So this is my first race of the 2011 season, and two weeks out from Wildflower. The goal here is to iron out any kinks, and start to mentally get into race mode.
This is the second time for me at this race, and this time my fitness is much better, so the expectation is to cut some time off my last race. The race started at 7:30, and there was a sprint and a mountain bike tri also running at the same time and location. This is a smaller race, so probably a good race to choose for a first triathlon.
The 1.5k Swim (27:50 @1:51/100 pace)
This is also the first race in my new Xterra wetsuit. I've only done one pool swim with it so far. I made my way down to the water to give myself at least 15 minutes to get acclimated to the water. It was chilly, but not bad. If I had to guess, low-mid 60's. Well, as I was walking into the water, I went to pull my goggles on and the small plastic piece that goes across the bridge of your nose, snapped. Doh! Fortunately, I always bring a spare set, but anyone that has done this race knows the run back to transition is long and uphill (see T1 times later). So, I jogged up the beach, across the grass, across the asphalt and back to my transition area. Then, back to the beach. I still had a couple minutes to get in the water before my wave left (7:33am, wave #2).
OK, so the horn sounds, and into the water we go. It took about 100 yards for the group to space out a little, I think there were about 50-60 in my wave. Anyway, the swim went ok, I just chugged along around the 2 lap course. It was probably nerves, or just lack of open water practice, but I pretty much scrapped my usual mode of breathing every three strokes, and stuck with every two. If I had to guess, my second lap was a little faster, because I was relaxing more and actually thinking about swim technique.
I was surprised that my swim time was slower than last year, which was 25:45. Looking at others' swim times, it seems that overall, swim times were longer this year than in October. Not sure why, maybe the course was slightly different.
T1 5:06):
This is a long run up the beach, and a slight incline, then across some grass, which is actually nice because it helps get the sand off your feet. I actually made the decision to strip the wetsuit on the grass, rather than taking it off in my crowded transition row.
My T1 time was 5:06, versus 6:05 last year. Last year, I had some issues with cramping and getting the wetsuit off.
40k Bike (1:11.48 @20.77 mph):
The bike course is two loops, with a small hill leaving the park area and then one steeper hill coming back into the park. Road conditions are ok here, and overall it seems like a safe course. The bike is my favorite of the three portions, and this year, I rode a borrowed carbon Specialized Transition, rather than my road bike. I was able to cut a few minutes off last year's time (1:11:48, versus 1:16:09). On the second loop, I was feeling the pressure to go to the bathroom. I've never been able to do this while riding, so I made the decision to hold it, and fortunately, it never became an issue and I didn't have to stop at the port-a-poddies
My bike leg actually started stressful before the race even began. I realized I left my c02 at home. I decided not to risk riding without a way to fix a flat, so I taped a small pump to the top tube. Yes, I had tape and an extra bike pump in my car, but no c02. I felt bad taping a pump to such a beautiful bike, and a little embarrassed too.
T2 (1:18):
Not much to say here, rack the back, change your shoes and grab the visor and go. (last year was 1:04, versus 1:18 this year) A little slower, maybe I was quicker with the shoes last year.
10k Run (49:59 @8:02/mi):
This course is an out and back, along a running trail near the lake. This year, I decided to wear my Garmin for the bike and run. I've been running with it quite a bit, and it helps me keep pace sometimes. Anyway, as usual, I started slow, but kept short strides. I'm a relatively slow runner, so my goal was to average 7:59 pace for the 10k (I just wanted to see that 7, instead of an 8). Well, my first three miles had splits below 8:00, but the next three were 8:09, 8:11 and 8:06. My time was 49:59, which was a little better than last year's 51:53. Almost 2 minutes better.
So, last year was 2:40:59, and this year was 2:36:03, just about 5 minutes better than October, not bad, but I was hoping for a little more. I still think something changed with the swim course, but oh well.
And finally, what I'm sure we all do, here's how I did against everyone else:
Overall, 55/217 (my age group is going to be bigger than this at Wildflower)
Age Group, 9/31 (two minutes faster and I would have been 7/31)
Anyway, hope this is interesting or helpful or encouraging for someone out there. Now it's time to finish the last of my training for Wildflower long course, my first 70.3 race.
OK, so the horn sounds, and into the water we go. It took about 100 yards for the group to space out a little, I think there were about 50-60 in my wave. Anyway, the swim went ok, I just chugged along around the 2 lap course. It was probably nerves, or just lack of open water practice, but I pretty much scrapped my usual mode of breathing every three strokes, and stuck with every two. If I had to guess, my second lap was a little faster, because I was relaxing more and actually thinking about swim technique.
I was surprised that my swim time was slower than last year, which was 25:45. Looking at others' swim times, it seems that overall, swim times were longer this year than in October. Not sure why, maybe the course was slightly different.
T1 5:06):
This is a long run up the beach, and a slight incline, then across some grass, which is actually nice because it helps get the sand off your feet. I actually made the decision to strip the wetsuit on the grass, rather than taking it off in my crowded transition row.
My T1 time was 5:06, versus 6:05 last year. Last year, I had some issues with cramping and getting the wetsuit off.
40k Bike (1:11.48 @20.77 mph):
The bike course is two loops, with a small hill leaving the park area and then one steeper hill coming back into the park. Road conditions are ok here, and overall it seems like a safe course. The bike is my favorite of the three portions, and this year, I rode a borrowed carbon Specialized Transition, rather than my road bike. I was able to cut a few minutes off last year's time (1:11:48, versus 1:16:09). On the second loop, I was feeling the pressure to go to the bathroom. I've never been able to do this while riding, so I made the decision to hold it, and fortunately, it never became an issue and I didn't have to stop at the port-a-poddies
My bike leg actually started stressful before the race even began. I realized I left my c02 at home. I decided not to risk riding without a way to fix a flat, so I taped a small pump to the top tube. Yes, I had tape and an extra bike pump in my car, but no c02. I felt bad taping a pump to such a beautiful bike, and a little embarrassed too.
T2 (1:18):
Not much to say here, rack the back, change your shoes and grab the visor and go. (last year was 1:04, versus 1:18 this year) A little slower, maybe I was quicker with the shoes last year.
10k Run (49:59 @8:02/mi):
This course is an out and back, along a running trail near the lake. This year, I decided to wear my Garmin for the bike and run. I've been running with it quite a bit, and it helps me keep pace sometimes. Anyway, as usual, I started slow, but kept short strides. I'm a relatively slow runner, so my goal was to average 7:59 pace for the 10k (I just wanted to see that 7, instead of an 8). Well, my first three miles had splits below 8:00, but the next three were 8:09, 8:11 and 8:06. My time was 49:59, which was a little better than last year's 51:53. Almost 2 minutes better.
So, last year was 2:40:59, and this year was 2:36:03, just about 5 minutes better than October, not bad, but I was hoping for a little more. I still think something changed with the swim course, but oh well.
And finally, what I'm sure we all do, here's how I did against everyone else:
Overall, 55/217 (my age group is going to be bigger than this at Wildflower)
Age Group, 9/31 (two minutes faster and I would have been 7/31)
Anyway, hope this is interesting or helpful or encouraging for someone out there. Now it's time to finish the last of my training for Wildflower long course, my first 70.3 race.
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| The Finish Line (a day early) |
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