“I’m not a mathematician but that’s a steep hill to climb”

Every Wednesday my eldest brings home all her tests, homework, and papers that were graded for the last 5 school days. She makes me give her a drum roll as she lays them down one by one. Whether good grades or bad, they all warrant a drum roll. According to her.

So, without further ado, drum roll please!

I have won the Kinetic Cup!

Mostly.

I placed first in my age group. That’s awesome.

I placed 2nd overall for the women. I would have liked to get first, obviously.

Top five overall women receive the prize of a free cycling jersey and bibs. So I’ve got that going for me.

Last Saturday was my final Kinetic race for the year and in the days leading up to it I contacted the race director to see how the points might shake out. I knew I was in 2nd and that 1st place was about 400 points ahead. I asked him if he had any insight to the algorithm and if it was possible for me to finish really well and get those 400 points back.

His response: “I’m not a mathematician but that’s a steep hill to climb.”

It was, in fact, insurmountable. But a most excellent challenge and I enjoyed giving this race all the pent up energy I had built from my taper for the Augusta race that didn’t happen. The wheels stayed attached to my bike. Progress.

Now I will share with you a delightful conversation I had with a young woman who is part of the race staff. They put on 20+ triathlons along the East Coast, I’ve gotten to know a lot of the employees pretty well because I stay after the race and help pack up all the signs, mats, bike racks into the trailer that is towed from venue to venue. Because I do this, I only have to pay $25 per race compared to the $100+ regular entry fee.

That being said, I’ve spent a lot of hours with these people. This young lady is in her early 20s and we usually buddy up and work together. She asked if my husband was at the race, because from time to time he’ll make an appearance.

Me: No, but he was at the last one we worked together, remember?
Annie: He was? Did I meet him?
Me: Yes.
Annie: Hmm. I don’t remember. I mean, there was that one guy you talked to the whole time.
Me: Right. My husband.
Annie: Ohhhhhh. That’s him?
Me: Yes.
Annie: I just thought you were getting your flirt on. I was like, you go girl. I mean, I didn’t know you were married.
Me: You knew I was married. Because I introduced him to you, as my husband. But thank you, I’m glad the spark is still alive. Also we were wearing matching shirts, that’s not something that just happens.
Annie: So wait. How long have you been married?
Me: 10 years.
Annie: WHAT! That’s forever.
*pause*
Annie: Wait a minute. How old are you?
Me: I’m like 35 and some change.
Annie: Oh wow. I mean. Just wow. I thought maybe you were late 20s. Wow.
Me: You don’t have to say “wow” so much but thank you, don’t ever change. I’ll accept 29.
Annie: Why, is that a really good year or something? Should I look forward to it?
Me: It’s the last year before you’re 30. I don’t think there was anything special about it. I probably had a baby or something.
Annie: OH MY GOSH YOU HAVE KIDS?
Me: I’ve been married for 10 years!

We later discussed the woman who took first place overall for the cup and Annie commented, “oh right I know her, the really old lady, right? Cuz she has kids?”

Ouch.

I have one more race this season that takes place on Edisto Island, SC. It was a bit of a scramble but I wanted to do a longer distance to make up for missing the Augusta race. This one is 70.3 distance but is not an Ironman sanctioned event. I’m curious what it will be like and looking forward to one last taste of the beach before Fall is really upon us.