Culpeper International Triathlon - Triathlon


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Culpeper, Virginia
United States
Set Up Events
80.4F / 27C
Overcast
Total Time = 2h 54m 28s
Overall Rank = 17/75
Age Group = 50-54
Age Group Rank = 1/7
Pre-race routine:

Did not sleep well at all. So my pre-race routine consisted of being awake @ 2:00am and then leaving the house @ 5:00am. Got to the race site with no issues. Easy check-in. Racked my bike and setup my transition area. Then just sort of waited for race to start. Felt pretty tired for a bit but as race start got closer started to feel the energy build up.

Food = bagel, banana, coffee. A Hammer Gel about 30 minutes prior to start.
Event warmup:

Nothing other than some arm swings and general stretching.
Swim
  • 31m 4s
  • 1500 meters
  • 02m 04s / 100 meters
Comments:

The race started a bit late to let the fog burn off.

So...I actually had a really good swim. Probably the best I have felt about a swim...ever. I managed to latch onto another swimmer who was a bit faster and drafted her for 3/4 of the race. First time I have ever done that. In addition, I managed to swim freestyle pretty much the whole time. I switched to breastroke just a few times so that I wouldn't overtake the woman who I was drafting off of. I am sure I could not have kept the pace on my own.

Very sunny at one point and I really couldn't tell where I was going due to fogged up goggles. Just kept the swimming ahead of me in sight.

I exited out of the water ahead of the woman I drafted off of. Of course, she had to point me in the right direction of my bike as I ran past it in transition.
What would you do differently?:

I've got to figure out how to make sure my goggles don't fog up.
Transition 1
  • 01m 35s
What would you do differently?:

Nothing.
Bike
  • 1h 24m 20s
  • 24 miles
  • 17.08 mile/hr
Comments:

I found this bike course very challenging. There seemed to be a hill after every turn so all momentum was lost just before the hill. There were quite a few sharp turns. My goal was not to push too hard so that I didn't fall apart on the run.

Felt strong on the hills. Not as strong on the flats.

The woman I drafted off of passed me early on in the bike segment. I never saw her again until the run. I'd like to be as good a rider someday.

What would you do differently?:

Maybe drink a bit more. But I really need to practice drinking & biking. I am just not very comfortable on reaching for and drinking from the water bottle. I decided not to use my Torhans setup because I just don't like it. Maybe I need to just but an aero cage setup on my bike.
Transition 2
  • 01m 16s
Run
  • 56m 15s
  • 6.1 miles
  • 09m 13s  min/mile
Comments:

I liked this course. There were several spots where you could see people ahead of you and behind you. Doing two loops was nice too. You knew what to expect for the last half of the course. I actually felt I got stronger as the race progressed. I ran just about as hard as I could.

As the race progressed, I figured I either did really well or that I never saw any of the women in my age group -- that they were way ahead on the swim and far ahead on the bike by the time I got on the course.

Turns out I did really well!
Post race
Event comments:

I really enjoyed this race. I felt I gave a really, really good effort and that I couldn't have done much differently. A first for me! I actually felt great after the race...even before I found out my results.

Very nice venue. Very challenging bike course. I will consider this race again.




Last updated: 2013-12-18 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:31:04 | 1500 meters | 02m 04s / 100meters
Age Group: 1/7
Overall: 19/75
Performance: Good
Suit:
Course: An "M" shape. Well marked. Lovely park and swim location.
Start type: Wade Plus:
Water temp: 80F / 27C Current: Low
200M Perf. Good Remainder: Good
Breathing: Average Drafting: Good
Waves: Navigation: Good
Rounding: Good
T1
Time: 01:35
Performance: Good
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed:
Biking
01:24:20 | 24 miles | 17.08 mile/hr
Age Group: 2/7
Overall: 23/75
Performance: Good
Wind: None
Course: Tough hilly course.
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence: 90+
Turns: Average Cornering: Average
Gear changes: Good Hills: Good
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Not enough
T2
Time: 01:16
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Good
Shoe and helmet removal Good
Running
00:56:15 | 06.1 miles | 09m 13s  min/mile
Age Group: 2/7
Overall: 23/75
Performance: Good
Course: Two loops. With hills.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 5
Physical exertion [1-5] 5
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 5