A few runs to break up the recovery...

I interrupted my recovery time to participate in the Boulder Sunset Triathlon for a short tri relay team. Initially the race was scheduled 2 weeks ago, but was moved due to the fire. Obviously, the short tri is the weeniest of triathlons, and I was on a relay team (weeniest of the weenies :) So 5K was my run on a flat out and back on dirt road, and my first run since Steamboat was the day before (Saturday) ~8 miles @ 7:30. Unfortunately, I ate some homemade whipped cream Saturday night (lactose intolerant here) and woke up with the shits. Rachel raced Sunday morning so I spent much of the time in the port-o-let enjoying the atmosphere. Got picked up for the tri a bit after noon and headed up to Boulder for the shenanigans. I was pleasantly surprised by the shwag (incredibly bright socks, nice tech shirt) and found some shade. It was hot, in the 80's and I was all achy from the morning on the jon, and I was hoping I wouldn't have to push it too hard on the run. Anyway, when the first relay team finished the bike, I started my watch to find my gap (female runner on the first place team into transition) and figured if I was 2-3 minutes off I could maybe close the gap, but if she was half decent or better I'd have no chance. Our gap was 3:37 so I figured it was a race for second and took off. I actually felt pretty good leaving transition and the short small uphill I looked down and was surprised to see 5:48/M on the watch, so I figured I'd push it until I saw the girl and if I thought I had a chance to come close I'd hold down the throttle and see what happened. To my surprise I didn't see her coming back at me at all and ended up catching her at the turnaround (split was around 9 minutes or so). I figured if I had closed three and a half minutes in 2.5K I could cruise in and not hurt and still win so that's what I did. I ended up putting another 3 or so minutes on her and just cruised pretty slow on the way back ending up right on 20 minutes for the 5K. Got some nice shwag for winning, $30 from fleet feet so I'll have to go up to Boulder again sometime to buy a shirt or something. Also got a little plaque for winning which is now chillin' in my utterly dull grey cube here at the office. Also have a camelbak water bottle from fleet feet that's my office water bottle (not the easiest thing to drink from, but a nice bottle). Good fun, good free beer at the Avery tent and great tacos from Illegal Pete's. This was also my first win of any kind in racing, though winning the sprint tri relay at a generally non-competitive local race is like dunking on 10 year olds with an 8' rim...

Thanks to the race staff and volunteers for a great time and a well run event, I can't swim for beans, but if I ever find the time or money to go swimming I think and Ironman might be in my future (way far off in the future!). Of course, Pb will call my name far before the Ironman.