Race Day - Part 2

I couldn't even run to my bike I was so tired. I just walked to it. Now as I walk up to the transition area I see there are about 10 bikes left. I am like this is not good. I don't know what my swim time is but I know it was long and I have until 11:15am to finish that bike course. I get to my spot #1846. It was a mess...I put on my helmet first. "Always put your helmet on first" I have everything on and then I can't find my sunglasses. Oh Shit where are my glasses? WHERE ARE MY GLASSES? So I picked up my goggles and started to run out the transition area...Then I said "BUMP IT" I threw my bike down and went to get my glasses (LMAO I can't believe I did that - hilarious). I found my glass case and got up the hill onto the road. So let's go back to earlier in the morning before the race. The TNT Team is standing under the tent at the transition area entrance. We’re talking and Coach Amy says "Ok Niambi this is your strategy for the bike" (My brain said Oh Shit this is not good) "You are going to go up the hills and book it on the straight away. No playing around. You have a time limit to finish the course. There's no playing around no taking it easy" (NOTE: remember the statement about the straight away). My brain was right. I said "Ok I understand - I knew it. I need to finish this in 2 hours" Amy said "You can do it" Coach Teague "You can do it" Alright so now you know my strategy. After the first 4 miles I see Jim coming in the opposite direction - "Hey Jim" "Niambi!" (Now brain is says "This is not good. He's coming in and I am just starting. Not good). Then I see Carlos (no comment LOL). I just need to keep it moving. The first 13 miles this girl and I were neck to neck, then I fell back on this one hill. The next thing I knew there was a cop motorcycle following behind me. "Oh Crap this is not good. I can’t get pulled off this course. I need to keep going. I have been on the bike an hour and 15 minutes. I can’t get pulled off this course that will be so embarrassing. “Just keep it moving, keep it moving" My brain says. By the way where the hell is the straight away I need a moment to book it. THERE WAS NEVER A STRAIGHT AWAY, NOT ONE, NOPE NOT ONE STRAIGHT AWAY - After the 10th hill I just gave up looking for the straight away. I can laugh now but it wasn’t funny at the time. Why do I have to be the last person on the road with a cop following behind me – only Niambi (LMAO).
What was really cool about that ride from hell all the people who were on the sidelines cheering me on. It was awesome (I cried a couple of times) when I was going up those hills as people were yelling at me "You are doing a great job" “You are almost up that hill" You can do this you are almost there" That shit helps. I was so ready to give up so many times and the funny thing is the hills were not even as bad as the ones I trained on at home. It was just so damn many. Geez. (where the hell was the straight away?) Anyway when I thought I had 2 more miles to go the next thing I know I am turning into the park. I see Head Coach Chuck walking up the hill on the bike. Now I was so happy that I didn't get pulled off the course. I yelled his name and waved. (Afterwards My brain said "Ain't this some shit he's done and going home LOL")
Note: Coach Chuck is an impressive man - he is an Iron Man and he was in the 55 + age group. I just wanted to put it in perspective for you. It will sink in soon.
I stop my bike. I walk back into the transition area.