Grandman Triathlon - TriathlonSprint


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Fairhope, AL
United States
Mobile Bay Watch
80F / 27C
Precipitation
Total Time = 1h 09m 16s
Overall Rank = 126/352
Age Group = M 40-44
Age Group Rank = 18/33
Pre-race routine:

Drove over Friday afternoon. Got race packets and drove to friends house. Prepped bike and race bag then off to another friends for a prerace dinner. Up at 4:00 AM and at the site for 5:30 body marking.
Event warmup:

Short swim.
Swim
  • 09m 45s
  • 600 yards
  • 01m 37s / 100 yards
Comments:

A little choppy from prerace rain and wind storm. Awesome swim for me. The course was marked with buoys every 25 yards which made siting better than ever for me. Could have been a little short but my performance ranking wise was strong for me.
What would you do differently?:

need to work on drills but very happy with time.
Transition 1
  • 01m 35s
Comments:

No issues. I didn't put shoes on pedals because climb was close to start and the path was rough upto the hill.
What would you do differently?:

nothing
Bike
  • 29m 25s
  • 10.5 miles
  • 21.42 mile/hr
Comments:

Good bike on a wet, hilly, and somewhat technical course. After the first climb, I pushed pretty hard for the first half. My speedometer died before the race so I had to go on my gut. I went really hard on the hilly part and then let up a little on the last mile or two. I was extra careful on the turns as the course was wet and we got a little more rain toward the end of the ride. I also am not that compfortable with the handling on the tri bike yet.
What would you do differently?:

Having a working speedometer. I probably quit pushing a little too soon but I really wanted to have something for the run. I need to get more riding on routes with turns and hills.
Transition 2
  • 00m 55s
Comments:

I left feet in the shoes because of the technical finish. Still not convinced it helps anyway. I had a little problem taking off shoes but nothing serious. I swapped to running shoes standing up, no issues.
Run
  • 27m 36s
  • 3 miles
  • 09m 12s  min/mile
Comments:

It started raining hard at the beginning of the run. They should make that mandatory in summer races!!! I started easy and didn't push up the hill. The lack of mile markers aggravated me, but I felt like I had a good pace and I was able to push the HR up throughout the run. The run back was great and I pushed all the way to the end. Only a little pain in right ankle, nothing serious.
Post race
Warm down:

Light stretching and watching wife and friends come in at the finish line. Then I got a massage.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Wet course hurt on the bike but the rainy run probably offset that. I need to improve bike handling and hills on the P3. No speedometer led to me letting up a little early on the bike.

Event comments:

I really liked this race alot. My favorite tri this year. Its a course thats challenging enough for experienced folks and short enough for newbies. It sells out pretty early so plan it well in advance.

Positives
o Met Will (Memphis) from BT before the race and talked a bit. Didn't find him after race but he had a good time.
o Well marked swim course
o Challenging bike, not the standard flat out and back we get so much of down here
o Rainy run
o 25 massage therapist (only waited 5 minutes and got a 15 minute massage)
o Friendly volunteers and lots of spectators
o Fun race party, live band, lots of folks
o Tons of Door prizes, including a Felt bike (I didn't win again)
o Split awards
o 5 minutes between swim waves spread out the bikes nicely combined with the hills cut out the pelotons
o Erica Polllack (elite racer who founded this race with her husband) as race MC, she is a blast


Negatives
o Automobile traffic on bike got bad as the raced progressed. I was in wave 3 so it was minimal but later starters said they had issues.
o No mile markers on run
o The transition area was full of spectators before the race. They did clear it at the start of the race.
o They ran out of beer. This happened here 2 years ago and our group was prepared.
o They ran out of food at the party.
o No chip timing and the official times are off for 1 minute for everyone. Not sure what happened and it didn't affect standings but all times were 1 minute less than actual. I guess I should be happy but I put my real time in the report.




Profile Album


Last updated: 2005-06-19 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:09:45 | 600 yards | 01m 37s / 100yards
Age Group: 20/33
Overall: 162/352
Performance: Good
Suit: LG shorts, Zoot tri top
Course: Inverted V, marked by tire buoys every 25 or so yards. Suited to my left sided breathing.
Start type: Wade Plus: Waves
Water temp: 82F / 28C Current: Medium
200M Perf. Good Remainder: Good
Breathing: Good Drafting: Average
Waves: Average Navigation: Good
Rounding: Good
T1
Time: 01:35
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
Yes
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: Yes
Getting up to speed: Good
Biking
00:29:25 | 10.5 miles | 21.42 mile/hr
Age Group: 6/33
Overall: 36/352
Performance: Good
163 HR
Wind: Some
Course: Starts on rough path then after the speed bump you get a very tough climb, the course is a loop through downtown Fairhope and then through country roads. The first half of the course is hilly and then it levels out with rolling hills on the way in. Tge course ends with a very sharp left turn down the steep hill we started on.
Road: Smooth Wet Cadence:
Turns: Below average Cornering: Below average
Gear changes: Good Hills: Average
Race pace: Hard Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 00:55
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Good
Shoe and helmet removal Good
Running
00:27:36 | 03 miles | 09m 12s  min/mile
Age Group: 28/33
Overall: 233/352
Performance: Good
16 out 160 HR 11.36 in 162 HR
Course: Climb up that hill then an out and back. You finish before the downhill so the out is longer than the back. No mile markers.
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? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 4