Recent Race Results »

Team Member: Katie June

Race Name: Clemson Triathlon

Race Date: 5/11/13

Race Placement/Time/Qualification: 3rd open female, 1:07:55

Tell us about your race (limit 500 words)…: After deciding not to race Rev3 because of the weather, and having nothing else on my race schedule for the rest of the season, I really needed something to do with my time because I was just sitting around the house crafting and watching Real Housewives. I remembered that the Clemson Triathlon was that weekend, so I talked Ryan into going (by promising to bring him food) so that I would have somewhere to stay. We hadn’t seen each other since Collegiate Nationals a month earlier so it was nice to spend time together at a smaller, non-hectic race.

I’m sure you will all be disappointed to know that the wildest thing Ryan and I did pre-race was getting milkshakes at Sonic. We actually made it to the race Saturday morning, on time and everything. I decided to wear my wetsuit, which took about 35 minutes to put on because I hate wetsuits. I was racing in the open wave so I got to start first for once, which was a nice change. The swim started and upon reaching the first buoy I was a little surprised that I was the first woman, and that there were only 3 men in front of me. Having a good swim could only happen in a parallel universe where everyone else is a duathlete. I came out of the water a full 3 minutes faster than the last time I did this race, much improved from a very disappointing swim at nationals.

Coming up the hill from the lake I could not get my wetsuit unzipped. I had let Ryan zip it and tuck in the string on the back, and I think he had purposefully tied it in a knot or something because I could not get it undone. This was apparently hilarious to everyone spectating the race. I did not think it was very funny.

I lost a lot of time on the bike because I was not very focused. It happens, I like to admire scenery and stuff. I was still in third place so that was ok with me. I got onto the run and wasn’t feeling too great, and because it was just a C race I didn’t push the pace too hard. I finished third in the open wave, only 3 seconds behind 2nd place.

Overall it was a decent race where I fixed some of the things that had gone wrong at nationals, and it felt good to race again. Thanks to Ryan for being the best spectator/bike mechanic/wetsuit zipper/transition bag carrier/hot date ever.