Harvest Moon Long Course Triathlon - Aquabike


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Aurora, Colorado
United States
Without Limits Productions
65F / 18C
Overcast
Total Time = 4h 48m 51s
Overall Rank = 61/63
Age Group = M60-64
Age Group Rank = 3/3
Pre-race routine:

Arrive, park, look around. Swim is reverse of Rattlesnake. Waves enter at RS exit, and exit where RS enters (by boat dock.)
Event warmup:

Did some stretching, mainly legs. Walked around a bit.
Swim
  • 46m 21s
  • 1931 meters
  • 02m 24s / 100 meters
Comments:

I got bumped in the early part. Nohting serious. Tried to swim at others pace, but that was too fast for me. Slacked off a bit and soon I was among the last of swimmers. Swam breast stroke for a bit (to first buoy) then decided I could go to freestyle. Navigation/sighting was very good. I was abel to pick landmarks to R side and keep them in line as I swam. Looking fwd only occasionally. That worked very well. Made the turn at 21:30 and said ok, I can really do this. Swam back to out point. Just like in the pool, not much kicking. developed some cramps in l calf, dunno why as I wasn't using it. Kyakers sometimes blocked my view to landmarks, but nav. was still good. Some light chop on the way back, until I got in more sheltered waters. Not a real problem, just splashed some breathing a bit. Bigger waves would be harder to handle. Need to learn to breathe bi-lateral.
What would you do differently?:

I need to train on stroke form and building speed. I should be able to do this distance about 10 min faster (~35min). Masters swim is helping but I need stoke drill too.

Need more practice time in wetsuit. It just feels different and affects everything. More practice at Aurora Resv (cold water) also.
Transition 1
  • 05m 35s
Comments:

I had not started Garmin. I had to pull off my own wetsuit, got it stuck on my heels and had dizzyness problems while doing that. Need to train this move. I have to put on socks and bike shoes. Decide on what to wear depdning on weather. (I should have work blue jacket and/or changed out of wet undershirt. I did take arm warmers and wore them for whole ride, so that was good choice.)
What would you do differently?:

better prep and layout of items. Maybe a checklist of what goes where. I have to put on Garmin wrist unit, and HRM strap (should swim with that), and body bugg. Need to decide about what top to wear.

Transition needs training too.
Bike
  • 3h 54m 8s
  • 56 miles
  • 14.35 mile/hr
Comments:

It was a clody day and I was kinda cool, so perhaps did not drink as much/often as I should have. But I did not get dehydrated. Nutrition about right for the bike. (needed more if I was to do the run). Being tail-end charlie I had no problems with drafting rules. :)

T2 1:44 short run to finish 1:06
What would you do differently?:

Need to train some intervals, so I have some extra gas for ascending hills. And I should have been training more for this. Last riding was 2 wks ago up at Breck, which was good but too long ago.
Post race
Warm down:

Ate food right away. Hot food, Wahoo fish tacos. Got out of the wind. Should have got pants/wind breaker.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

I didn't really train for this distance. It is right at the distance I swim and and I relied on general bike condition from RTR, but had not trained to sustain that level. I need to train beyond this distance and be serious about the hills (interval trg).

Event comments:

Without Limits took this over from Racaing Underground 1-2 years ago. Compared to Rattlesnake, this had less support. Only 6 porta-potties. Really only 2 aid stn on bike. 1 at 10 mile (turn) was also same aid stn at mile 45.5, had no water, Gatorade only. 1 at Mile ~30 entry to Bennett, had water. But one of their promotional bits is they try to economize, so this maybe wasn't out of character. Lots of police/state patrol on the bike course. Bike aides on motor cycles provided good support, I saw 3 people being assisted with tires.

Choice of Wahoo fish tacos was great.




Last updated: 2009-09-12 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:46:21 | 1931 meters | 02m 24s / 100meters
Age Group: 3/3
Overall: 0/63
Performance: Good
Swam about 200 yds to warmup and get used to wet suit. in water time 44:48
Suit: My usual
Course: out and back. Slight separation on the return (exit a different place than entry by 100 yds). Pretty straight line.
Start type: Wade Plus: Waves
Water temp: 66F / 19C Current: Low
200M Perf. Average Remainder: Good
Breathing: Average Drafting: Below average
Waves: Average Navigation: Good
Rounding: Good
T1
Time: 05:35
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Below average Helmet on/
Suit off:
No
Wetsuit stuck? Yes Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Average
Biking
03:54:08 | 56 miles | 14.35 mile/hr
Age Group: 3/3
Overall: 61/63
Performance: Average
See Training Log
Wind: Little
Course: out/back leg then a big rectangle box. Navigation was easy. I had previewed the course on MapMyRide.com but not ridden it. Roads are mainly a bit rough, but some are new smooth.
Road: Rough Dry Cadence: 80
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Good Hills: Average
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Not enough
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? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Below average
Race evaluation [1-5] 3