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 Swim
Comments: The water was warm, 81 F degrees, actually warmer than the air. I was going off in the sixth wave. The route was a trapezoid very similar to Washington Olympic so I was fairly calm. (First mistake, well actually second, but I'll come to that, or third if you count the wheels). Despite being a spring fed lake their was quite a bit of chop. I have never had to deal with this and was not expecting it. I thought the swim was fairly normal up to the first buoy, then I thought "there don't seem to be a lot of swimmers near me" but kept going. The lack of a crowd was a theme of my swim and seeing how slow I was in the water I am led to the conclusion that with the chop I probably swam all over the place. Coming into the dock on the last lag my biggest mistake was revealed to me. I had forgotten to take my Thermolytes and salt tabs! The big cramp in my left calf let me know this is a big way. I had to stop and work it out. This cramp would be my companion off and on for the rest of the day. I had to work the cramps out again on the dock after climbing the ladder. Once that was done I actually had a good steady run in to transition. What would you do differently?: Take nutrition before the race.  Transition 1
Comments: I took some Thermolytes in transition in hopes of calming the cramping. I was a slower than usual here as I need the nutritional items and they were not sitting right out there.  Bike
Transition 2
Comments: T2 was slow because I wanted socks on my feet and that took a little time.  Run
Comments: I ran well out of T2 and held a good turnover rate through the first water stop, then the cramp decided I should have some company on the run. I tried to keep running as much as I could but while I made it to the water stop at mile two without stopping, I ended up walking at some point between all of the remaining stops. The sun came out on the last 1.5 miles of the run. Overall I think the plan of easing up on the bike will serve me well. I ran better off the bike and if I handle the nutrition, especially pre-race, it will go even better. The swim at Augusta is in a river and is straight and with the current so that should no be a problem. Post race
Warm down: I learned a lot here and want to go back next year. My friend Carol, who finished 2nd in her AG, said that WL looks like it should be an easy race, but it always plays hard for some reason. I really did enjoy the day despite the challenges. What limited your ability to perform faster: Bad pre-race nutrition. Event comments: Will race again next year! Last updated: 2010-09-01 12:00 AM
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Overall Rank = 270/337
Age Group = 45-49
Age Group Rank = 32/38
Races almost never go without a hitch, and this race follows that pattern. I don't want to sound negative, and I really did learn from the challenges of this race.
I stayed in Lumberton, about 30 minutes away from White Lake, the night before. I got up almost every hour during the night, but was able to fall right back to sleep each time. At 5 I got up and dressed. I was on the road by 5:30 and on sight by 6 AM.
My approach to this race was to use it as a tune up to Augusta in two weeks. The plan was to outfit the bike as I would for the HIM and to try and ride the bike segment as I would ride Augusta, trying to leave more in the tank for the run. To this end I had stretched out a tubular days before and added a valve extender. I folded in and wrapped it in rubber bands and packed a tire kit, including Pitstop, since I plan on carrying this in the HIM. As I wheeled my bike to transition I looked down at it and noticed I had not switched my trained wheels to my racing wheels! These wheels are clinchers NOT tubulars. D'oh! Fortunately IOS had their on site sales booth and I bought a tube and repacked my tire bag.