Did I tell you I was racing with Potts today?

You thought I meant Andy...no, no Andy's mom! That's right Andy Potts's mom was racing at the SheRox in Aurora. It was kind of funny really, after the race while standing around looking at the time sheets, this lady says to another that her son is racing CDA today and the other lady said something I missed and Mrs Potts says "he's expected to win, my son is Andy Potts" my jaw fell open and I said " Your Andy Potts' mom?" and she says with a sweet smile, "yes I am, you can touch me if you want. " Now if only Andy can do as well as his mom..she took first in her AG. (right now as I follow CDA he is leading at the start of the run! Go Andy!)

Ok now on to my race report. Packet pic-up on Saturday was pretty uneventful. It was good for me to make the drive out there and make sure I knew where I was going. It's about a 45 minute drive from my house out to Aurora Reservoir so not an area I'm that familiar with. It was very quiet when I got out there. I got there early thinking I would listen to the race meeting and get in a swim. Well I got in the swim but realized today that I never did go to the meeting. Oh well I guess I didn't miss much. I have to say the expo was not all that exciting, and the shirts well they are ok, but I find the neck to be a little high and choking, really thin and mine could not be any smaller or it would not fit. Kind of a pet peeve of mine, now I'm not the smallest of girls, (I ordered and XL) but this is an all women tri with lots of first timers and a big assortment of sizes and the XL was the biggest shirt they had. I'm sure there were many disappointed people out there who got a shirt they could not even begin to wear. Ok enough of that rant.

Can I just say I don't know if I love the clear waters of Aurora or if I'm creeped out by them. I loved the fact that you could see people in front of you, but I was a little funny about the idea of seeing anything else. Luckily I didn't (I think I kept my eyes closed!:) )

Although I really didn't feel nervous the day before I didn't sleep well, I woke up 3 or 4 times during the night but luckily was able to go back to sleep except the last time at about 3:45. Alarm was set for 4:20 so I just laid there. Finally got out of bed, dressed through stuff together and ate a pre race breaky of bagel thin with a little peanut butter and 1/2 a banana. Loaded the bike and headed off to the race...now it's kind of funny the music I was hearing on the oldies station I was listening to....started out with "There's never been any reason" by Head East you know the one that goes...."Save my life - I'm going down for the last time!" and then the very next song was Jackson Browne's Running On Empty...I hoped this was not an indication of the way my day would go.

By the way...little update here Andy is still leading at mile 10 of the run...I think he will finish the Ironman before I finish my race report.

Finally made it to the lake and got my transition set up. The temps were a little cooler then I thought they might be I think it was around 55 or so. But not bad and the sun was shining a beautiful day it was going to be.

Before long.. you know after a couple of trips to the port-a-potty, it was time to get the wetsuit on and get in the lake. I was feeling pretty clam by now and very glad that I had done a little open water swimming this year. However I swear every time I see those buoys way out there I think they look way to far to possibly swim. This course seemed to be longer and skinnier then I'm used to. And we're off! I felt like I was doing pretty good, I never really hit it hard just tried to keep going pretty steady. I also used a few sighting ideas that I had heard recently like using the sun to sight off since we were headed straight into it and that seemed to work very well. I hit the first buoy very fast and the second pretty quickly after and the 3rd well it was really close to the second. Funny side note, I'm assuming it must have been my goggles (they are pretty new) against my swim cap but I kept hearing this funny squeaky noise, either that or I'm older then I think and my joints are getting bad! The longest part was the way back in. I knew I was passing people from other waves in front of me and felt good about that. I hit the end and swam almost until my hand touched. I always manage to be a little off when I first stand and am always thankful when I don't fall and make a fool of myself. Now as just a small reminder here, I just learned how to actually swim with my face in the water last year. So I don't consider myself a very strong or fast swimmer so I'm always surprised when it turns out to be my strongest of the part of the tri with that being said.....

Swim time 22:26 this includes a pretty long run up the beach to transition

111 out of 310
Also thought it was really cool that they said they didn't have to pull anyone out of the water during the swim everyone finished! Fantastic given the fact that I talked to several people that were doing their very first open water swim!

T1 2:43
I was a little worried about this after my wetsuit issues at the Stroke & Stride and the fact that I had to get my bike shoes on for the first time. But I was ok with this. Could for sure use practice.

Bike...so is it possible on an out and back type ride to go uphill more then you go down? It sure seemed like we did. I was a little disappointed in my bike time but it was also much hillier then I have done in past races. "rolling paved route " they call it. It was most certainly rolling, nothing to steep but seemed you were either going up or up...oh yea with a couple of good downhills but very little flat. At least that was my take on it. I have to say to that there were many big "cracks" in the road that made me nervous, I could just see my tire getting stuck in one. I made the decision not to take my Garmin and just use my lap watch to time myself but I wish I had it to see just what it looked like. Of course usually it doesn't look near as hilly as it feels. :) All in all I was happy with my performance, passed a few people, got passed by a few but felt I kept a pretty steady pace. Must ride hills more!

Bike 44:02 13.6
162 out of 310

T2 2:35...again need to work on this.

Run, I pretty much stuck to my 2/1 run/walk and felt pretty good about it. Again the run course was a bit up and down and very little flat (who knew Aurora was so hilly!) the hills were much more gentle on the run then the bike. If the mile markers were right I had a good run (I almost think it must have been short based on my times.)Again I kind of wish I had taken the Garmin...guess I won't do without it again.
mile 1 11:58
mile 2 10:13
mile 3 12:03
.01 1:24

Total run time 35:40 pace of 11:31
220 out of 310 I just suck at running:)

Total time 1:47:24
21 out of 40 in my AG
163 out of 310

Did I have fun today, yes! Did I feel like I gave it everything I had, not quite but close. But all in all while I will do another race out at Aurora Res, I'm not sure I will do this one again. I was a little disappointed in it. The Wahoo tacos at the end of the race seemed a little strange to me. And to tell the truth even though it was only 9 in the morning, I really could have gone for a beer.

Thanks to anyone who made it through this very long race report!

And from the Ironman site I leave you with this

07:58

Race TimeMile 20 - Men's race
Any Potts is in total command of this race at the 20 miles into the marathon. Michael Lovato is having a stellar race today and has run himself into second place, 12:15 down to the leader. Australian Courtney Ogden is currently running in third, 12:59 in arrears to Potts.

08:04

Race TimePotts at 23 miles
Andy Potts has just past 23 miles and without a sign of anyone close to him. Looks like he is about to win his first Ironman title of his career here in Coeur d'Alene

08:17

Race TimePotts at 25 miles
Potts has put his run on cruise control as he just run through the 25 mile aid station as he makes his way to the finish line.

08:22

Race TimeAndy Potts - 2010 Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene Champion
Andy Potts has just added the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene title to his already impressive race resume. Potts took control of this race early on the bike and held the lead for the remainder of bike and throughout the run for the win here today.

Congratulations to Andy and his Mom! And anyone out there who finished any kind of race today!