Memorial Hermann Bridgeland Triathlon - TriathlonSprint


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Cypress, Texas
United States
85F / 29C
Sunny
Total Time = 1h 36m 22s
Overall Rank = 391/751
Age Group = F 30-34
Age Group Rank = 16/44
Pre-race routine:

Up at 3:45, PB sandwich about 4:30ish - no banana this time...got a bad bunch. oh well.
Event warmup:

About 1/4 mi. warm up jog and 200 easy swim about an hour prior to the wave start. Stretched a bit during the early waves to try and stay loose.
Swim
  • 09m 52s
  • 500 meters
  • 01m 58s / 100 meters
Comments:

Surprised at the result of this swim. Wasn't really expecting much because of the lack of training and swimming in the week leading up to the race. Still not a great time, but can't complain about 4th AG...although it is frustrating to think that my average swim probably could have pulled out a 1st in AG. Still, I am ok with it.

Funny, though, it would be nice to have swam the course in the time listed on the final results (4:52.9)...I knew this was wrong because my watch showed 9:55 when I got out of the water. Apparently all of the womens' times were 5 minutes faster than the actual time, which would make sense of all the uber fast swim times. Love seeing the swim time that showed 2:08. Ha.

On a side note...sighting and navigation again was spot on! Hug those buoys and put the head down and go. I drafted on some fast feet in the beginning and other than that, not a single body to contend with. Improved at least 1 spot in the last 50 yards as I picked off a pink cap. wish I could have buried it in the last 200, but I felt I needed to have something left in the tank.
What would you do differently?:

Other than keeping up with training...which wasn't really possible this past week...I can't complain too much. Considering I spent time in the ER a couple weeks ago, too, I'm just happy to be healthy to race. If I had the training this last week and less fatigue, I really think I would have won the AG swim. I don't think I could have exerted too much more today. Maybe a bit more in the first 300, but probably not a whole lot.
Transition 1
  • 02m 17s
Comments:

I knew I wasn't setting the world on fire with this transition. The HR was sky high after the swim and I was staying conservative so I didn't have any stress/anxiety/chest pain issues. Again, I'm ok here with a sub-par performance. I do like the sockless transition, though...definitely would make a bigger difference if I were gunning in and out of T1.
What would you do differently?:

I'm ok with it. Can always hurry more, but considering the circumstances, not bad.
Bike
  • 44m 56s
  • 14 miles
  • 18.69 mile/hr
Comments:

This was probably my best discipline of the day. In the beginning I did a higher cadence spin out of T1 to regulate the HR and get the legs going. Then I battled myself during the ride. My intention was to hold back a bit and save myself for the run because I wanted to PR the run. But as I continued through the ride, it was relatively easy to keep the speed between 18.5 - 20mph, so I figured I should just go for it and shoot for a 19mph average. I didn't put forth a full effort...the pace was comfortable...but I could have given more and maybe nudged close to 20.
What would you do differently?:

Push a little more. Still pleased with the effort and it's nice to feel good about the bike.

Triathlon bike shoes might be on the horizon...the mountain bike shoes held a lot of water. I noticed this a lot more being sockless. Didn't have any adverse effects...just annoying.
Transition 2
  • 01m 23s
Comments:

Sockless does wonders to the T-time! Jogged into transition...had to work a little to rack the bike since the bike rack was apparently made for Yao Ming.
What would you do differently?:

Run faster in and out.
Run
  • 37m 52s
  • 3.5 miles
  • 10m 49s  min/mile
Comments:

Nothing new here. Still struggling to finish a race with a respectable run. Although I knew pretty early in the run that my legs didn't have it. I really wanted a run PR today, but I had to have the mentality of having enough in the tank to just get through it. A couple of times I tried to pick up the pace but I wasn't feeling it. Still, I expected to see a +11:00 run pace, so I'm pleasantly surprised at what I was able to put up today. Not too far off my typical run race paces. There's a lot of room for improvement, but it's going to happen!
What would you do differently?:

Just become a better runner in general. Buckle down this off season and make it happen!
Post race
Warm down:

Walked a bit to stay loose. Lots of water and gatorade and a nice ice cold towel. Couple slices of pizza and some watermelon. Hangin' with the BT peeps. Fun times.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

5 days off from training prior to the race...long days and late nights working the baseball tournament...so a little fatigue on top of that.

Anxiety issues the last couple of weeks. No matter what diagnosis a doctor tells you, when you have chest pains in the time leading up to a race, you're still going to be a bit tentative.

Event comments:

Nice safe course, lots of volunteers. Plenty of aid stations and refreshments.

Minor drawbacks - lots of walking (from T1 to swim start) and volunteers not knowing where to send you for the swim start. Womens' shirts were awesome, but not listed as an option on the registration site, so getting a shirt that is too small is a bit frustrating.

Overall, great race. I'll be back here with a PR in 2011!




Last updated: 2010-06-14 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:09:52 | 500 meters | 01m 58s / 100meters
Age Group: 4/44
Overall: 0/751
Performance: Below average
Avg. HR - 175 (WOW!)
Suit:
Course: 300 meters out then 90-degree turn for the final 200
Start type: Wade Plus: Waves
Water temp: 88F / 31C Current: Low
200M Perf. Below average Remainder: Below average
Breathing: Good Drafting: Average
Waves: Navigation: Good
Rounding: Good
T1
Time: 02:17
Performance: Below average
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike: No
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Below average
Biking
00:44:56 | 14 miles | 18.69 mile/hr
Age Group: 17/44
Overall: 0/751
Performance: Average
Wind: None
Course: Out-and-back loop - straight, flat, fast
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence:
Turns: Average Cornering: Average
Gear changes: Good Hills:
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 01:23
Overall: Average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike Below average
Racking bike Average
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
00:37:52 | 03.5 miles | 10m 49s  min/mile
Age Group: 23/44
Overall: 0/751
Performance: Average
Course: Out and back loop First and last mile in full sun. Middle portion on mostly shaded gravel trail.
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: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4