I've gotta come clean. I thought about just letting it slide... hoping no one would notice but I just can't.
January 12th has been circled on my calendar since October. Why, you ask? Well January 12th is Age Group Nationals Registration Day! Woo, right?!? It turns out it's more like WAH.
Exactly at 1pm on the dot, I drop any work that I am doing, go straight to the AG website and click register. It says to enter USAT member number. I enter my #. The screen now says there is a problem registering. Either my USAT membership is expired (it hasn't), I mistyped the number (I didn't and re-did it 6 times to make sure) or I didn't qualify. Blasphemy I yell at the computer screen! Or maybe it was another 4 words I'd rather my Mom not read (you know you're reading this Mom... hi there!) like SOAB!!
I followed the directions and emailed the registration department. It went something like this:
"I am trying to register for Age Group Nationals and I think there may be a mistake..."
I plead my case, providing race results, remember I totally qualified at the Montauk Olympic tri getting 2nd in my Age Group, and hit send.
And then it happened. I got a swift response from USAT. I think you can see where this is going.... even though I placed SECOND in my age group (with a small age group field only 1 & 2 in my age group can qualify) the first woman OVERALL is 32, therefore bouncing my slow ass out of Age Group Nat contention.
So for the past 3 1/2 months I've been talking a BIG game... I'm SO speedy... I QUALIFIED for Nats... I'm the coolest of cool.... Blah Blah Blah... but in reality I was WRONG.
Yes, I placed well, but in a larger race I wouldn't have come close to top 10! So am I disappointed...? um YEAH! I'm bummed. I didn't even realize I wanted to qualify for AG until I (falsely) did. Now I miss it. And now I have to rearrange my race schedule. Do I try to qualify at another race in June/July?? Should I add another early Olympic specifically to try to qualify? Or do I say "screw you, speedsters" and add another Half Ironman, like Timberman in August?
Grrr... I feel lame. Sorry for talking up a big game... when I got none!!
That sucks! You're still the coolest of the cool around here!
ReplyDeleteI did a similar thing at a race. Thought I was 3rd in my age group (and I was according to the preliminary results), so I walked up to the awards table where 5 other finishers were standing and said, "I'm 3rd in the 25-29 AG, can I get my award." The lady confirmed my name (which wasn't my name). Turns out the actual #3 didn't register a T2 exit time which is why he was left off the prelim results. Whoops!
Thanks Kevin! My ego wound will heal... eventually :)
DeleteMajor major bummer Jill! Stupid 32 year old taking overall. Dangit!!
ReplyDeleteI have some replacement races for ya!!! Quassy Olympic followed by Mont Tremblant 70.3 on June 24th followed by Timberman in August.
dohhhhhhh!!! That's certainly a kick in the balls :(
ReplyDeleteWe still think you're awesome!!! Personally I'd have a score to settle and make 2012 the year I show the world that I can definitely pull it off. But as you said, find out what you really want though. It wasn't on your list originally so don't put it on 2012 list 'just because'.
Don't feel lame - you're still stupid fast! I can imagine a bit of bruised ego/pride - USE it! Believe in yourself and let those feelings fuel your training.
Dude. That really sucks. But you do have game. Totally.
ReplyDelete