Loveland Lake 2 Lake Race Review

Loveland Lake 2 Lake, on June 25, 20ll~  The week coming into this race it didn't seem as though we were doing much of a taper for this event. With all the swimming workouts and track repeats on the Thursday before the Saturday race I was a bit concerned, to say the least. Which is always a bit scary, because you don't know how fresh your legs will end up being for the race, but always good training. The night before the race I arrived in Loveland. This was my first time doing this race and visiting the area. While driving the bike course I was surprised with how beautiful the town and surrounding countryside were. The bike was definitely one of the hilliest courses I had ever done and proved to be a challenge that I was excited to tackle.
     Race morning I was relieved to be able to park so close to the venue, especially with no race support or spectators there to help me. The swim went well compared to my last two triathlons. I apparently have gotten into a rhythm of sweeping wide off the buoys and overshooting the course. Which translates into swimming more yardage than necessary. Good training, but not kind on the race splits. I exited the swim feeling good that there were maybe only 3 women to track down. The run from the water to the beach was so long I thought maybe we were trying to recreate the Alcatraz Triathlon. Either way I got to transition and headed out on the bike, apparently passing a few of my competitors in the process.
     Out on the bike I was passing a lot of people from previous swim waves at pretty quick pace. This was my first time wearing an aero helmet, Lazer Tardiz, and heeding my coaches advice I was careful not to turn my head too often, which is a hard thing for me to do. So much scenery and not able to enjoy it!! I had passed all of the women in my swim wave (34 & under) and started to settle in on a pace and got comfortable. Too comfortable. Soon enough a woman from my group caught up to me and passed me at mile 20. I adjusted my pace and the race was back on! We took turns passing each other back and forth. I would beat her on the uphills and she would beat me down. Within about 3-4 miles of the transition a group of five or six men that were blatantly drafting passed me going at record speeds. Oh well they are not my competition, let them sort it out-wait that was a woman tucked onto the back end. This just burns me from the inside out. Nothing pisses me off more and gets me going than cheaters. I vowed to chase her down on the run.
     On to the run. Cheater, Cheater, Liar, Liar pants on fire. Where are you? Approaching mile one I find her and pass her without a side long look. At the turn around I get a good glimpse at who is chasing me. I'm surprised to see the second woman too close for comfort, so I adjust the pace and try and run harder. Approaching the finish it was really starting to burn and I took a look behind me and was relieved to see that no one was close. Realizing that someone else from another wave could still beat me I keep the pace strong.
     After I finished I found a group of fellow Carmichael Training Systems athletes. Chatted for awhile, but wanting to get on to my cool down run. After the run I took a look at the results and was surprised and thrilled to learn that I had won!!
RESULTS:  1st Place Overall Female!

Overall time: 2:31:47
Swim: 24:20
Bike: 1:25:28
Run: 40:27

Some local papers that I did an interview with afterwards:
 The Reporter Herald:  http://www.reporterherald.com/sports/local/ci_18361766
The Coloradoan:  http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20110626/LOVELAND04/110625011