SDRC Labor Day Sprint Triathlon – Before starting the race report, just amazed how many people do triathlons, over 500 showed today.
The stats:
Swim = 10:36 - 400 yrds
Transition from Swim to Bike = 1:58
Bike = 29:35 – 12 miles - pace 24 mph
Transition from Bike to Run = 1:32
Run = 30:32 – 3.29 miles - pace 9:17
PreRace Stuff –
We arrived at the race 2 hours early, the flyer said start time at 7 a.m., real start time 8 a.m., well, after Sylvie chewing on me for being way early again, had a pleasant two hours chatting with others, getting ready in the transition area, picking up race numbers and getting magic marker number on the arm and legs. I often wonder why paint on the number, I guess if you die in the pool or get hurt, quicker to the rescue.
Other Tri-Geeks: talked to two others in my division from the Bountiful Tri a month earlier. One of them had beat me by 30 seconds, did not see the first place guy. Well the race was on, my goal, finish ahead of the second place guy. Go like he……… and don’t look back, my race plan was on. As he beat me on the run by two minutes last time, my goal was to crank it hard on the bike and swim and hand on during the run.
Swim Start: Sylvie brought her great sports camera, hopefully the pictures turn out, will post one on the blog. The pool: we were packed like sardines on the side of the pool, 500 + people in swimsuits huddled like frost bitten hikers trying use body heat to stay warm. It got warm waiting. It was fun to chat with several of the athletes, many had the same anxiety, kind of scared of the pool . The swim was serpentine down eight lanes swimming down and back in the same lane before going under the rope to the next lane. Each swimmer was staggered by 10 seconds and placed by expected swim time. The race was like a Tour De France Time trial, you were essentially racing against the clock and everyone started at a different time. My turn came, jumped in the pool and started the backstroke, hit my head on the side of the pool, small gash, the life guard asked if I was ok, did not answer, just kept swimming. Improved my time by 1:24 over the swim a month ago, happy water logged B. Got passed by one swimmer and passed one swimmer, 0 road kill.
Transition Swim to Bike: ran about 30 yards on asphalt parking lot, tender feet did not like. Very good transition time, John and Di’s tips on layout etc. really helped. Sylvie was yelling and taking pictures, great fun.
Bike: Determined to give it everything on the bike, the race was on, needed a great time on the bike to best the second place guy from a month ago. The ride was going great, until several of us got stopped for a train, darn. My watch indicated 2 minutes waiting, deducted this from my time. A race official was taking numbers and watching the clock and said time adjustments would be made. Well, they were not made, will explain after the finish. Positive road kill 12, had one guy pass me on a Tri-bike, he was cooking. The worry started, really trashing my legs trying to give it everything and hope to hang on during the run.
Bike to Run transition, Sylvie was yelling like crazy, giving me yells of encouragement, very positive. Last night put non-tie shoes lace thingies in my shoes, really helped, likely saving 10 to 15 seconds.
The run: for those of you that have not rode a bike and then ran; tough, tough, tough, your legs just don’t want to run. Quickly went into chi running mode counting steps for cadence, thought this 3.29 miles would never end. Got chicked by one runner, 3rd place overall woman, and passed 10 other runners, positive road kill 9. I was surprised with the 9:17 pace considering how trashed my legs felt, tough run with twice the uphill as down. Sylvie was again yelling and taking pictures, great wife, made it fun. I was so darn glad to cross the finish line. Some races, just don’t feel like a 100% effort, this race was as close to 100% as I can get.
Post Race Stuff: changed my clothes and walked with Sylvie to look at the results, well, I was a Clydesdale. Sylvie noticed that the guy who beat me last month was in first place in my division and also noticed my time would put me in first place by a minute. We walked over to the timer and he put me in the right division. They quickly reposted the results, it took all of thirty seconds for the “guy” to notice he was in second place and beat by a minute. He quickly sought me out for chatting about the race and laboring on about his run time, saying he could have beat me with a better run time. Well, I didn’t have the heart to tell him that he was really beat him by three minutes, my time was not adjusted for the train. Anyway, it was great fun to chat with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th place finishers in my division, darn competitive old farts.
Awards – got a nice 1st place medal, $10 gift certificate to Texas road house and coupon for free blooming onion, and a $5 gift certificate to sizzler. The race shirts may be the best short sleeve shirt ever, Sylvie was jealous, not jealous enough to give a Tri and Try
Stay Kool, Long winded and trashed legs, B of BS Rools out
| 