70.3 Nice World Champs – Journee excitante 😊

I’ve had so many people ask that question “how’d it go?” and my answer has been “amazing”, and that’s mainly true.  It also begs the question – Can a race be amazing even though you aren’t satisfied?  🤷🏼‍♀️
So, here ya have it.  Deep thoughts from Nice.  🙂
5:30am.  Go to transition to make sure your bike is a) still there and b) has air in the tires.  A & B check!  I loaded it up with the buffet station le jour and my favorite selection of @nuun cocktails.
Next step:  sort out how to get to the beach..  apparently there was one way in, one way out…. #tightsecurity    Seeing how I had about two more hours till showtime, I still had time to stretch, get some #battlebraids (thanks Kyrsten and posse!), wait in a massive line for the port-o-potties, hang with the family and see all my teammates off….and still an hour 45 minutes to spare!  That was a lot. of. time.   Tick tock tick tock — finally made it to do some warming up and had a perma-grin swimming in the Mediterranean…..  Giggled how during the warmup we all got thrown on that rocky shore like beached whales and grateful there isn’t a video of us all doing so.  FINALLY TIME TO GO IN THE CORRAL!!!   Nerves subsided and was just ready to go.  To begin this journey and soak up the energy from the 2000+ people (biggest female race of all time) that were already out on the course tearing it up!
Swim was beautiful, maybe a bit too much so?  I might’ve taken all the advice of “soak it all in” to the extreme. Good think @Roka doesn’t make a race snorkel!   First big buoy turn and water was CHOPPY.  Breathe.  Enjoy.  I probably would’ve cared a bit more about being thrown around in the waves had it not been so warm and beautiful.  Hmmm salty water. 
Out of the water.  Basically swam by myself either because a) we were the last wave –  our reward for being old experienced or b) I totally got off course. Moving buoys.  Or maybe a bit of both.   
Made it through a crazy long transition without too much drama, saw the family, gave a quick wink, and was on my way into the French Alps on my bike (you don’t get to say that everyday).  I have been excited about this bike ride since first reading about it….4600 ft. of climbing in the first 30 miles.  And I GET to do this The joy of hills to me is synonymous to a dog sticking his face out of the window.   Pure excitement!  Giddy again.  The views were amazing.  Soak it all in.  But gentle reminders this is a race… Stay Focused 
Hard to not think about jeopardizing your legs grinding up a hill at full speed so much that you don’t have any juice left for the half marathon.  Keep pace.  Look up and see people winding around with miles to go to the top, look down and see the trail of bikes behind as well.  Lucky us cycling through the French Alps.  That was by far the slowest first 35 miles I have ever had in a race.  🙃 Then again, it was vertical.  Don’t look at the Wahoo watch.  Mind games of doubling your time, or thinking downhill from here means 25+ mph then do the math then….  Focus.  I knew the downhill would be a beast and it didn’t disappoint.  Technical, fast, with a touch of danger. Witnessed one crash, saw a few other women down, and decided I’d be happier if I was still climbing UP.But you are not.  Only one way down. Should’ve trained for that more. Downhills are not overrated.  Safety first.  Next time I race out here I should for sure come weeks beforehand to really get to know the course.  😂 Dreaming.   Made it into T2 and couldn’t be happier. Don’t look at the watch.   Didn’t let the disappointment of about all those women passing me downhill get to me.  Stay in the game.  
It’s always a relief being off the bike. Mechanical issues, crashes, potholes, etc. etc.  A LOT can happen.  Lucky me I am in T2 safe & still smiling.   See the hubby, get a high five, and hear my other entourage of family screaming off the roof of their nearby hotel 🏨  86 degrees and they are by the pool drinking cocktails.  🍸 Now that sounds fun!   
JEN!! This IS LUCKY!! You are in Nice doing what you love.   Onward.   13.1 to go!  Let’s do this.  We GET to do this.  I actually felt pretty good the first 3 or so miles…. I mean, you are running along the promenade in Nice, what’s not to love?  The energy was amazing.  Soak it in.  You got this.  Seeing teammates and loving it all.
I had a race plan that started to go awry in 2 places.  1).  The downhill of the bike course, and 2)  Mile 4 of the run.  Port-o-let stop.  And another.  And another.  just about every 2 miles it got to me.   ARG!!!!  Stay in the game JEN!!!!  Every time I popped out of the loo I held a good pace (we are talking minutes here, not hours…) only to see that go by the wayside to stop again….  Frustrating.  Stay mentally strong.   I tried hard to get the monkey off my shoulder but it kept coming back.  Damn monkey!  Smile.  Soak it all in.  
With a mile to go, I put on my best smile and tried to really ramp up the speed.  Like just one foot in front of another! That’s it! And it felt so. damn. hard.

The finish line was euphoric.  I could hear my family (5 fabulous Brits) screaming and shouting and it made my heart smile.  And that, my friends is what it is all about, your heart smiling.  It could be from best effort, or best time, #1 spot, experience, or family supporting you 110%.  It was the latter for me 😉

It wasn’t my best time, not even close,  but I think someone told me I could subtract 45 minutes for a handicap to equal your “real” (hard ass course) time?  Anyone with me?  Years ago I would’ve been extremely disappointed.  It’s no fun when your training doesn’t match your results.  But I’ve matured since then (ha ha) and grown within. I’ve learned to appreciate the path, the moment, and the victory (victory being somewhat vague).  I’ve learned to play with my teammates, give high-fives, and not stress about the little things.  I’ve learned to embrace. enjoy. and smile.  I’ve learned it is about the journey.   I’ve learned racing doesn’t define me.
I am in Nice racing the World Championships. It doesn’t get much better being in a place you love, with who you love, doing what you love.
Thank you thank you!!!