This post is long overdue, but I had to finish a write-up for one of the most enjoyable race experiences I have had to date, and my final event of the 2012 season…
Imagine a triathlon in a place where the water is so clear you can see over 50 feet to the bottom of the ocean, where palm trees sway lazily in the tropical breeze, fresh seafood is part of the daily diet, and people aren’t in a hurry. Your first instinct might be to name the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawai’i, but the island paradise that I discovered was home to the UWC Triathlon in Nassau, Bahamas. Having no idea what the area and race held in store, I signed up for the event, enticed with the vision of the perfect vacation race to end my season, replete with deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, fine dining, visiting private islands with pristine beaches, and of course, racing a triathlon that centered its energy on the professional field and a worthy charity. This decision came after I achieved, and surpassed, my season goal of notching another Ironman win and being competitive in all events I entered. It also came at the expense of heading to Maui to race the Xterra World Championships, so my fingers were crossed that it would be a worthy adventure. When hurricane Sandy ravaged the Caribbean and eastern seaboard, the race was pushed back a week, and the challenge of rescheduling and changing plans made me slightly hesitant to carry on with the trip. Still, I pressed on, and I cannot describe how grateful I am for the experience I had.
The first thing that needs to be addressed is the generosity, kindness, and overall phenomenally positive energy of the race director, Barbara Ann Bernard. Nothing of this scale happens with considerable dedication and vision, so her efforts must be recognized and lauded. So, after a bit of a random red-eye flight, I arrived in the Bahamas on Halloween day. The island had just been hit with the high winds of Sandy, so much of the foliage was burned from salt spray, but I was instantly blown away by the scenery. Seemingly endless azure waters stretched out in every direction, white sand beaches, and great, sunny weather. Of course our first experience would be to visit the very modern pool and workout facility at Albany, a new development on the island. After that, it was on to a wonderful Halloween celebration in Lyford Cay, and exceptional dinner at the Mahogany house. This is the life!
Over the next few days we would snorkel with sharks, travel to a private island for lunch and more snorkeling, eat many wonderful meals, visit the aquariums at Atlantis, attempt to catch a lobster, water-ski, go deep sea fishing, and generally just enjoy ourselves on an island paradise that has some of the most warm and inviting people I have met.
The race wasn’t much to report on, other than to say it was well-run and enjoyable… until I crashed! After a fairly strong swim, I had just moved into third place when I hit a sizeable bump in the road and launched forward off my bike, sliding for a considerable distance on my back and side. It took me a minute to gather myself and make sure I hadn’t broken anything before I decided to continue and finish the race. Although I never want to go down in any event, it really couldn’t have happened at a better time, and I was lucky not to do long-term damage.
The take home message? Get to the Bahamas to race next year and have some fun! And don’t crash your bike.