Wildflower Triathlon - Olympic Distance - TriathlonOlympic


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Lake San Antonio, California
United States
Tri-California
80F / 27C
Sunny
Total Time = 3h 55m 21s
Overall Rank = 1600/2362
Age Group = F 25-29
Age Group Rank = 117/166
Pre-race routine:

Woke up in my nice and cozy tent around 7:00. Got up and hit the bathroom so that I wouldn't have to wait in a crazy long line. Came back, got dressed, had my banana and Pop Tarts, mixed my Gatorade Endurance bottles for the bike and got all my stuff together. Walked my bike with our group down to the top of Lynch and rode down. Gave my backpack to one of our coaches so I didn't have to ride down Lynch with it on my back.

Once we got to transition I got all set up and walked around a bit to make sure I knew where my rack was and where I needed to head for the bike out and run out. Chatted with other TAG people around me, helped a few get set up then hit the porto potty again.

My wave was at 10:20 (one of the first women's waves) so around 9:40 I started to get antsy and wanted to go wait near the swim chute. Went with another team member and we hung out and chatted with the coaches until we got our wetsuits on.
Event warmup:

Once we got our wetsuits on we did some crunches and bicycles to get our cores warm and I did some arm stretches. Once the wave before mine went off I got into the water and did a few warm up strokes before they had us get out for the actual start.
Swim
  • 40m 40s
  • 1640 yards
  • 02m 29s / 100 yards
Comments:

This was a rough swim. The start was fine, the wave had a small number of people for the amount of room we had so there was very little contact. We had noticed that most swimmers were going wide left around the first turn buoy adding a lot of extra yards so my plan was to stay right and hug right along the right side of the course to be able to make a sharp turn around the buoy. That worked great.

Once we were out into the main part of the lake headed out for the turnaround the chop really picked up. I couldn't sight like I normally do because the waves would break directly in my face so I had to stick my head way up out of the water to be able to see the buoys. I lost a lot of speed and momentum having to sight like that.

Physically I felt strong in the water and my stroke was smooth but the chop was nasty and pretty demoralizing. I knew once we hit the turn buoys we would benefit from it but it felt like it took forever to get out there. Once we hit the turn I started passing people from waves in front of me (Yay!) and sailed in pretty quickly to the finish.
What would you do differently?:

I usually swim in calm water in Aquatic Park so I was not well prepared for the chop today. Also, my goggles kept leaking which drove me crazy. I need to become more prepared for a wider range of conditions on the swim.
Transition 1
  • 04m 15s
Comments:

Good transition considering the long run from the swim exit. I was able to get my suit halfway off and my cap and goggles off before even entering transition. Once I got to my rack it was smooth sailing. I feel like practicing transitions so much this year has helped a lot because they have become automatic and I don't have to think about them anymore.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing really, it was very smooth.
Bike
  • 1h 56m 59s
  • 24.85 miles
  • 12.74 mile/hr
Comments:

Ah the bike. Not only is this one of the most badass Olympic distance bike courses in the nation, it is also my weakest of the three tri disciplines. My plan was to take it stupid easy out to the turnaround in order to save some of my legs for the return trip back and for the run.

I was able to get my heart rate down coming out of transition so I didn't hit it too had going up Lynch. Put it into my granny gear and just spun up nice and easy, passed a LOT of people who were having trouble with the hill. Some were walking their bikes too. Settled in after Lynch and started drinking and had a few Honey Stingers.

While this bike course is a beast, it was also probably the most fun part of the day for me. Since it is an out and back I was able to cheer all of the guys from GGTC ahead of me and once I hit the turnaround I was able to cheer for all the gals in the waves after me. There was a great sense of camaraderie out there with most of the riders being very courteous and cursing the hills together.

There is a long gradual downhill to the turnaround which in training I flew down. Today we had a bad headwind on this section of the course so my chance to rest my legs on this part of the course was gone. It was nice, though, after hitting the turnaround to have the strong tailwind at my back, it really helped push me back up the hill. The second to last hill on the way back was a killer as it was in training, but I was ready for it which was a huge help mentally.

I didn't have to walk my bike up any of the hills and I finished the course two minutes faster than I did in training so I was happy.
What would you do differently?:

I need to learn how to descend better. On this type of course with a triple I usually pass a lot of people on the uphills, only for them to blow by me on the downhills. I need to learn to take advantage of being heavier on the downhills and learn how to descend more quickly without being scared.
Transition 2
  • 02m 48s
Comments:

Another good transition, I was on autopilot and didn't really even have to think about what I was doing.
What would you do differently?:

Nada!
Run
  • 1h 10m 39s
  • 6.21 miles
  • 11m 23s  min/mile
Comments:

This is where the wheels fell off for me and a lot of other people. It had gotten really hot and the hills on this run course were relentless. I started out slowly on the rollers on the front half with the plan to pick it up a bit once I hit the upper section of the course. I walked the aid stations, dumping one water on my head, one down my front, one down my back and drinking one. I also strategically walked some of the early hills since I could walk them faster than running.

Once we hit the upper part of the course around mile 3/4 I was done, most people around me were walking and we were all miserable. I ended up seeing Alicia from TriMore around mile 4 and she gave me a hug which was a huge pick up. Then there were some awesome GGTC ladies cheering at the last hill who actually ran up it with me which was a huge boost.

At this point I looked at my watch and realized I could break 4 hours if I really pushed it. So I dug deep and told myself no more walking until I cross the finish line. I ended up flying down Lynch hill and down into the chute, finishing in 3:55:21!
What would you do differently?:

Run more hills! Most of our run training was in the Marina which is flat and not helpful in terms of a hilly course like this. Also, train in the heat, I wilted like a flower on the run.
Post race
Warm down:

Crossed the line, and got a freezing cold wet towel along with my finishers medal. It was heaven! Grabbed a banana and granola bar from the food station and wolfed those down then went down and packed up transition and met a bunch of the TAG ladies down at the boat ramp. We soaked in the water and took pictures and celebrated finishing the race.

Then hiked up the long ass hill with my bike back to the campground. I almost cried pushing my bike up because I was so tired. Got back, ate more, took an amazing cold shower and packed up the campsite. Headed to the In 'N Out in Salinas where the place was overrun with triathletes. Had my burger and drove home, finally got in at around 10:30pm. It was a long day!

What limited your ability to perform faster:

I think I really hit the training well for this race, the conditions are just extremely tough. I know that if I do another Oly I'll easily PR since this course is so tough.

I could say that I should have trained more but my goal was to go sub 4 and I made that goal. I was able to train on a lot of hills which will hopefully help me with my biking which is going to have to be my biggest focus going into Vineman. I often beat myself up about how badly I place in my AG but I have to remember I'm not built to be a triathlete, and I'm never going to be fast. I do this to push myself and accomplish my goals, and that is all that matters!

Event comments:

Tri Cal puts on an awesome race and an amazing weekend!




Last updated: 2009-12-26 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:40:40 | 1640 yards | 02m 29s / 100yards
Age Group: 0/166
Overall: 1900/2362
Performance: Average
Suit: Xtera Vortex 3 Full Sleeve
Course: Straight out, right turn long straight away, two more right turns then back towards the finish, with one left turn around the boat dock right before the swim exit.
Start type: Run Plus: Waves
Water temp: 63F / 17C Current: High
200M Perf. Good Remainder: Below average
Breathing: Below average Drafting: Average
Waves: Navigation: Below average
Rounding: Good
T1
Time: 04:15
Performance: Good
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
Yes
Wetsuit stuck? No Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Good
Biking
01:56:59 | 24.85 miles | 12.74 mile/hr
Age Group: 0/166
Overall: 1994/2362
Performance: Good
Wind: Some with gusts
Course: From transition go directly up Lynch Hill and out of the park onto Lake San Antonio Drive. From here it is out to take a right turn on Interlake road to the turnaround and back.
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence:
Turns: Average Cornering: Average
Gear changes: Good Hills: Average
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Not enough
T2
Time: 02:48
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Good
Shoe and helmet removal Good
Running
01:10:39 | 06.21 miles | 11m 23s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/166
Overall: 1872/2362
Performance: Below average
Course: Rolling course, the first part along the lake, then climbing up the hill until the final descent down Lynch to the finish.
Keeping cool Below average Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 3
Physical exertion [1-5] 3
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Too hard
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 5