NEVIS CYCLE & TRIATHLON CLUB

All I can say is wow, what a race! This had to have been one of the most grueling 650m of swimming, 20K of biking, and 5K of running I have done in a long time. I was determined to give it my 100% from start to finish, and I did just that.
The weather for race day could not have been more perfect. Warm temps, calm water, a bit of wind, and blue skies that did show a hint of rain. And to make the day even better, my family was visiting from the US, so I was glad to have them there to support me and I wanted to put in a good race for them.
The 650m swim was a two loop course. The water was calm, clear, and warm. I started the swim in the middle of the pack, and slowly worked my way toward the front. Reggie and I bumped into each other for a bit, but no harm was done. As usual, I kept an eye out for my swimming partner Kelly and was delighted to see she was right behind me. Exiting the water there were two men in front of me, but no women, so I knew I was in the lead. I made quick work of transition and was off on the bike.
The bike was a two-loop out-and-back course that went a bit past the airport. This meant the dreaded Hurricane Hill had to be negotiated twice- yuck! I knew Janine would be closing in quick so I pushed hard on the bike. At each turn around I saw she was getting closer and closer, but I was pushing as hard as I could. Eventually she passed me near the end of the bike, and I came into T2 just a bit behind her.
I think I had the quickest transition of my life and was headed out on the run course, now ahead of Janine. The run was an out-and-back up to the airport. Yup, Hurricane Hill again. I knew Janine was right behind me, so I pushed hard. She had the advantage being the “hunter” and I the “hunted”. I just kept going and never looked back because I didn’t want to see how close she was. At the turnaround, I saw I had put some distance between us, but not enough to relax so I just kept going strong. Along the way I saw Nikki, Sarah, Danielle, Paula, and Wendy and we all had a friendly “hello” for each other. I was able to hold off Janine for first, but wow, was it a tough race.
Another great race by the Nevis Cycle Club over at Oualie Beach. As usual, it’s great to spend the day amongst friends and fellow racers. Thanks to all the volunteers for helping out, and a special thanks to my family who came along to cheer me on and support me during their vacation in St. Kitts. See everyone at the race in March.