Nation's Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic


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Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
United States
70F / 21C
Precipitation
Total Time = 2h 59m 43s
Overall Rank = 2540/4395
Age Group = 30-34
Age Group Rank = 114/326
Pre-race routine:

Strecthed.

2 pieces of whole wheat toast with a little butter and jelly.
Event warmup:

Stretched and tried my best to stay warm. It was cold and raining. I decided to not go with wet suit so I spent almost 2 hrs prior to the swim in just my Trisuit.
Swim
  • 39m 51s
  • 1640 yards
  • 02m 26s / 100 yards
Comments:

The Potomac was a dirty river. You could see nothing in it, and light only diffused about 6inches down. But there was not smell and it was a clear and well marked course.

I think there were not very many canoes watching so many people. You could easily slip down and disappear. The water was a good temperature.
What would you do differently?:

I would have a disposable water bottle and gu with me prior. I was thirty and hungry while waiting so long for my wave. Also, if I could I would have someone there to help me. That way I could keep warm and dry while waiting for me heat: wouldn't expend so much energy trying to stay warm.

I would get my wet suit earlier than 3 days before and get comfortable swimming in it. I practice swam in on Saturday and felt suffocated. So I opted out of using it.

I would do more open water swims if possible.
Transition 1
  • 04m 26s
Comments:

I didn't wear a wet suit, so my transition time should have been shorter. It was so muddy that I took the time to quickly rinse off my feet and then put on my socks and shoes.

I did not do clipless pedals, so I was putting on my wet running shoes. I did drink so water and started sucking on some Gu as well.

What would you do differently?:

I would take less time messing with drinking and eating while transitioning. I may try the clipless pedals and no socks one day, but not ready for that just yet.
Bike
  • 1h 22m 1s
  • 24.85 miles
  • 18.18 mile/hr
Comments:

I really worked on the bike, and felt I had a really good ride. I pushed myself and maintained safety while on the course in the wet slick conditions. I was really able to make up some spots in my age rank. I moved up 69 spots from the swim.

I really think I did a good job with drinking and eating. Just enough to keep my energy up.
What would you do differently?:

I would just train more on the bike, getting more comfortable with maintaining my cadence while drinking and eating. I am still not coordinated enough to keep up my pace and take a hand off the bike.

I think I would eventually try my clipless pedals. I think it will help with time T1 time and course help give me more pull and push force. My feet would slip off the pedals at times when I was cycling hard.
Transition 2
  • 01m 36s
Comments:

I did not have to take off my shoes, so I just had to really rack my bike and helmet.

I am not that used to racking my bike so I'm sure I could shave a few seconds off my time with just repetition.

I did grab my last GU and took off for the run.
What would you do differently?:

I would just rack my bike and go.

I think I just need to streamline this part. The time was good.
Run
  • 51m 51s
  • 6.21 miles
  • 08m 21s  min/mile
Comments:

My calves were tight for the first bit and my feet were cold and numb from the weather and bike ride.

But I felt pretty good coming out. I was able to maintain a good pace that I picked up a little bit after the half way mark. I felt comfortable on the run.
What would you do differently?:

I would push myself more on the run. I had plenty left at the end. I think because I haven't done this before, I was worried about pushing my pace and hitting a wall at the end.

So I def would get myself out of that comfortable pace and really let my body do what it know how to do.

But I did sprint the end and got one more spot!
Post race
Warm down:

None: I just try to get some food, but the line was too long, and I was cold an wet.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

I think having some holes in my training schedule. I was sick for 11 days and then got a new puppy the last week before. So I missed out on 18 days of training in a total of 60 days: but all in the last 30 days.

Plus I think just learning how to do the tri and be prepared. Things I am learning along the way.

Better sleep the night before, and keeping myself hydrated while waiting for my wave.

Event comments:

Rain delayed the start by 30 mins.

I think that having a food tent is great and serving hot food even better. But with over 4000 people, the one tent was just not enough. Too long of waiting for food, and too many people. I thought it was the worst part of the event. Not being able to just walk up and grab something after the race like a banana or cookie: you couldn't get anything!

Plus the were giving out these nice emergency heat blankets, but only had enough for like 50 people. Not very cool.

The festival events were okay. But really just not enough for such a large group of people.

I really enjoyed this race and they were very organized. The volunteers really made such a difference. I thank them all for their support and cheers!


Profile Album


Last updated: 2010-09-13 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:39:51 | 1640 yards | 02m 26s / 100yards
Age Group: 253/326
Overall: 3730/4395
Performance:
Suit: Tri Suit
Course: Potomac River in the shape of the Washington Monument.
Start type: Deep Water Plus: Waves
Water temp: 75F / 24C Current: Low
200M Perf. Below average Remainder: Below average
Breathing: Below average Drafting: Below average
Waves: Average Navigation: Average
Rounding: Average
T1
Time: 04:26
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
Yes
Wetsuit stuck? No Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Average
Biking
01:22:01 | 24.85 miles | 18.18 mile/hr
Age Group: 187/326
Overall: 3089/4395
Performance: Good
Wind:
Course: Course was pretty good. There were some sharp turns through out, that because of the slick weather conditions made everyone slow down to a crawl. The volunteers were amazing and were very nice and helpful and supportive. They pointed out slick areas, pot holes and man holes. They stood out in the rain and cheered as well. There was a good amount of hills but not to steep where you felt discouraged. The course was decent. I wish there was more of it through the city, but the roads are so bad in dc that wouldn't have been good for racing.
Road: Rough Wet Cadence:
Turns: Average Cornering: Below average
Gear changes: Average Hills: Average
Race pace: Hard Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 01:36
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike Average
Racking bike Average
Shoe and helmet removal Good
Running
00:51:51 | 06.21 miles | 08m 21s  min/mile
Age Group: 114/326
Overall: 1720/4395
Performance: Average
Course: It was a nice run down by the Washington Monument then back on Haines point. I have run Haines point many times so it was comforting to be in a familiar course. It was relatively flat with a few inclines. Good water and food stations.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? No
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Below average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4