70.3 World Championship: A Dream Dashed

So.
Ange emailed me this morning to let me know she had been browsing through the Timberman 70.3 website and had discovered a sad piece of news: they are only offering two spots to Worlds this year in the 35-39 female AG. Last year they offered five, and it rolled down to like twelve or something. This year—no such thing. Two spots! My guess is that Ange is still going to have the option to go. She has been top three in every triathlon she’s done this season—even the all New England super competitive races. She’ll be up there for sure. I really, really believe I will be up there too. I was hoping for top five AG. Timberman, like most of the big 70.3 World Qualifiers, draws a big, competitive field from all over the country. To be top 5 would definitely be a fantastic achievement. But this year it won’t secure me a spot at Clearwater. Boo!

I had been warned this was going to happen. They added more qualifying races and then cut the spots offered at each race. This will make the 70.3 World Championships much more competitive, and therefore much more sought after. I doubt sincerely that the slots will roll down at all at Timberman. You get top two, or you don’t go.

Since I discovered this little bit of tragedy (for me) I have come around slightly. First, there’s always the chance that I will have the race of my life and actually place in the top two. There is also the chance that it will roll down to me—wherever I place. However, I’m not planning on either of these things happening. Right now I’m focused on the possibilities that have become visible now that I am not so focused on Worlds.

I could do a fall marathon. I could do Bay State with my running club and train with my running friends who I miss very much. I could just play this fall and do a few sprints and monkey around. I could take the money we would have spent on going to Worlds and put it toward a trip that Andy and I could take together—a trip that includes a triathlon or a marathon—or not. I could just race my heart out at Timberman and be happy that I gave it my all without the fear that my best won’t be good enough. I already know my best is almost certainly not good enough!


I have a few good rides up here in Maine since I moved up a few weeks back. This weekend the hub. Was here and I was able to escape for a long early morning ride that took me all the way up route 5 to Cornish. Here’s a picture of Cornish: It’s so country, so rural, it’s --- ? beyond nowhere land! It’s just quiet, rolling hills, grass, wildflowers, and an occasional rusty pickup or tractor decaying in an abandoned field. The highlight of the trip was going through Limerick center, where I really felt I had gone back in time to the 1950’s. There was an ancient Variety store, an ancient gas station at which you could also get coffee, and a sweet little restaurant from which wafted the smell of bacon, eggs, and strong coffee. As I rode I kept myself occupied by trying to imagine what life must be like in Limerick or Cornish. I’m told that many who live there commute out route 25 to Portland. That’s a serious commute!

This weekend Ange and I (and her brother, Jeff, and her husband, Mark) are competing in the Scaborough Tri. I just discovered that there will be two different transition areas and the race will end in a different place from either transition! Crazy! Apparently you must stuff your suit, hat and goggles into a bag with your number on it in T1, take your bike and ride to T2 where you have placed your run stuff, and then run to the end. They bring your swim bag to the end for you (if you have packed it right--!!!) but you then must back track to get your bike! I hope they have someone in T2 guarding the bikes… The whole thing seems rather fishy to me. Hopefully it will be fun! I’m hoping for a top three AG spot. I figure Ange will go top three, so she won’t be in AG placing. You need to get top three, Ange! I’m counting on you! 



We’ve spent the week at the beach with my friend Alina and her three kids. We go to the beach all day, return tired, hungry and toasted from the sun, and then fall into bed. Okay, it’s not that idyllic. There is sand throwing, tantrums, problems with sharing, and the constant fear that one of our six will wander off or go to deep into the ocean-but mostly it’s awesome.

I miss you all out there. I am writing this on Word, hoping that someday I will be able to connect and actually post this!