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 Swim
Comments: started out calm and swam steady for about 100 yards, got a mouthfull of water and coughed, panicked, breast stroke for about 30 seconds, got it back together. Thought I was doing okay, swimmers on both sides of me - until I saw the boats - looked up and swimmers to my right were a good 50 feet off course and so was I!! I veered back and a short while later a kayaker told me to turn left, when I looked up I was totally confused about which direction I should be heading. From then on, I bee-lined for the buoys and the rope, hung close to the rope line (brushed my shoulders once or twice) and sighted every 6 - 10 strokes. Beautiful!!! Why didn't I just trust my gut and do this from the beginning? Started passing all the purple caps, rounded the buoy and caught up with the pink caps, spotted a red cap (really?!), stayed inside around drainage thing and came in for a very strong swim finish! Wow! If I could just get going from the start. What would you do differently?: Figure out how to get my breathing steady from the get go - - and KEEP IT STEADY. Don't rely on others for guidance on sighting - check for yourself once in a while. Would have saved me zig zagging back to the pack.  Transition 1
Comments: good planning and practice leads to good execution :) - -woo hoo!! nice :) What would you do differently?: nada!  Bike
Comments: decided to go easy out of the gate so I could gauge the first hills - good decision - easy spinning allowed me to catch my breathe. After one loop I was ready to go. Worked the hills, spinning easy on the uphill (no less than 10 or 11mph) and cruising downhill (up to 32 mph!). Nice course! Knew I wanted to be at least 15 mph so had to finish in 1:30. On the last leg, computer said 1:23 - I hauled and made it in under 1:30! woo hoo - love these rainy days :) Finished half of my gatorade bottle and ate 2 gels (5-6 mile and again around 14-15 mile). What would you do differently?: know the course and be in better shape to climb the hills. Transition 2
Comments: quick and easy - -no other bikes on the rack - - What would you do differently?: nada :)  Run
Comments: made SURE to start easy and get HR under control the first mile - had to force myself to keep the pace down. Good work - next several miles, just kept it steady- my forever pace - - planned to pick it up after the turn around. Passed several people and got passed by a few. It seemed ALL uphill on the way out and still quite hilly on the way back - - picked up the pace and got winded. Last huge hill just before stadium completely stumped me - I forgot about it and it was like hitting a wall. Half walked, half ran up it and then had to walk about 50 feet to recover. Otherwise - great run. Strong finish! Ate a gel pack between 2 and 3 mile mark. Only sipped water to get the gel down, otherwise every water stop, got 2 cups of water - one over my head, the other on my chest - very refreshing!!! What would you do differently?: Might have been able to push harder the last 200 yards. Just glad I ran all but a few feet! Especially with all the hills. Post race
Warm down: water, cool clothe on face and neck - actually in pretty good shape - no major issues - hamstrings a little sore, lower back a little tight - no biggy....nutrition was perfect! What limited your ability to perform faster: more time in saddle on bike and more time running!! Event comments: Absolutely loved this race! Great home town feeling, with folks cheering you on from every street corner. The bike loop is perfect for this. Spectators get a good view of swim, bike and the final loop of run around the football stadium. Would have liked to see more mile markers on the run - tough to follow course since run volunteers left early. It's tough being in the last wave - everyone leaves and the awards are nearly over by the time you get back :( everything is done.....still I would do it again. Nice race! Last updated: 2009-11-30 12:00 AM
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United States
Reston Triathlon
60F / 16C
Precipitation
Overall Rank = 355/385
Age Group = 50-54
Age Group Rank = 8/10
Carbed up 3-4 days prior (bagels, pancakes, salmon, tuna, pasta). Reviewed elevations on map-my-ride for bike course. Practiced transition changes at home and realized I was going to have to pack 2 separate transition bags and figure out where/how to sort out my nutrition needs. Also I needed to figure out how to get my wetsuit, the backpack and all my swim gear into their bag to be carted over to T2 after we leave on the bike (and how to stay warm and dry in the soaking rain!). Package Pickup on Saturday (nice goodies!). Didn't know there was mandatory helmet check (double checked website - no mention - they waived it on day of race). Drove bike course, walked 2 different transition areas.
Up at 3am, bagel and hot tea on the road. Left house at 4am, arrived at 5:20am (whew, no traffic) - pouring down rain. Ate a banana, bathroom, set up T2 in river of water, covered stuff with plastic trash bag. Road bike with backpack (glad I had lights on bike - it was DARK) from High School to T1. Body marked, chip, bathroom, perpetuem and granola bar. Got into wet suit - still drizzly, but not too bad. I'm in last wave (smallest size wave too). Not allowed to warmup in water.