Pittsburgh Triathlon - TriathlonSprint


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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
United States
Piranha Sports
70F / 21C
Overcast
Total Time = 1h 22m 3s
Overall Rank = 79/280
Age Group = M35-39
Age Group Rank = 6/17
Pre-race routine:

Got up about 4:15 had some toast and PB and some Energen-C, reviewed gear and drove downtown...only 10min away so very easy and relaxing with my music blasting to pump me up
Event warmup:

stretched, little meditating ... nothing too crazy
Swim
  • 12m 38s
  • 656 yards
  • 01m 56s / 100 yards
Comments:

This was where I was nervous throughout the training ... got in with about 3-4min to go and actually warmed up but drifted and had to scramble to get back to the start. There certainly was a current. Actually surprised myself and got into an easy rhythm early... a bunch of stops because of running into people..lots of congestion at the first buoy. The exit ramp was horrible and i scraped my foot and cut it...
What would you do differently?:

I think it's just a "you have to experience to know what to expect" ... definitely would continue to work on my swim training to get faster and more efficient
Transition 1
  • 02m 45s
Comments:

Struggled with wetsuit zipper (got snagged) and had to wiggle while jogging to transition area ... got off no problem and into bike gear
What would you do differently?:

would have jogged harder out of water and hustled more .. i was surprised at how well i did at the biggest worry i had that i didn't hustle enough ... had to learn it all the first time though and now i know better next time
Bike
  • 38m 11s
  • 12.43 miles
  • 19.53 mile/hr
Comments:

Felt strong in the bike and pleased with my performance. I trained on a Mt. Bike with Road Tires but borrowed a road bike for the race...def the way to go, it was night and day. I'd still train with a mt. bike going forward because it made me stronger on the climb
Transition 2
  • 01m 28s
Comments:

they were a little lax in telling each group where to go, so that was confusing...but i was in it now and hustled much more to the run transition... jogging with bike, throwing off helmet... slipped into shoes and took a swig of gatorade
What would you do differently?:

wouldn't take the 15secs to pose for a friend taking photos...
Run
  • 27m 3s
  • 3.11 miles
  • 08m 42s  min/mile
Comments:

not marked very well ... would have preferred to have better distance markings....
What would you do differently?:

made sure i started my stopwatch at the swim and not forgotten that... had i known at this point where i was in my time i would have pushed hared to beat the 80min mark...my goal was to break 90min... and i was way ahead at this point... but I think i just eased the run... i'm capable of running a 5k in 25or 24min and i think i would have pushed more... i learned that lesson now
Post race
Warm down:

water, walked around, little stretch

What limited your ability to perform faster:

surprising myself how well i did and how much the training made it go so much easier. I live and train in Highland Park so all my bike and running involves hills.... the course was far less.... so now i know my capabilities and know i'm capable of doing better...

i under-estimated myself going into it and won't do that again... i finished just over 2min out of 3rd in my class and I know i could have done better

Event comments:

I think the volunteers were great... but they could have used more markings on the routes and distance markings.... post-race was disappointing...def should take tips from the Great Race folks as a starter....but, i'm looking forward to next year....




Last updated: 2009-07-28 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:12:38 | 656 yards | 01m 56s / 100yards
Age Group: 0/17
Overall: 146/280
Performance: Average
Suit: Wore a sleeveless/thigh wetsuit which helped
Course: Downstream in light/moderate current...
Start type: Deep Water Plus:
Water temp: 70F / 21C Current: Medium
200M Perf. Average Remainder: Good
Breathing: Good Drafting:
Waves: Navigation: Average
Rounding: Bad
T1
Time: 02:45
Performance: Below average
Cap removal: Below average Helmet on/
Suit off:
No
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike: No
Jump on bike: Yes
Getting up to speed: Good
Biking
00:38:11 | 12.43 miles | 19.53 mile/hr
Age Group: 0/17
Overall: 58/280
Performance: Good
Wind: Strong with gusts
Course: Course was very good ... there was a steady climb but it had breaks going out where you could kick into gear and grind away and make time. The turnaround was trickier and longer than i expected and an initial climb out of the turnaround...but after that it was lock-in and grind as hard as you cold. Rain hit with high-wind on the way back made it a bit tricky but not bad
Road: Smooth Wet Cadence:
Turns: Average Cornering: Below average
Gear changes: Average Hills: Good
Race pace: Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 01:28
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike Below average
Running with bike Average
Racking bike Average
Shoe and helmet removal Good
Running
00:27:03 | 03.11 miles | 08m 42s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/17
Overall: 108/280
Performance: Average
Course: Very easy course....hate the concrete though....
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 3
Physical exertion [1-5] 3
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? No
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? No
Post race activities: Bad
Race evaluation [1-5] 3