June 9th 2007 was to be my first event of the 2007 season but knee surgery kept me from the race course, but not the event. I was fortunate enough to be there to cheer on fellow Polar Team member Hank Pool and Olivia Syptak. I was a little late to the event since sleeping isnt the most comfortable thing these days with a bummed knee, but I was right on time to watch both Olivia and Hank charging out of T-1 with both guns blazing.
I was a little concerned about how I was going to handle the spectator side of triathlon but a funny thing happened. As I was driving over the dam to the race, I got so fired up I began screaming in my car. The chills of racing ran through my body which began the natural high for the next hour. Watching Hank and Olivia gave me the needed rush and motivation I was looking for to cure my bad mood of late. Missing out on a race season is a difficult pill to swallow but all was forgotten as I watched to two of them putting on the line.
At the event, I noticed myself looking at my watch constantly as I was estimating and anticipating their return back to transition. First Olivia, then Hank. At the finish, Hank closed the gap and the two of them finish relatively close together. After the race, I had to chance to catch up with them. Upon reflection, I asked them a lot of questions about the course and how they felt. Every bit of information was processed through my head as I interpreted the feeling of being out their myself the previous year. Hank and Olivia, hope I wasnt too much of a pain, LOL.
It was a real treat meeting and hanging out with you two for awhile. As it turned out, Hank bettered his time by 3 min. finishing 3rd in a tough age group and 6th overall..... way to go! Olivia also finished incredibally well winning her age group and taking 2nd overall! Even better, she won a 5,000 dollar bike that was being raffled off. Yahoooo! To say the least, it was a real treat racing with these guys in spirit. Thanks for the great show!!
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