Late September is the most perfect time to go to Sea World. I was there with Stepan, Mom, Kathleen, Felicia, and Cat. The weather was perfect for spending the day outside and there was almost noone in the park. Towards the end of the day, we were riding the Great White roller coaster; the ride would end and we would just get up and move to another seat without having to circle the entire apparatus to get back in line! (FYI - the ride in the front of the coaster is much smoother than in the back where you get the thrills of the coaster plus the whiplash effect of being in the back.) The only bad consequence of the day was the late dinner we ended up having at the Olive Garden...not something you want to do before an early morning triathlon.
Sunday morning came way too early. Mom and I crept out of bed before sunrise, gathered our gear, and were ready to go when Kathleen and Felicia came to pick us up. I was hoping to grab breakfast from the hotel lobby before I left, but Mom checked it out and they didn't have anything but stale doughnuts. I passed on those in favor of the Harvest bar in my race bag...not nearly enough before a tri, but way better than any of the alternatives. Mental Note: pack a breakfast next time I have to stay in a hotel before a triathlon.
This triathlon had the best swim start of any that I have done. The swim is in the ski lagoon inside the park and it has a chip-timed start. So you stand in line according to your swim cap color (which is assigned according to swim speed), then one or two at a time you cross the starting mat and go. I was towards the back (one of the slower swimmers) so I got to see most of the swimmers take off as well as cheer the first swimmer out of the water.
After the swim, there is an approximate quarter mile stretch back to the transition area. That's a long way to go without shoes, so the race organizers set up the exit with numbered rows where you can keep your shoes for the next event or even just so you don't have to run barefoot to the bikes. Mom and I started the swim together, but she beat me out of the water. I was able to catch up with her during our T1 so we did most of the bike together. I kept thinking about how much faster she finished her swim and how disappointed Stepan would be if she beat me so I sped past her at the end of the bike to gain those crucial extra minutes that would have us finishing in the same time. It wasn't until we were doing the run that Mom was able to convince me that we would have the same time if we finished together since we started together (yeah, it was kinda a "blonde" moment, but I was halfway through a triathlon...my brain was oxygen deprived...at least that's what I'm going to tell everybody!). Neither one if could remember which one crossed the starting mat first.
The run was great fun. The route was through the park and Mom and I did the whole thing together. I would make her run for 30 seconds at a time; when we slowed to a walk we would compare our heartrates.
All in all, it was a great event. The only complaint I have is the serious lack of food available for the athletes either right after the race or even at the after-party. I ended up sick (upset stomach, headachy, very tired) for our last afternoon at Sea World because I waited too long to eat and when we did eat, we had bar-b-q...very tasty, but not very good at replenishing the energy I used in the morning.