Tritonman UCSD Sprint - TriathlonSprint


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San Diego, California
United States
UCSD
60F / 16C
Sunny
Total Time = 1h 20m 37s
Overall Rank = 255/330
Age Group = M40-49
Age Group Rank = 12/20
Pre-race routine:

I cleared out the motel room, made the short drive from Mission Valley to Fiesta Island, ate chocolate chip cookies, a banana and drank a bottled Starbucks. This was my very first tri, so I spent a lot of time watching how other people set up, as I set up in transition. I'd made it through check-in and body marking quickly, and tried to figure out what to do with all of the numbers they gave me (one for the top tube, one for the helmet, one for the running belt). It was pitch dark when most people racked, and a lot of people had LED lights on their heads. I made the best of my mtb handlebars, and hung my helmet by a grip, and found a secure slot in the shifter to hold my sunglasses. My race belt and hat went under my running shoes. I had socks on the towel, but didn't need them.
Event warmup:

I ran just a little, and skipped swimming. As it turns out, it didn't matter this time, but I will swim a couple of hundred yards next time.
Swim
  • 08m 33s
  • 500 yards
  • 01m 43s / 100 yards
Comments:

It has taken me days to wrap my brain around my splits. 8:33 is crazy fast for me, and I would have bet anything that my time was over 12:00. I had my stroke for the first few yards away from shore, but after the first turn our wave swam into the blinding sun. I couldn't see the far buoy until I was near it, and was very disoriented for most of the swim.

I had taken advice to start my first swim on the outside, and count to 10 after the gun. Excellent advice. I was the last person in the last wave, but finished the swim in the middle of the pack.

I had tried to make sure to practice everything so nothing was new on race day, but I forgot about the morning sun.

I felt like I lost three minutes since I kept stopping to sight, and I was a little panicky the whole time I was into the sun, but every time I stopped, I saw that I was leaving people behind, so I told myself I had no excuse to feel rattled. My breathing was all over the map, but I never had to think about which side or when to take a breath. The pool work really came though.

The whole experience of swimming in a pack for the first time was very de-mystifying, and next time should be fun.
What would you do differently?:

I immediately went out and bought mirrored and smoke goggles. I wish I had thought of the sun direction, and will do that on future races.
Transition 1
  • 01m 54s
Comments:

T1 went really well for me, 6/20 in the AG. When I took off my suit, I slung my timing chip across the aisle, but that wasn't a huge problem, I strapped it back on just before I grabbed the bike. The helmet went on okay, as did the shoes, which were on the towel. The mtb shoes were perfect for running through the T1 slop, and once I mounted the bike, they clipped-in automatically. I heard complaints about people clipping in, but SPDs were perfect for these conditions.
What would you do differently?:

Not much. I would push harder and keep track of the timing chip.
Bike
  • 42m 25s
  • 12.3 miles
  • 17.40 mile/hr
Comments:

The split includes T2, so although the pace was respectable for a mountain bike with skinny tires, it screwed with my head that me, a former college cyclist, had a solid time on a ragged swim, but a below-average time in the saddle. My bike computer said 18.4 mph, but that doesn't synch with the published splits.

I had the time of my life in the saddle, and felt like I pushed just right. I did pass some expensive carbon, so that made the mtb ride worth it.
What would you do differently?:

I'll save money for now and ride a few tris with the mtb, but a road bike is in my future. It does screw with me that I see myself as a cyclist, but lost the most time on the bike leg.
Transition 2
  • 00m
Comments:

The T2 split wasn't broken out, but both transitions were fine. I did what most people did, and went into transition by swinging my leg over and coasting while standing on my left pedal, then running to the rack in my shoes. The running shoes with Yankz went right on.
What would you do differently?:

Not much. Thanks to advice from the BT forum, my transitions were strong, especially for a first time.
Run
  • 27m 45s
  • 3.1 miles
  • 08m 57s  min/mile
Comments:

I survived! And, sadly, I didn't lose as much time as I did in the saddle. I'm barely a runner, but had fun, and felt strong for my very first, dreaded 5k. The course went past two aid stations, spaced perfectly for thirst.
What would you do differently?:

Not much. I'm spending all my time in the pool and saddle, and as if by magic, my 5ks are getting faster.
Post race
Warm down:

I saw my wife and said Hi to our perplexed dog on the way to the finish line, then went straight to the fruit, chatted with some age groupers.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

It's supposed to be training, right? As crazy as it is, I lost as much time relative to what I would have done on my college road bike as I did because I didn't train seriously for the run. Both will come with time. Maybe I'll be in the top 1/3 of the AG by the end of the year if both click.

Event comments:

Results:

http://www.ucsdtriathlon.org/tritonman/2010/results2010.txt

Hats off to the UCSD tri club. For a volunteer race, this was excellent (and I know, because I've spent a lot of time organizing volunteers).

The college vibe and games after the race contribute to the positive vibe. Where else can you see athletes going all out for a burrito or a water bottle? The announcer was excellent, and the crew made the best of the conditions.

Areas of improvement? I would have liked a souvenir, and would have preferred to not swim into the sun, or at least been told about it beforehand.




Last updated: 2010-02-11 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:08:33 | 500 yards | 01m 43s / 100yards
Age Group: 11/20
Overall: 0/330
Performance: Average
Suit: 19 Frequency
Course: Out, parallel to shore, back. Into the blinding sun!
Start type: Wade Plus: Waves
Water temp: 60F / 16C Current: Low
200M Perf. Average Remainder: Average
Breathing: Average Drafting:
Waves: Navigation: Below average
Rounding: Average
T1
Time: 01:54
Performance: Good
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
No
Wetsuit stuck? No Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Average
Biking
00:42:25 | 12.3 miles | 17.40 mile/hr
Age Group: 13/20
Overall: 0/330
Performance: Below average
Wind: Some
Course: Flat, with one knoll near the boat club. Fast with the wind, slower heading south into the wind.
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence: 95
Turns: Cornering: Average
Gear changes: Average Hills: Average
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 00:00
Overall: Average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Average
Shoe and helmet removal Good
Running
00:27:45 | 03.1 miles | 08m 57s  min/mile
Age Group: 14/20
Overall: 0/330
Performance: Below average
Course: Flat. The course went off the island, then meandered over the park lawn.
Keeping cool 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 Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 5