For those of you in the area, the Dallas Triathletes put on some fantastic tri’s up in the DFW Metroplex. The Old Collge Tri is no exception.

Even though my family lives South of Houston, I try and make it up for 2 races a year in DFW, as my brother-in-law lives up there. It makes a good “kill-to-birds-with-one-stone” weekend.

I woke up Sunday at 5am (After staying up waaayy too late watching football), and was out the door by 5:30am. I was a little nervous about finding the race location (BIL’s car didn’t have GPS – sad that I’m that dependant), but arrived right at 6am.

As I was walking my bike to transition, I noted that the last 25yards was a full-on up hill . . I’m sure that would be plesant later in the day.

I was set up, marked, and had my chip by about 6:20, and then started the waiting game. I walked around, used the restroom, changed into my tri-suit, and waited for them to open the pool for warm ups. Once open, I did about 6 laps easy to losen up, and gauge the water temp.

When I did this race last year, I got stuck behind a woman who had clearly put in a wrong swim split. I get the feeling she entered a split based on her 300 yard time, not meter time (as was directed), and the result was a very frustrating swim (as it is my strength). I always get a little nervous that I’m going to hold someone up, as I would just feel terrible. My bib was 34, which meant I was seeded 34th in the swim (out of about 370), I felt ok.

Once the swim started, I realized right off the bat that I didn’t have to worry about the folks behind me catching me. I had created some distance right away. About 2 laps in, I caught the person in front of me (at least we were only going one way in each 25 yard lane), and it took a full lap to complete that pass, I caught the next person 2 laps later, and had to make due with following them unti I could sprint out the last lap.

Swim Time (250 yards): 3:42 (26:25 pace – new PB!)

16th overall, 1st in Age Group

Transition was quick, heard my wife (who I didn’t know if she had seen the swim) as I ran out of the natatorium and off for the bike.

The bike was good. I honestly felt that even though it was an out and back (with a small loop) that I was going downhill more than uphill. I got passed by a few folks, and passed a few folks – but overall felt pretty good. I think I still need to improve my “attacking” of bike courses.

Bike Time (12 miles): 36:00, 20mph pace

68th overall, 10th in Age Group

Again, transition was good, maybe a little slow (based on ranking), but ok

Running is not my strength, but as soon as I started, I knew it was in great shape. I started at a nice pace (for me), and actually passed someone realitively early. As expected, I was passed a good bit, but I knew I was tracking a good time (for my standards). The course was a just a loop 3 times (with the previously mentioned uphill after completeing the 3rd loop), and the weather was great. I tried to focus on staying with someone who passed me on the 3rd loop, but didn’t do so. Looking back, I’m not sure why – and plan on using this as motivation for my next race.

Run (3 miles): 23:12 (7:44 pace) – new PB

93rd overall, 13th in AG.

Final: 1:04:58

49th overall, 8th in AG.

Also, I looked back at this same race last year.

My pace splits were as follows:

Swim: 26:27 (2 second/mile pace improvement – not much)

Bike: 18.3 mph (1.7 mph improvement – very pleased)

Run: 9:47 mile (2:03/mile improvement – absolutely thrilled)

One more race this year, in just over a month. Can’t wait!

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NEW MELLE, Mo. (AP) – Bicycle enthusiasts say they should be

able to ride freely on the roads of St. Charles County. Some others

say bikes create a hazard on some twisting, narrow roadways, and

should be banned.

KSDK-TV reports that both sides spoke out Tuesday during a

public hearing in New Melle.

County Councilman Joe Brazil has proposed a ban on bikes for

some sections of highways 94, DD, D, F and Z. He says bikes on

those roads are simply too dangerous for both the bicyclists and

drivers of vehicles.

But bicyclist B.J. Keane said at the public hearing that if the

roads are that unsafe, speed limits need to be lowered.

If the ban passes, it would include a fine of up to $1,000. Two

more public hearings are planned before a vote next month.

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I’m not really soliciting…. more like helping out anyone that has dollars that they need to spend so that they can write them off as a tax deduction. So, you’re welcome.

On October 3rd, I will be participating in a 100 mile ride to raise money for The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing. If you would like to make a donation, click on the link below, then click on find a participant, enter Amanda DeBlauw, and donate away! THANK YOU! http://dempseychallenge.org/

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I wasn’t planning on writing a RR for this race because it was kind of last minute and so close to Alcatraz; however, since I discovered that you all like puking so much I figured I would provide you with some mild entertainment.

Due to the extremely warm weather and the poopy seagulls the swim was closed due to high bacteria levels in the water (MAJOR BUMMER). I consider just spectating but since I got up that darn early I figured I might as well get a little workout in. It ended up to be just that (i.e. a workout) since they changed it to a duathlon (run/bike/run). This sounds like pure bliss (NOT).

What was supposed to be a lovely peaceful swim turned into a hard and painful run. I needed a pretty good clip in order to pass my LBG on the bike.

2 miles = 17:01

Since Sir 71 (tri bike) and all my normal bike/race gear is still in transport from Alcatraz I had to ride my road bike, AKA “Ghetto Bird.” Boy, was I a sight to see in my aero helmet, mountain bike shoes, and road bike with mismatched tires (I’m guessing you are now figuring out why I call it the Ghetto Bird!) It was pretty windy both out and back but I tried to hunker down as much as possible and pound it out. I did this race about a month ago on Sir 71 and did the bike split 2 minutes faster – I think I was slower due to Ghetto Bird but..?? (I know, I know, so lame to blame it on the bike!).

15 miles = 42 min (21 mph)

Ok, ok, don’t lose me yet, the puke part is coming. So I’m first female off the bike and it’s time to start counting all the chicks flying by me on the run. I am slugging along gasping for air and two girls pass me from my AG that I had passed on the bike so now I am in 3rd. Another girl from my AG runs up beside me and I ask her how she is feeling. She is like, “Pretty good, you?” I was like, “I am gonna need CPR after this.” She laughs and I tell her that the blue striped girl just up ahead is #2 in our AG and if she passes her she can take second. She gets all excited and takes off after her. I can see that she overtakes her with a little over 1/4 mile to go. I am too far behind to catch blue striped girl (3rd) but I notice that she is now taking walk breaks (hmm… can I do it?). Nope. I still can’t catch her and she is walk running – I mutter some mildly offensive words below my breath and keep slugging along. Just as I am turning the corner to the home str
etch I see blue striped girl run off the side of the road and projectile vomit all over one of the spectator’s vans. By projectile vomit I mean parts of her intestine may have broken loose. I have a mixture of feelings that range between feeling bad for her (10%) and being excited that I am taking home hardware (90%).

2 miles = 18:21

I came in 3rd at this race earlier in the season so at least I hung onto my bronze – even on Ghetto Bird

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No, I’m not going to comment on that Pros vs Joes reality show, but I wanted to see what other triathletes thought about a recent article in this month’s issue of Inside Triathlon magazine about the current state of Triathlon and what Pros bring to the table. (The article is much more than just this but….)

One side of the argument says that developing a deeper elite/pro system will take triathlon to the next level, comparing triathlon to other individual sports like tennis and golf whose sports are driven by Pro athletes. The other side says that most age group triathletes, don’t get inspired by Pros, or don’t buy products because of these pros. Triathlon is one of the fastest growing participation sports in the US and all things that involve triathlon from races, gear, clubs, coaching, etc…has got to be doing pretty well.

Are you inspired by Pros or Joes?

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If you currently are a member or organizer of a tri group, what are some things you feel are essential for getting a good organized group off the ground and running? (pun intended)

We have a group that has a core of about 5 people that train together off and on, and I would like to organize something a little more formal.

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You wont beleive I crashed on my bike again! This time the only injury was scrapes on my face and some bruising. This time it was my fault didnt see a patch of sand and down I went! LOL. Oh and no coments about how the scrapes on my face help improve my looks! The worst part was how everyone was freaking as blood was pouring out of my face! Even made a cop stop when he saw it! It looked worse then it was. I am back training! This makes 3 this year! They say this stuff comes in three’s.

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Taper Day No. 2, 5 days out from Pumpkinman 70.3, Nightmare No. 1. I think I ate too much protein late in the day yesterday – sounds silly but whenever I do that I tend to have whacky dreams. I guess my pre-race anxiety is coming out in my dreams!

Last night I awoke at about 2 am feeling paniced. I had been dreaming that I showed up to Pumpkinman, finished the swim in a great time (that part is awesome, hopefully that’s a premonition) and then got to T1. T1 was a small cabin, you had to stand in line single file and walk your bike in to cross the timing mat. The line was about 50 deep and moving at a snails pace. As I got to the cabin and picked my bike up to lift over the wall that you had to climb over, my seat fell. As I examined it closer, it had these weird things on both sides that needed special tools to raise it and tighten in place. No one in the cabin had a tool for this. I tried to do it with my fingers and got covered with grease.

As I made it through T1 and out onto the course, it was a loose, gravelly, road for a while, and I tried to ride with the seat in the fallen position, but it was like riding a little kids bike. There was a bike shop on the side of the trail, so I went in to find a bike mechanic – there were three fat old guys that were smoking and very rude and told me that there were many other athletes that were there first…although I didn’t see anyone. I tried to mess with my seat while I waited, and finally they got to me, and no one had the tool to fix my seat…. and then I woke up.

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Which ontriers are doing the black diamond half on the 25th ?

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This race (well, really just the swim) has always been on my “to-do” list. When I got the email that this race was opening up I emailed my girl Rita G and we signed up the same day. My husband Joe and I planned a fantastic road trip up the PCH that ended with this race. I was SO excited!

The day before the race Rita G and I meet up with Lyn D, Jim and Aronson K and kids. It is always so much fun to meet fellow Ontriers (I feel like we already know each other so well). Jim K had wussed out on the pre-race swim (something about it being too cold??) so we decided to just have lunch and Ghirardelli chocolate! After lunch Rita G and I go to check in and pick up my bike at Sports Basement. I take a lap around the parking lot to check out my bike. Seems my pedal is sticky so I take it back inside for them to have a look. I ask the guy to run through the gears real quick to make sure everything is A-ok. He shifts from small to large ring and snap, there goes a cable. You have to be kidding me. The cables were completely rusted even though my bike shop told me they had JUST replaced them two weeks prior. The guy tells me the shop is about to close and there are no rentals available. The only option I have is to smile pretty and bat my eyes (he agrees to sta
y and fix my bike). FYI – Sports Basement in San Francisco IS THE BEST!!

On race day Rita G picks me up at the hotel and we completely disassemble both of our bikes in order to load them in the MINI. When we get to the race site we unload the bikes and for some reason CANNOT get my back wheel on. It’s always a pain but I can always get it on eventually. We decide to carry it to transition and try to find the mechanic. Nothing like a good shoulder workout prior to a swim from Alcatraz. It seems like the tire is getting stuck on the brake but the brake is glued shut. We get to transition only to find that there is no bike mechanic. After some more smiling and eye lash batting (my flirting is really getting a workout) one of the volunteers agrees to help. We look down only to realize that the screw for the skewer is gone (insert major gasp). It has completely fallen out during our walk to transition. It’s too dark to even bother looking for it. At this time I am thinking, well, I’ll just do the swim and call it a day. The guy sees my disa
ppointment (no eye lash batting necessary) and offers to let me borrow his (he is not racing). It takes him about 10 minutes to get my wheel back on (I don’t feel as retarded now). We cannot re-connect the brake without it sticking so we leave it off (who needs a back brake for a wicked steep and hilly ride anyway, right)? In the meantime, transition is about to close. Rita G is waiting for me at my bike rack. I dump my stuff and we hop on the bus that takes us to the ferry. As soon as we sit down on the bus I realize that my one and only breakfast, packed in a cute little brown bag, is sitting on the grass where we put on my tire. I have an overwhelming feeling that SOMEONE does NOT want me racing today! Rita agrees to share her freebie package of granola with me so at least I won’t pass out. After a quick bus ride we all file onto the ferry that will take us out to Alcatraz Island. We receive instructions on what to do and where to go. All I heard was – you mu
st make a large C in order to avoid getting swept away by the current and ending up in Asia. We are supposed to sight (on the curve of the C) a very large freightliner boat. Only problem is the freightliner = gray, sky = gray, water = gray. Notice a trend? After the prayer and national anthem they announce the start of the race. They open these big double doors on the side of the ferry and you jump out of them (it’s about a one story jump, or slightly less). The guy in front of me must have been afraid of heights. If he was afraid of water he was definitely on the wrong boat. I tell him that I’m going to push him. He looks at me completely panic stricken. I tell him again that I am going to push him and I am going to do it now. I proceed to give him a gentle shove and I jump off right behind him. There is no flashing green light notifying you that the previous swimmer is out of the way (like the water parks) so when you hit the water you better haul ass out of
the way. Rita and I get to jump off together which is pretty cool! The water is cold and choppy but not any worse than CDA so I felt good. My wetsuit kicks major ass! I start swimming a pretty casual pace and try to look for this darn gray boat. I realize quickly that this is impossible and decide to follow a green cap next to me. The dude isn’t wearing a wetsuit so I determine that he HAS to be a crazy local and probably wants to take the quickest most direct route possible to get the hell out of the water. The swim is awesome. I cannot even begin to explain how freaking cool it was to swim from Alcatraz. It was everything that it was hyped up to be and I enjoyed every last second of it. At the end of the swim you have to climb up on a dock that is pretty far from the water. They have volunteers to help but they are all 100 lb Asians. I calculate my odds and determine that in order to save an Asian a cold bath I should get out on my own.

During my lovely swim I misplaced a contact lense and decided to turn my brake back on. Transition involved taking off my wetsuit, putting my contact back in (that’s super fun when there are 30 mph winds) and trying to mess with my brake a little more. I think it was over 8 minutes (sorry Clyde). I get out on the bike and my back wheel is shaking violently and making a horrendous, indescribable noise. People are asking me if I think I should be riding it (um, probably not). I drop my chain like 3 times in the first mile (very weird). Every time I stop I try to mess with my wheel and brake a little more just trying to get it to act remotely normal and avoid a DNF. About mile 3 the shaking stops and at about mile 5 the horrendous noise stops. The brake is still rubbing but at least I don’t feel like my bike is going to fall apart at any second – that is until I hit the lovely streets of San Francisco. They have potholes the size of tour buses. Then, if that wasn