Sandestin 2006: i just felt like something was missing!

Good Morning Sandestin!

August 26, 2006
5:30 a.m.

Here we were...

Straight from tri-training amongst the cotton fields of Bostwick and the mean streets of Mad. Bikes were loaded and transition bags packed. TEAM Cotton Patch was ready to head up the road to do another one of these tri-things. Good Grief! Hasn't anyone come to their senses yet?

The Patchcrowd awoke to sounds of crashing surf, wind and a red flag on beach. eek! Mr. WarTigger awoke to find self one year older by the calendar. eek!

Not really, Lieutenant Dan for you are by far the youngest looking 75-year-old i have ever, ever encountered.

Just Kidding. For even though you are slightly older than this reporter, in reality you look tons younger -- and that just suc_s! (guess only for me -- and not for you) And you really do have springs or something in your feet. It really is not fair. Ageless and Springy! You must have made pact with some Netherworld creature, or just gifted by God with good genetics. One way or the other -- you're freaky -- in the sincerest most complimentary way.

Yes -- John, Jeff, Rick, me, and Birthday Boy were ready to go. Just seems like something or someone was missing. Hmmm.. i actually started getting little concerned. Kept having that feeling that we were leaving something behind.

But another quick recount resulted in 5 tri-ers and 5 bikes. All were accounted for and we were off.........

Got to our little start area with no time to spare. Got marked. Set up our wee transition spaces and headed off for the beach. John was little nervous about getting down to sand on time, so in the interest of being good spouse and good Cotton-patch compatriot, i waved off my rule that you must make final pit stop in lovely PPotty.

This ppotty walk-by necessitated a warm-up swim in the ocean, which actually ended up being great as well as useful. Got used to the water and the waves, and really once we got out past the breakers -- wasn't all that bad. Though come to learn that there had been rumors of certain types of fish spotted off coast the day before.

And the water really was that nice and clear. Which was great -- except if you don't really want to see if such a lovely fish might be swimming under you.

No, more likely we would encounter some of our jellyfish friends from last year. Not exactly like the one pictured for i think one sting from this fine looking invertebrate would permanently takedown a cotton-patcher in 3 minutes.

So there we all were. All 700 of us tri-ers on the beach clutching our colored swim caps.

Then it dawned on me... i really need to find the other Mad tri-gals for final hug and thumbs up. Think the 30 - 34 s and Angela had just left when this realization hit me. Up next in the starting shoot on the beach, the 35 - 39s yellow cappers. That meant i had 5 minutes to locate Shelagh, Elizabeth, Sage and Hope.

I was scanning the crowd. Everyone looks soooo alike in those yellow latex caps and all that androgynous tri-gear. Couldn't even trust scanning down to look at all those athletic-type legs. So many of those tri-guys' legs are way more manicured and comely than mine. oh dear. Time was ticking.. just where were those girls?

First, spied Elizabeth and Shelagh down front on far right. Shelagh motioned to not get too close for she had some type of stomach sickness the night before. oh dear. Elizabeth had her usual smiling, just out for morning dip in ocean calm about her. They both looked great and both are great swimmers. Knew that each would be fine and faster than me. Both of which turned true. Gave each quick hug and kiss on top of yellow latex and was off to find those others.

Now Shelagh had pointed me in right direction to Hope and Sage. Found them no problem. Both were understandably little anxious about swim. i managed to try to say something pollyana peppy about the water being great -- which it actually was -- though tad wavey. "Remember ladies, just keep moving forward" was my big sage-ish advice. Time was counting down -- so quick hug and kiss on top of cap for those two and then they were off.........

Time for us of the light blue swimcap crowd to advance to water's edge. Looked up and saw Jeffrey striding up -- cap on -- yet longish locks out. Gave him big hug and kiss on cheek. Then he was off to place his toes in the ocean for he had "the eye" this year. Then remembered Dan. Had to wish birthday boy good luck. Saw him with the other's waiting in next group. Hug and kiss. Rick standing back with the very fit monsters in the Clydesdales -- kiss and hug.

Then found my way back to john, my husband. Poor guy was looking kind of nervous. He later said, "i felt like i used to before trial of big case." Gave him big hug and kiss on head and cheek. Now kiss on mouth would have been totally legal and even appropriate with him -- but he looked just so dang nervous -- i kind of felt mother-ish towards him at that moment.

Then once again had that feeling... there was someone else that needed that good luck embrace. i need all the good luck i can get. but before i knew it.........we were off..........

and before i knew it all those big orange buoys had somehow been swam past and my feet were on the sand. Hurrah! Time to run across the blasted sand, up that blasted wooden ramp, to that blasted mat. For that was the official timed end of your swim. So across the sand we went.

i made it across the sand and up to the mat just fine. Was thrilled to hear the roar of the crowd. Here are our very lovely and exuberant cheerleaders. Dorothy Newton and Carrie Christie. Now Coach Karen stepped in to role of official photographer this year. A very thankless job. But she was not only snapping action photos like a seasoned SI photog -- she was cheering us all on as well!
Here comes John out of the water.

He's the only one with the raised arms. i think he was tad happy!

as he should have been....he did most excellent.

But this is not a swim meet. There are two more legs to this thing.

So all the Cotton-Patch made it off the beach up to transition and to the bikes.

I like this certain transition. for when i make it up there, there are lots of bikes patiently waiting. This is good because that means their riders -- the other 40 - 44s -- are still on other side of fence in water or sand trying to get to their trikes. So i have momentary glimmer of superiority feeling... only to hear.. "Looking great Jamie", Jeff calls as he is running out of transition with bike helmet on and bike along side.

ok -- i think -- Jeff is flying this year. Now where are my socks? John is across the way doing great, but i beat him out and start riding.

then the inevitable starts to happen. All those 40 - 44 men that i beat out of the water all start to pass me on the bike. i just hate it when that happens! but it isn't bad at all to be passed by members of the Patch -- for i love them. Jeff was ahead i knew that. Shelagh and Elizabeth were already up there with their agers -- and knew i wouldn't catch them. So i peddled and tried to remain positive, darn it!

John passed... love, love to him. Tigger passed. i got give him a "War Eagle" or "Happy Birthday" or something like that. Then Rick passed. Now he was haullllling......... i remember where he passed me last year. Good Grief! Turn around and back up 98 into massive headwind. lovely. But kept eyeing for someone else. Just who did i think was not there? Hmmmmmmmm.

Then before i knew it back to transition, ready to finish with those 4 wonderful miles. Hurrah!

ok -- what's wrong with this picture? First, lots of other bikes. That means lots of other tri-guys and gals who started with me passed me on their flippin' bikes and are already running. and second, for the first time in my life i am putting on sock/shoe rather that shoe/shoe. Yes, transitions in triathlons are perfect places to try something new. Third, Karen had just called out in her good-hearted best, "Shelagh's on Fire!" Ugh! i feel old.

But i truly am not the least bit competitive. not i!

i manage to pull rapidly aging self off asphalt and try to get legs working forward and backwards. This is always tough part. Your legs really protest. They cry, "i have just been moving up and down for 25 miles -- we can't move front to back. That's really hard for us legs and in case you've forgotten, you're really old."

But i trudge along. And about mile 1, my legs decide this running thing is inevitable so they somewhat warm up to idea of moving forward and backward. This happens about the time i see Elizabeth running by. Correction -- i notice her -- because she very sweetly cheers, "Hey Jamie" as she motors by in other direction. i do smile. She is so cute and nice. and she is just fast. and i am just slow.

One foot in front of other to finishline. Finally done. Yeahhhhhhhh!

Here we are. All happy and proud as we should be!

Now think Sage has run for a drink of water and Elizabeth was so far ahead of all of us that she is taking a shower in her hotel room.

Yes, we are all so happy. Ready to go up to pool for annual post race libation and picture...







Then it finally hits us.... the original Cotton-Patch crew. We forgot David!

How could we have made such mistake? Was he sitting in drive on Skyline with bags packed and bike along side with sad little face. Wondering how -- oh how -- we could have left him. Jeff and Rick were hopeful that he had somehow made it down alone. John and i felt like we let one of the Praise Team down -- now that's bad. Dan was so upset -- he just couldn't even look at anyone of us. He knew how much David was looking forward to a slice of the strawberry birthday cake his mother always fixes for us Patchers. oh dear!

Ok -- we really didn't forget you David. We knew you were in SC at Sarah's parent's 50th -- but we so, so missed you!

How could we forget you David -- for it was so fun to give you recap of race Saturday night! Yes, we were out having most excellent feast.

Triathlons and day at pool and on beach can really, really take it out of a girl!

Yes -- David -- true Cotton-Patch compadre that he is had slipped one of us plenty of fundage to provide for lots of rehydration fluid for us spent athletes and cheerleaders. What a guy!

Then he had to suffer through lots of individual highlights by cell -- as the phone was passed round.

Jeff mentioned to David that he thought TEAM Cotton-Patch should, "do more triathletes" next year. Hmm?

i remarked that it was so great "there weren't any Goldfish this year!" i think i meant to say jellyfish. Not really sure what Jeff meant?

Goldfish? Look at this guy. He's a man-eater i'm quite certain. Yes, thankfully there were none of them lurking out in the depths of the Gulf.

Cheers to you David! Cheers to the Cotton-Patch! Many, Many thanks to Coach Karen for all the pictures. Dorothy or Carrie... you know one of you (if not both) has to do this next year. Dan has already asked all back for his big birthday bash next August 26.

am sure David will be there.........who else out there is in? Want to see lots of new faces !

So this humble reporter,

and even more humbled aging athlete is signing off from Sandestin for another year.

Ok -- really think about it: who else is in? The Few, The Proud, the Cotton-Patch!