So, it's a week late --
My first triathlon of the year finally happened last weekend! When I signed up for this race at the beginning of the year, I was very nervous. This was a very hilly course that I've ridden many times but, I hadn't raced it. My Olympic distance triathlons last year were painful. Had I gained enough fitness to survive an Olympic let alone enjoy it?
The course is located about 25 minutes south at a local reservoir. The forecast was 67/53 degrees with 17mph WNW wind. Perfect since I hadn't done any heat acclimatization; I thought I'd lucked out.
Grumpy and I drove down to the reservoir early to get parking and a good transition spot. I had expected it to be overcast but, at 6am the fog was already gone and it was 60 degrees -- YIKES! It was going to get hot!!!
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| Out to the damn and then around the peninsula. |
My triathlon club had a rack ready so I quickly found a spot and set up. I didn't really know any one there so, off I went for a little warm up jog and then it was down to the lake where the elites were taking off. It was still too early to go in for my warm up swim. I waited for most of the men's waves to go off until I couldn't take it any longer. I ate my gel and then I got in and splashed around for awhile. Wave after wave went off. Finally, my turn.
I was supposed to find fast feet and hold on. As soon as the horn went off, I swam as fast as I could but lost every one around me. The voice started in with "What the hell are you doing a triathlon for??? This is too hard". Well, I was going too hard and most of the people who had lined up with me were gone.
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| The mass of swimmers were off to the right. |
However, most people had lined up at a far angle and they were beginning to veer over to me where I'd grab on to feet when they went by and I made it to the first turn buoy. At this point, the voice was gone. After that it was more of the same. Grab on to feet as they go by and keep constant.
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| The pink caps were the under 40 women's wave before mine ;-) |
Finally, I rounded the last buoy and made it to the ramp. I was surprised to find I easily found my feet. In all my other triathlons, I get out wobbly and pretty winded. I had plenty in me to trot up the ramp.
Swim: 35:46
This year, my mantra in transition is "Hurry Hurry Hurry" and it seemed to work. Out of the wetsuit, into my shoes and socks, sunglasses on, helmet on, grab the bike and trot out.
T1: 2:15
I was to go easy the first 20 minutes and then go. I started nutrition almost immediately and took the first couple of little hills easily. I flew down the first big down hill and I was off. I've ridden most of this course multiple times and I knew if I just rode in a more reasonable wattage range, I'd only average 10mph -- I prayed that I wasn't going to overpace and I pushed it to just under 15mph. The wind I had expected never showed - yippee!
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| Coming in - taking off the shoe |
As the Bike In became visible, I pulled my right foot out of my shoe (not ready for both yet), peddled with my foot on top of my shoe, and dismounted at the line. A quick grab of the shoe still on the bike top popped it off (with only one shoe left on the bike, the shoe will be dragged horribly and I don't want to have to go back and get it if it falls off) and I ran back to my transition spot much faster if I had both shoes still on.
Bike: 1:39:48
"Hurry Hurry Hurry" - rack bike, un-clip helmet, remove other shoe, put running shoes on, blow nose (must learn to do this on the bike), grab water bottle, grab stuff, and go. I put my hat and race belt on as I was running down the Run Out ramp.
T2: 1:08
By the time I hit the ground running, it was already 80 degrees. I started out a little too fast and dialed it back. I needed to get my feet back and then I was to push. The run course follows the bike course for the first 3.1 miles with 2 big hills at about 2 miles in and lots of little humps all the way through. As I started to push, I hit the first hill and tried to keep running. I was heating up fast so I walked the next hump, ran down the downside, walked up the second hill, and flew down the downside, walked up the final peak and ran down the return. However, now it had gotten really warm and even with this process of running down the downsides, I was getting too hot. On the return, I had the aid stations pour water on me and that helped for a quarter mile or so. I slid into a run/walk and that kept it manageable.
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| Just trying to stay on my feet! |
As the 6 mile marker became visible, I picked it up to bring it in strong. To my surprise it was a very big decline all the way to the finish so, I was flying when I came across the finish line.
Run: 1:15:11
Overall: 3:34:08
Even though my run was not what I wanted, I had a solid race otherwise. I was 2+ minutes from a PR on an Olympic distance triathlon which was achieved on a much flatter course. Once the voice left me in the swim, I was happy the whole time. The following day, I was tired BUT I wasn't overly sore. What a difference a year and a great coach make!
