weather! Coach said to take it easy, and I did. As I headed out to run, I see Dave walking across the park and yelled his name, 'bout freaked him out!!! Crossed the finish line to Sue, Jeanine, NovaLee and Dave. These guys! So, we hung out and chatted and ended up all going to The Belhurst Castle for a lovely lunch on the veranda overlooking the lake. Anita and Billy stopped by and it was old home week. Jeanine gets big props for that suggestion; I don't think I would have gone otherwise. It was perfect. We even got to stalk a wedding!
I said a prayer as I passed Michael's Ghost Bike, as I did last year and will every year I race here. One of the guardian angels of this race.........
Back to race mode. Another tradition of this race is painting the wall. They white wash a wall in the alley across from the Opera House then put up the Mussel logos and everyone can paint or write messages. It's very sweet. Then to the Opera House for the pre-race meeting, where I met one of my Team DRB teammates Chris. Another pre-ordained, be friends for ever situation. I love this sport........
Home, bed, and it's Half Day........my 1st half in 2 years. My 1st big race in 2 years. It was great to have Chris, Jules and Derek all milling about transition, getting ready, wishing each other the best of races. Hugs all around and it's go time!
Yet another of the closely held traditions of Mussleman is the bag piper who plays as we enter the water. I don't know where this tradition began, but I like it. We are in the water waiting for the horn, I say something to the girl standing next to me and she says she is freaking out. I give her a hug and tell her I'm as nervous as a cat in a fan factory (this will become relevant later in the story). The horn blows and we are OFF! I love to swim in open water. Love it. There is some chop and I miss a couple of cracked ribs from a wicked breaststroker by a hair, but it's still enjoyable and a decent swim.
Out of the water and on to the bike. And the wheels almost literally come off. The road for the first 15 miles is like downtown Racine. Water bottle dropping, bolt loosening, tooth rattling ROUGH! And a LOOOONG gradual uphill climb. Into the wind. Have I mentioned the absolute lack of hills in DE? I pass Michael's memorial again. Turning onto 414 with the wind at my back and I am flying! Fun stuff. I never really thought much about it, but the Finger Lakes are in valleys and the high points are between them. You ride up, then down toward the water. It's just beautiful but the hard turns at the bottom are a real buzz-kill. It's dooooooowwwnn to Cayuga, uuuupppppp, then dooowwwnnnn to Seneca. The half is where Lanlin fell, at a water stop. I saw her there that day two years ago and I was certain she was ok. I was wrong. I see her Ghost Bike for the first time and I say another prayer. We have two guardian angels here.
It was scenic ride, it was challenging, and I survived. Back to T2 where I hear Mary announce that I am in transition, I just love that! Then I am off to run. The run goes around the top off the lake through the park. It's pretty and there is a lot going on. You then run through Hobart and William Smith College and into some neighborhoods. And it's hilly. HIL-LY. And then just when you think you might make it, Barracks Road. Gravel. And a hill. BIG hill. I hate Barracks Road. I told the photog at the top that it was all I could do not to flip her off. She laughed and said she takes pictures from there to remind us how badass we are. Love her. The neighbors and vols are great, plenty of water, hoses, ice, etc. But, I'm hurting. The anxious girl from the swim runs past and says she's been wondering about why a cat in a fan factory is nervous........I say "long tails" and she cracks up! She tells me she thought about it the whole bike ride, LOL! I play leapfrog with a woman for the last 5 miles, we pull each other. and then it's the shoot and the finish line and Sue, my Judy's bff Judy, her daughter Jesse, Mr. PR Chris and WOLSKY! YAY! My time is not great, but I am at a different place than I was 2 years ago, and it's all good and I did the Double! Ice bath, chats, hugs and it's time to pack up.
Sue and I head to Rochester to visit with dear family friends, Ed and Linda. White hots on the grill. What else do I need to say? Sue heads off to visit friends for a couple of weeks in Roch. and I head home to start a new chapter of my life. Before I left for this epic weekend, I was promoted. Funny how things work out.
I <3 Musselman.
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