NE Season Opener Sprint Duathlon & Triathlon - DuathlonStandard

I ran and tried to keep my pace just under my T pace and keep effort even. The course has some challenging hills but more on the second run.



Warming up would have been smart

I was quick

Came in 12 of women

Passed lots of folks in first bit before we left the park. It was a bit challenging as some racers didn't know the rules like stay right unless passing.

My goal was to keep watts 170-175 and not spike power up hills to keep VI low.

Once we got on the main road two emergency vehicles passed us including one rescue boat being towed. My heart sank as I feared something bad had happened on the swim.

At about mile 6 another group of emergency vehicles passed us going towards the park and I felt sad.

After first lump of folks I passed, racers were more spread out. I did my best but my power was lower than I hoped and lowest it's been in a sprint in 4 years with racing with power (30 watts lower than last year) which is depressing on some levels. My VI was better than I thought it would. Race course has hills some get steeper and I run out of gears to keep power lower but would drop my cadence down.



Maybe not do a race 2 weeks after a 70.3

I think I did the best I could with what I had on race day. Still not sure why I didn't have as much as I "should" have on the bike.

Joked with the spectators...saying something like that was the fun part can I do it again.

Took off jacket, and leg warmers, Gavia gloves, but should have grabbed my light weight knit gloves to run in.

Put on or take gloves with me

Run starts with .34 mile hill, saw Kevin coming in on the bike as I started the run. We had teased about who would beat who..question was would he catch me on the run. Then a down hill, out and back.

Lots of folks I passed on the bike passed me on the run. Tried to run hard and push myself more.

This was the hilliest run I've done in a sprint.

One guy who was with me much of the bike was with me on the run, finally was able to pass him in the last 3/4 of a mile. Running over the damn was crazy with 20-40 mph wind and no cover. My legs would be blown when I lifted them off the ground and I was literally moved by the wind.

Last bit to finish pushed as hard as I could. In the long finish area, a guy passed me but I put on the gas and was able to pass him back.

I guess one positive is that I placed better second run than first one. I'm not fast but think doing long course racing has given me ability to pace and not fade. This second run had two hills that were ~1/3 mile long so more challenging than first run.

Be a better runner

Tried to get warm and put more clothes on. Found Kevin who finished a short time after I did.

Results were posted and messed up as all three races were lumped together. I thought I came in 2nd so we waited for the awards as I heard they had good prizes for award winners..this year nice glasses but that's it. It took a long time and I was cold should have gone home earlier and not waited.

I'd rather have a well executed race then hardware...so I feel blah about this one.

Fun to see Senator Scott Brown is still racing tris and part of Bay State Tri team




Weather, concern about safety of others, fatigue?

I did best I could given what I had today


Given the swim the last two years, Max Performance really should consider pushing race back a couple weeks or have this just be a duathlon. Typical MA weather does not set up this race for good situation with lots of newbies, cold water and/or cold weather, makes it a bit risky. No other race organization does open water swim tris until June and this race this year was 4 weeks earlier than any other ows tri in MA.

Logic points out that this is a risky weather time to do a tri. I won't sign up to do this tri again perhaps the du and plan on doing it.

I'm happy no one was injured during swim as I was quite concerned when I heard all the emergency vehicle responding to tri.

The weather forecast was right 34 real feel, winds of 20 mph and gusts to 50. If those factors had been taken into account swim should have been canceled. I do realize that conditions changed after first swim wave started. But it wasn't as if this was completely unexpected but forecast.

I understand that many athletes wanted to swim as it is part of their competitive spirit. Race Director has to weigh safety into the decision. When the rescue boat capsizes as to many athletes need help and are trying to climb on board, the kayaks are full with folks hanging on clearly there is a safety issue.

I think any race with real feel say under 50 no swim or there should be some rules set ahead of time that racers know if it is xxx no swim.

I do like the vibe and organization of Max Performance races just think timing of this race is poor.