With many fellow athletes for the USATAGNC, y'all!
When she landed she turned on her phone
It decided to do a firmware update no joke
Thankfully she had a backup gadget
Her LG G Pad came in handy imagine that
Google maps got her to her hotel
And she settled in for a spell...
Also brought her phone back to life
She sure didn't need that strife!
Friday morning STEB was up early
Central time zone was the reason surely
After breakfast she took a little stroll
To where the college world series is at you know
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| This ballpark looked very cool! |
She thinks stuff like that sure is neat
At her hotel, there was a this cool sign saying welcome
Had to get a picture as it was pretty awesome!
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| Really, very awesome! |
Because packet pickup was a must!
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| Yes!! |
She even got to ride Trixie briefly without a doubt
Started off with getting checked in
Then went to the USAT store - it was like IM!
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| STEB had fun taking in the AGNC experience! |
She rode her then racked her because it was mandatory
After her nap the afternoon passed in a blur
She might have had on some Law & Order
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| OK - it was Law & Order: SVU... |
A trip to CVS she saw something for sale that had her stunned!
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| Rum, whiskey, vodka? STEB got a gallon of water instead! |
It's OK in Nebraska, but in Virginia that'd be whack!
Saturday morning came early as well
But it was race day and of course that's swell!
Hopped on the shuttle to get to the start
Even at this point the sky was still dark
Got over to transition and got stuff set up
There she borrowed her rack mates pump
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| Maddie, hanging around in Transition! |
She broke the handle right in half!
Apologizing profusely but what could she do?
Headed to the bike support tent it's true
There she got Trixie's tires topped off
Then wandered around to check the swim course and dock
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| Nice, flat water! |
The start was moved back 30 minutes? What a pill!
So STEB decided to sit down on some grass
And met a cute pup named George how about that?
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| Before Maddie had to be stashed in the bag! |
A friend of STUR's brothers? How insane!
She introduced herself and they chatted a bit
Boy is Donna Smyers really fast and fit!
Finally it was time for STEB's warm up swim
The water was nice a flat - that's a win
They played this crazy sound before each wave started
Then that's when the horn blast sounded
First all the athletes had to be in the water holding on to the dock
STEB couldn't believe she was starting Age Group Nationals - that rocks
Clockwise swims are STEB's fave
Made sighting a breeze wouldn't you say?
The course was 1500 meters in length
And if you didn't know, swimming is STEB's strength
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| STEB's Garmin data shows that she swam a smidge in Iowa! |
Nice volunteers were there to lend a hand.
The trip to transition was not too tough
STEB located Trixie then put on her bike stuff
She followed others out to the mount line
Next up a 24 mile bike ride sounds just fine
STEB really loved the bike course it was an out and back
Including the two hills around the halfway point natch!
The out seemed faster due to the help of some tail wind
And the headwind was not as bad as that day in Cambridge!
As she headed towards the turn-around some return riders yelled a warning
Two black dogs were crossing the street up ahead on that very morning!
STEB saw them disappear into the corn field
Reminded her briefly of "Children of the Corn," for real!
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| Note: this picture was taken the day before on STEB's course preview drive! |
The railroad tracks were covered like Chattanooga - without a doubt
Another thing that STEB has only experienced at one other race:
The bike course was completely closed to traffic for goodness sake!
Well, except for the afore mentioned canines...
STEB was thrilled and would take that any time!
She finally rolled back up to T2
A 10Keh run was all that was left to do!
The course was a 2 loop out and back
And she got to see many new rabbit fans. Fact!
She got to give a shout out to local named Suzy Mink
And her rack mate with the pump found her by her ears - you think?
She had explained before about Team Rabbit
How the team had made running with ears their habit!
STEB had the plan to run the whole race
And walk through the water stops as was the case
She stuck to her plan and was very happy
And hit the red finish carpet finishing strong you see
After a nice ice bath in the recovery tent
STEB had tasks to do – more walking is what that meant
Lunch at a food truck and then dropping Trixie off
A little shopping and photo op then she was off
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| Happy finisher! |
But the driver had invited them on as a courtesy!
After STEB relaxed and got cleaned up
She had a gear bag to go and drop
Finally after that she took a recovery walk
To Lewis and Clark Landing but she wasn't ready to stop!
Next she went over to a pedestrian bridge
It is called The Bob and she walked it a smidge
It actually would take you to Council Bluffs, Iowa
But STEB went just to the state line - no duh!
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| Bob was very cool! |
And got to check off her third new state this year!
It was a win just toeing the USATAGNC start line
The race organizers, officials, volunteers, and fellow racers made it a wonderful time!
One dude said Team Rabbit won best kit
The rabbit ears certainly are legit!
Meanwhile on Saturday STUR met CBun in her hood for a run -
The day was foggy and cloudy, absolutely no sun.
CBun had graciously printed out cue sheets...
Turn by turn directions of the trails and the streets.
Plan was to do a ten mile loop first -
But too bad that the route was unrehearsed...
Let's just say they got a little mixed up at times -
But neither one of these Rabbits started to whine!
In exactly 10.2 they made it back to Lake Audubon pool-
Then they did two out and backs to make 15 miles- cool!
They did see one deer along the way-
He or she was enjoying the greenery buffet.
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| Oh deer!! |
Head over to 7-Eleven for a Slurpee - its true!
The Beast and STUR can't seem to get enough of open water-
So on Sunday over to National Harbor they did saunter!
The Harbor Fest 5keh was on tap -
They'd have to do four times the lap!
Once again the two Rabbits finished very close to each other -
They would have done another lap if they had their druthers!
Next they waited for the 2.4 milers to come in-
Got to cheer KBun into her finish for the win!
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| Happy Harbor Fest Finishers! |
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