Musselman 2023: It's Been A Year

Sometimes, the best stories take a while to tell.  (Nah, I just made that up - really, I'm just incredibly behind at telling this tale of Musselman, but since its fun to get down, here we go!).  A few weeks ago (five, to be exact), I toed the line at our "local" Ironman branded 70.3 (That was a way cooler race when it wasn't Ironman, but that's not todays story).  This was my seventh crack at the race since my first half iron in 2008, and the race always generates the feels for some reason or another.  Back in 2008, it was my first half ever - and an epic thunderstorm.  2009 featured the double mussel and a fall on my face that was the damned coolest redemption story ever (and I got a free wetsuit out of it!).  In 2012, I won an entry because I am a wannabe writer (don't y'all know it), 2014 was my return to long course after having a kiddo, 2019 my return to tri after the debacle of 2018, and 2022....well, we will just smile at Musselman 2022's beautiful serendipity and leave it at that. What a race.  What a day.  :)

This year - as has been most things in 2023 - was all about embracing the unknown.  I signed up las year for "reasons" and while the course of my life has changed so drastically since then, returning to Geneva one year later seemed  incredibly fitting.  Plus, ya know, since most of my friends were doing it.... if they all jumped off a cliff....sure, sounds fun to me!  I had an athlete racing her first 70.3 (she killed it) and a loose bet with my old coach about who could beat who (story coming) - what was not to love about a morning spent with the best people doing what I love best? Sign me up!

Post Texas, I have been through the complete gamut when it comes to training - and life - but in a nutshell - I have chilled TF out about a lot of things, racing included.  While I will never, ever forget the incredible span of August 2022-April 2023 where I raced my little heart out and did epic things - it took its toll on me.  Mentally and physically.  I have since wisely pivoted to the pure enjoyment of the sport - with the KQ and BQ secured, it was the time to let any lofty goals out the window and have a blast - doing what I love.

With that being said, I had intentions to race smart - last year I seeded horribly, and paid for it.  This year, I played it a little wiser.  I came to Geneva on Friday to check in - AWA for the win - and secured a fantastic racking position.  Met a few new people - that - as always - followed with me through race day.  A cancer survivor.  Her best friend, doing her first half.  Both in their 60's.  Bad ass women.  As always, I am in awe.

From there, we played a little bit.  Saturday was bike racking - and a fantastic super serious pre race run shakeout crazy run through Geneva in our undies for charity (I love my people - sorry Dad!), socializing (what I do best) and then home for some family time and chill.

Sunday was up and  at 'em at 2:30 - (which, because of the early training I've put in, wasn't a huge deal!).  En route to the race, I smiled, thinking of all the fun times Musselman has brought - and armed with my stuffie mussel and my requisite racing good luck charm, ready to make some wonderful memories of the day.  As I arrived, I embraced the day fully - smiling and laughing with new friends and old.  Loaning out my bike pump and joking about the price of air and inflation.  Getting a sunscreen shot from Kathleen's husband, who was randomly on the sideline and became my race photographer for the day - and a homestay offer if I ever race Ironman Florida!  Sweet.

Pre race, I seeded myself with the 35 minute swimmers and hung out with a few RATs.  I looked out at the water and smiled, thinking of how darn lucky I was to be there.  And then with a deep breath, we were off!

Swim: 37:13, 1:46/100 yd

The swim for this year was a bit different, with a semi dive start off the docks.  The big news for Mussel 2023 was the water temp, which for the second time in 20 years, hovered on wetsuit legal.  Thankfully, someone dumped a bag of ice found a cold spot to make it just legal.  I don't much care about it one way or the other, but for my first time peeps and nervous swimmers, I was happy.  I didn't have much in the way of an overall race goal, to be honest - I was thinking somewhere along the lines of :37-:39 swim, 2:50-2:55 bike and a 1:50 run for a 5:25-5:30 finish.  I had delusions months ago about breaking 5, but was realistic about where my body was - after basically being "on" since December 2021, it was tired.  And even though PR setting is fun - I knew it wasnt that kind of day. 

The swim was pretty perfect, to be honest. Some chop, perfect temp, right seed.  I passed few people and few people passed me.  Mid swim, I realized I forgot my lucky charm in transition had had a moment - then remembered that I had my own magic within and laughed a little (then promptly drank the lake, because I'm cool like that. ) The swim design was a giant triangle, and the best part about Ironman swims are without a doubt the number of sighting bouys.  I swam 2112 yards - which is pretty freaking spot on.  Exited the swim right on the money, and ran to T1 to grab my bike and go!!

Bike: 2:49, 19.99 avg (WTF)

In T2, my old coaches' wife was cheering, and I promptly gave her a few poses for the camera, complete with butt wiggle (I will never, ever regret seconds "wasted" like that) and then I was off!  The first few miles of the bike are always congested, and this course is worst than most since its coned single lane and tough to pass.  I settled in and got comfy, and about 3 miles in, started to do the work.  Admittedly, I am not a huge fan of this course - its changed a few times over the years, and while I dont miss the five miles of bump that used to exist via Sampson State Park, the new course has way too many turns where you lose a lot of speed.  With that being said, I signed up for it and knew what I was getting into - the main goal here was to bike smart, not blow my load (thats what she said) and not wuss out.  We started out the bike with some nice headwinds (and by start, I mean the first frickin 35 miles).  I held my own pretty well and focused on HR and power - I got passed by a few RATs I expected to get passed by - Mike and Brett - (I got my revenge on one, and Ill let you guess who!). 

After almost two hours of climbs and wind, the tides turned in our favor and the last twenty miles of the bike were fantastic and zooooomy!  I made sure to drink, take in calories and gave a whoop at the last aid station manned by RATs, and stretched my legs out in anticipation of the run.  I tried to pee the last few miles with zero success - I thought I mastered this one last year at Peasantman but apparently my skills are a little lacking.  The things I write.  The things you read.  I know.  I feel your pain :-P  Finished the bike almost right on the money at 2:49, with a 19.99 average and cursing my coasting to unsuccessfully pee which cost me that precious .01 mile avg to be like the cool kids and hit 20 (or at least I tell myself that).

Either way, it was time to RUN!  (After I peed in transition.  Damned waste of a minute but what can you do). 

Run: 1:44, 7:58 min/mi pace

As I ran outta T2, I saw Greg and the kids which made me smile - it was TBD if they were gonna come and I was so happy they did!  Greg yelled out - "You're 4th in your AG!" and I was like....WHAT?  Must have misheard.  There is no way I'm 4th here - what is going on?  I never expected to try to place (Which I have never ever done in an Ironman branded race) but now we had a goal!

The run for this race was changed again from last year to eliminate trains (sorry, guys, I did have a hand in that.)  It was two loops, an out and back with a lollipop for the second piece.  The good news?  Great crowd support!  The bad news?  Well, see above...  I started out super steady about 7:45 pace, and waved and smiled at the RAT's on course, the aid station, my old coach's wife, and my buddy Russ (who informed me to move it along, this was NOT Ironman LOL).  I felt great - taking in aid every other station with the old ice in the bra trick - until I saw the new part of the course.  Where we used to run under a tunnel was now this giant ass mountain of 5 & 20 we had climb.  Shit.  The turn was so sharp to climb I saw one dude slingshot it off a garbage can (sick move) and I trudged up the hill, slowing my pace and apologizing to Ironman in my head about the bitching constructive feedback on the course relative to train tracks.  

I saw Gary (old coach) about here, and he looked to be about 15 minutes ahead of me - not catchable.  Damn-o.  Nonetheless, we had an AG spot to keep, which, without body marking, just meant I should not let any woman pass me.  Done.  About mile 5, I saw the DIDO's and gave a fist bump, then a Towpath kit ahead.  I laughed, because this same thing happened at Musselman 2022 - except this time, I actually asked the guys name instead of pretending I knew who it was (I was wrong last year anyways).  This was Cody, who was killin it, and we slapped high five as I passed and wished him luck (we caught up post race, and he's new to the scene and gonna make some waves -watch out!)  The rest of loop one passed pretty quickly, with a sweet downhill to make up for that dumb mountain Ironman put in.

Then we got to do it again.  Loop two was just as great - I slowed somewhat, but kept a steady 8:00ish pace and to my total shock, caught up and passed Gary at mile 8, who called me a Goddess (yes, I want that in writing thanks).  Up the mountain, around the lollipop, high fived Matt Kellman who called me a rockstar (flattery will get you everywhere!) and before I knew it, I was rounding home!  I slapped high five to my awesome fam and ran into the finish for a 5:17 (my de rigeur) - 4th place in my age group and 22nd female out of about 800.  Success!

Post Race

After the race I got some awesome hugs from my fam and hung out and watched my friends and athletes finish.  I met up with some new friends from Keuka (hey Sarah and Brittany!) and hung out with Marcus and the RATs and waited for awards.  It was crazy being on the Ironman "podium" (there wasn't one, so I was safe) and both Marcus and I laughed because we both came in 4th and had our first podiumat the same race!

After the awards came the Worlds Slots - this race was a qualifier for 70.3 Worlds which will be in Taupo, New Zealand - how cool is that??

And Guess who's going to Taupo?

....Not me :)  I did end up qualifying, but the race is in December 2024.  Across the world.  And while I am still in complete awe at the crazy results I have gotten over the past year of racing....I have somewhere else to be on December 14th.  Making Christmas.  At home.  With my littles - who won't be little for very much longer! And speaking of which - as is now our post Mussel tradition....when I got home from the race, Rob was waiting for me, helmet in hand.  "Hey Mom - wanna go for a bike ride?"  He asked.

Yes, buddy, I do.  I always do. 

Thanks for a great race, Musselman!  I'll be back - this is absolutely a lifestyle and I love it all.  Up next - Peasantman Olympic (ish) distance on August 20th - it'll be hard to top last year's race but I am jumping in with all I've got, as is my style :)