Stamford KIC IT Triathlon - Aquabike

Buoys went a little from right to left so I started far side on left as going to the far buoy would be shorter. I was swimming with 90% men so hoping for swim contact that would be hard, but everyone was spread out and I had a couple of bumps but that was it. I did get behind some folks who would breast stroke or stop every once in awhile so I was watching and avoiding them.

I just swam with positive pike mind. It was good. I only had a couple of negative thoughts here and there and was able to push them out of my mind. Big one was this is the ocean and creepy stuff lives here..water was so murky couldn't see anything. Seeing fish friends and weeds in fresh water is fine but ocean stuff I'm not so comfortable with.

Best part is I knew I was way behind the pack and I was accepting of that as typically I get annoyed with myself. I just swam and swam and swam without stopping. I went mostly straight and worked on various swim focus points.

I was pleased that I stayed focused, positive, calm and just got it done.

Reality is I have bad swim technique and I need to improve so I avoid frustrating times that I have had on and off this season. Now isn't the time but come Fall I need to find a coach that will help me get better and not swim like a barge.It is foolish to keep working on swimming and not improve other than gaining endurance. I think could drop 8-10 minutes of an Oly swim and my overall time by improving my swim technique.

Time for swim includes a run up the beach to the transition area. I'm guessing maybe 200 yds.

We had to run in the back end of transition and my bike rack was closest to the exit. We had to put all our stuff in a plastic bag before we left T1 so they could transport it back to T2. It took a little more time.

I usually am super fast in transition but a little slower today as I didn't feel like I'm really racing racing.

Nothing

Legs felt like crap to start and with the slight up hills on the neighbor section I was in my easiest gear. I did wonder how that would bode for steep climbs later in the ride.

I focused on not going to hard to start which I typically do. Racing with my Zipp Power Tap wheels I see how I tend to go to hard first half of race and fade a little second half. Today I paced even through whole race..sweet!

I love slight down hills that I can push hard. Most folks riding near me coast...geez free speed...lots of places on this course that appeal to my favorite riding. The urban section was nasty with pot holes, bumps, folks not obeying the police and I almost hit a jay walker. The hill up to Holiday Inn (where I met my husband back in 1984) the traffic coming towards us was at a stand still and car decided to do a u turn so whole road was blocked..did some creative and safe riding to get around him.

Down through down town was great..kept passing folks but being one of last 10 out of the water catching people took some time. Riding again at wrong side of the road but we had whole side of the road with divider.

Then into 5 mile climb with some steps with some breaks with short down hills. This women #37 would pass me on up hills skinny little thing with horrible bike handling skills and she'd never move over...I'd pass her every down hill..it is called pedaling folks. She was hard to pass as she was all over the road. I did drop her for good.

Final climb was nasty..and folks were walking but finally I caught more folks ..I passed maybe 12-15 up hill. Once I finished steepest section I hammer the hill up as I knew the 5 mile down hill section was around the corner and I could recover. I yelled we own this hill..well I did not that others felt the same way. Honestly this was the best part of the race as I felt my endurance,pacing and training really paid off..me passing 15 on a challenging up hill....sweet! I hammered it home as best I could.

I was breathing heavy most of the ride..felt my effort level was best I could do given how fatigued my legs were.

Best NP on Oly race evn on fatigued legs. By looking at my Cyling Peaks file I'd say my FTP is up about 10-15 watts from last TT and that is on tired legs. Maybe really my cycling is improving. I'm doing a TT in 10 days maybe I'll find out.

I did pump my tubulars up toe 126 PSI based on Zipp website. In past I've been inflating them higher.

Not one person passed me for good on the bike and I probably passed 40? I love the sound of my Zipps.

This was technical course and I really loved the challenge of it. Well rested I'd like to see what I could do.

Entire workout (162 watts):
Duration: 1:26:06
Work: 837 kJ
TSS: 118.9 (intensity factor 0.91)
Norm Power: 175
VI: 1.08
Distance: 24.688 mi
Min Max Avg
Power: 0 485 162 watts
Heart rate: 15 155 114 bpm -real avg 136
Cadence: 40 198 89 rpm
Speed: 0 37.2 17.2 mph


My power is consistent through the race which shows my pacing was spot on. Being fatigued from training really effected my ability to do my best. I did the race to practice transitions and get swim contact.

Finished, brought stuff to car, went back to the Hilton, showered, ate breakfast, packed car, and returned to race site in time for end of the awards. Drove back to MA and had wicked bad hamstring cramp at a stop.

Kevin, Emily and Shasha were great to come with me. Staying at the Hilton was great.

Folks I know won 1st OA Male, 3rd Male, and 1st OA Women...they are part of my tri team. Fastest guy sub 2 hours....sick.

I felt I did well, saw the results and was a little bummed and hard on myself which is my typical MO. I was better at saying screw it..I had fun ,enjoyed myself, did my best with what I had today..truth is I'm just relatively slow...so what I still have fun.


The goal of the race to practice swim contact-didn't really have any and get the rhythm down for tris with transitions and the like went okay but starting in last wave didn't really help with my goal.

108 mile bike/8 mile run on Thursday and being very fatigued.

I'd love to do this race well tapered as it is wicked fun technical bike course with some great gradual downhills that are my favorites.


First time race in urban location with two transitions, they pulled this off so well. The logistics were a bit complicated, but they had well organized. I've never raced with so many police and volunteers on the bike course. Given we had to ride on the wrong side of the road a few times, I was impressed with how well they directed us and for the most part kept us safe. A few impatient drivers made it more challenging doing u turns in front of me so whole road was blocked.

Even parking was done well and I think we were able to park closer to the T2 than in most races as a few parking garages were available for free for the triathletes.

Bike course was unique being in an urban setting with many different sections...very technical through town and then into rural area with lots of climbing and windy roads. Being confident and proficient cyclist is very key to being safe on this course.

I will look forward to do another race put on by this top notch race organization.