Cactus Challenge Triathlon - Sprint - TriathlonSprint


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Austin, Texas
United States
3D Racing
Sunny
Total Time = 1h 40m 30s
Overall Rank = /
Age Group = ATHENA
Age Group Rank = 1/3
Pre-race routine:

Went to the pre-race meeting held on Saturday. Was very intimidated by all the fancy gear people were sporting and the fact that when we first got there I was the only overweight person there. Had a late dinner and didn't get to bed until midnight (much later than I wanted). Didn't sleep well, to many nightmares of getting a flat. Woke up at 6 very excited and pumped. Had a banana and half and apple for breakfast and drank a bottle of water. Took everything to transition. Pumped my tires. Took a real quick ride to make sure they weren't already flat. Jogged a tiny bit.
Event warmup:

Jogged a bit and tiny bike ride to test it out.
Swim
  • 11m 56s
  • 500 meters
  • 02m 23s / 100 meters
Comments:

This was my first triathlon so I had never done a open water swim before, and I for sure had never done on with lots of other people slapping and kicking me. Also I didn't do a practice swim in my wetsuit. Boy was I in for a shock. Normally I do about a 10 minute 500 m but I was very dioriented during this swim. I had trouble breathing, swallowed water, couldn't tell where I was going and so on. I had to flip over on my back a couple times until my head stopped spinning. After I reached the midpoint I got the hang of it though. There was a "oh shit, what did I get myself into" period of time though.
What would you do differently?:

Practice an open water swim. Swim in wetsuit. Practice swimming with people kicking and grabbing me!
Transition 1
  • 04m 47s
Comments:

So I never bothered to practice the transitions! I had trouble with the run up to the T1 area due to the fact that I have trouble running barefoot so I had to grab my shoes from my boyfriend (he kindly was waiting with them held out for me) and slip them on my feet. Then I had to think about what I needed to bring with me on the bike in case of a flat (as if I would know what to do with that equipment).
What would you do differently?:

Suck it up and run barefoot. Not bring anything with me on the bike as I wouldn't know what to do with it. Practice it.
Bike
  • 46m 56s
  • 13.43 miles
  • 17.17 mile/hr
Comments:

I need cycling shoes!!! I only did it in my running shoes and at the start my shoelace got caught in the pedal and I couldn't move. Of course this happened right as I passed somebody so I'm sure I almost made them crash. I had to stop and unravel it then hop back on. Hills felt better than they did during training.
What would you do differently?:

Nice gear would help for the next one. I was passing people, so that is decent I guess. Maybe actually doing some research on biking would help though during training. I don't even know what cadence is (bad, I know!). I had trouble knowing when to pass people.
Transition 2
  • 02m 8s
Comments:

I couldn't find where I was set up without my bike there! I stood around looking confused as my boyfriend yelled at me to get my act together. I figured it out, racked the back, then fiddled with my race belt. I had only bought it the day before and had no idea how to put the number on it.
What would you do differently?:

Figure out the race belt. Use a bright colored towel to mark my place.
Run
  • 34m 46s
  • 3.11 miles
  • 11m 11s  min/mile
Comments:

Sucked it up here. I'm not a good runner anyways (training at 10 minute miles) but I was really hurting here. My muscles felt great, no pain or stiffness, but my lungs were killing me. I just couldn't catch my breath. I would walk a few seconds then run a few and repeat. I was really disappointed in myself. People were passing me left and right. The last mile was the worst due to the hill. Of course I got acid reflux during it and almost threw up.
What would you do differently?:

Train much more. I hate running so I would make excuses not to do it. That and weighing 20 lbs less would probably help.
Post race
Warm down:

Nothing! I went and met my family/friends and waiting for my friend to cross the finish line.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

The fact that I'm overweight most of all. Also I should have done more bricks. I should have followed a true training plan. I just kind of made mine up as I went.

Event comments:

I liked the race but I think the run trail was too challenging for me. Overall I was happy with it all though. My personal goal was to complete it under 1:45:00 and I did it. My other goal was not to walk at all during the run, which I messed up, so I was upset about that. When compared against were I would have come in on my age group I would have been #14 out of 23, which is better than I ever expected. And thanks to the fact that there were barely any athenas I won that!


Profile Album


Last updated: 2006-03-19 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:11:56 | 500 meters | 02m 23s / 100meters
Age Group: 0/3
Overall: 0/
Performance: Bad
Suit: rented X-terra sleeveless
Course: out and back around a double buoy.
Start type: Wade Plus:
Water temp: 68F / 20C Current: Low
200M Perf. Bad Remainder: Average
Breathing: Bad Drafting:
Waves: Navigation: Below average
Rounding: Average
T1
Time: 04:47
Performance: Bad
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
No
Wetsuit stuck? Yes Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: Yes
Getting up to speed: Average
Biking
00:46:56 | 13.43 miles | 17.17 mile/hr
Age Group: 0/3
Overall: 0/
Performance:
Wind: Little
Course: 6.2 mile loop with rolling hills
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence:
Turns: Average Cornering: Average
Gear changes: Below average Hills: Average
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Not enough
T2
Time: 02:08
Overall: Below average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike Average
Running with bike Average
Racking bike Below average
Shoe and helmet removal Good
Running
00:34:46 | 03.11 miles | 11m 11s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/3
Overall: 0/
Performance: Bad
Course: Rolling hills on a grass trail, 3.1 mile loop
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Ok
Evaluation
Course challenge Too hard
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? No
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities:
Race evaluation [1-5] 4