Santa Barbara Long Distance Tri August 28th

Andy Burke writes:
Here goes from me.

The weather cooperated and it was a perfect morning for our race---a little overcast. Swim was chilly but not as cold as we all thought it would be----great current with us heading out, but at the turn, had to fight the current coming back in, swells and wind chop.

The ride was good---its an uphill staircase on the way out with Toro hill that again claimed 2 bodies-----nothing fatal but riders are reckless going down that section. What goes up must come down so the turn at mile 17 is time to get on the gas so hammer home until you get to Toro hill again. (I knew the legs were getting cooked when a little old lady walked pass me on the uphill and asked if I wanted a glass of lemonade-------LOL )

Run was a really beautiful scenic out and back through Santa Barbara harbor and up into one of the older neighborhoods. Was psyched to see Shug on the way back----she was looking stronggggggg!!!!! Never saw Val so we must have passed and didn’t see each other. Run was fast with only a slight hill at mile 4---then at the turn the pace picks up because its all down hill and flat to the finish line. Elizabeths family gets the award for best cheering section-----that was awesome.

Highlights for me were hanging out with Val and Shug at dinner and sharing some laughs while trying to get Elizabeth’s mom to divulge some of E’s skeletons--------but come to find out that Elizabeth was an ANGEL growing up and never did anything wrong. Great weekend, great fun--------will definitely have SB back on the calendar for 2011.