Houston Triathlon - Olympic Course - TriathlonOlympic


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Cypress, Texas
United States
Onurleft Event Management, LLC
90F / 32C
Sunny
Total Time = 00m
Overall Rank = 403/442
Age Group = 40-44
Age Group Rank = 81/87
Pre-race routine:

Put bike in transition the night before and had most of my stuff in the car.

Got up around 4:50 - Later than intended and scrambled around a bit. I ate a NutriGrain bar and a pack of peanutbutter crackers on the drive, wasn't that hungry but didn't want to end up flatering later.

I had put sunblock in my transition bag, and put it on in transition so I didn't forget. I did however forget to put it under my tri-top zipper area, so I got a little burn in the middle of my chest.

After I setup transition I walked down and did a quick swim, then ate a bannana.
Event warmup:

Swam about 200 meters twice. Once before the sprint start and once just before the olympic start.
Swim
  • 39m 21s
  • 1640 yards
  • 02m 24s / 100 yards
Comments:

I felt I did really good the first loop. I was on target and didn't go too hard. There was a fair amount of impact, but nothing major and I have gotten good and deflecting blows. For example when I realized someone was next to me I might cross over there feet, but use my arm to limit there kicking first.

I managed to take care of business just before the end of the first loop, my first time doing this in a race.

The second loop was not as kind. First, I had seemed fine on the first loop but noticed my heart rate felt really high at the start of the second loop, I reduced my speed a bit and that seemed to help.

I started off too far right and despite adjustments continued to do so. Before I got across the lake to the first buoy I noticeda Kayak tailing me on my right. I thought I adjusted left but then ran into said Kyak who's kyaker said "I'll get you to go left one way or the other". I adjusted and got around the buoy but continued to have problems.

Near the top of the L I sighted the last buoy but something seemed off. I did a wider sight and realized I was on target for the buoy on the wrong side of the lake, and had to adjust to go halfway back across to round the correct buoy.

I noticed that I was being passed by some of the women from a few waves after me, and I was passing people from a few waves ahead. One guy from 3 waves prior to mine was breast stroking and I had to avoid him.

I sprinted the last 100 Meters or so, but again I went too far left and got out without the help of a volunteer.
What would you do differently?:

More sighting. I wanted to go faster, but was afraid of hurting my bike and run times.
Transition 1
  • 06m 44s
Comments:

This was a really long run from the swim to T1. It was about 1/4th mile. I intentionally walked a lot of it as I planned to let my heart rate drop before I hit the bike.

I had a little trouble getting my feet on top of the shoes, but it worked out ok.
What would you do differently?:

Bring my sun glasses for the bike. I had forgotten them.
Bike
  • 1h 24m 39s
  • 24 miles
  • 17.01 mile/hr
Comments:

I was passed a lot on the bike and only passed a select few. Being big enough to be a clyde I was able to pass a lot when I had a tail wind, and was passed by more when I had a head or cross wind. Sadly, there was a lot more head/cross wind than tail.

I was able to get some pretty good speed (24) at times, but was in the 15s at others.

About half way through I started feeling some saddle discomfort. I'm going to need to use more body glide, get a different product, or different shorts.

On the second loop I rubbed against the curb with my pedals for a second. Other than that the only noticable issue was I wandered too far from the right a few times.
What would you do differently?:

Time in the saddle.
Transition 2
  • 00m
Comments:

I had some trouble moving my garmin from the bike to the watch, but getting my feet out of the shoes went fairly well. Jumping off the bike was a little slow, but I did it.

Swapped the halo, helmet,shoes etc was fairly easy.

I was pretty wiped out by this time so I tried to take it fairly easy still.
What would you do differently?:

Hustle a bit more. But only if I had the fitness to do so.
Run
  • 1h 26m 16s
  • 6.2 miles
  • 13m 55s  min/mile
Comments:

I knew my fitness wasn't up to running a 10k at the end of an Oly, I had hoped to run to the first water stop and then walk 1/4th mile from there and then run again... but alas it wasn't to be.

I ran the first half mile, then started walking. I walked/ran the rest of the course running no more than half a mile at a time, but probably never walking more than half a mile at a time either. I suspect I walked approximately half to 3/4ths of the course.

I had also hoped it would be a bit cooler this time. I was too hot, but that wasn't really my major limiter.
What would you do differently?:

Work harder in training.
Post race
Warm down:

Found a place to sit, found my wife, then went and got in the ice bath, my first. There was very little food left, ate one of 2 slices of cheese pizza then gave up.

I got a coke and got my stuff ready from transition.... then went home and ate chineese and started typing this report.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

My fitness. I need to HTFU and do a lot more training.

Event comments:

This race was the 3rd I have done this year (or ever) by OnUrMark. They always put on good races. The race changed venue's just over a month ago and that may have had some impact on the race.

This isn't to ding the race at all, but in comparison to Bridgeland I fent there were a few things missing. I know it is September but it was still really hot, I could have used the ice sponges and the ice cold towel.

It seemed like the SWAG was lesser than for Bridgeland and I only mention it as I thought Houston was suppose to be the cumulation race for the season.

Still, I plan to do this race next year as well and will recommend it to anyone.




Last updated: 2011-06-06 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:39:21 | 1640 yards | 02m 24s / 100yards
Age Group: 47/87
Overall: 0/442
Performance: Good
Suit: Tri suit
Course: The course was a two lap swim with a beach entrance/exit. The swim is on a section of the lake sort of L shaped. You start out on the bottom of the L and swim across the bottom then turn and swim up to the top of the L, back across and then back down the L and turn to get back to shore... Then you get out of the water, run 10 steps, and get back and do it again.
Start type: Deep Water Plus: Waves
Water temp: 80F / 27C Current: Low
200M Perf. Good Remainder: Good
Breathing: Good Drafting: Average
Waves: Navigation: Below average
Rounding: Good
T1
Time: 06:44
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike: No
Jump on bike: Yes
Getting up to speed: Average
Biking
01:24:39 | 24 miles | 17.01 mile/hr
Age Group: 78/87
Overall: 0/442
Performance: Below average
Wind: Cross-winds
Course: 2 Loop course with all right turns except on one stretch of road where we had the entire road and we rode east bound in one lane, west bound in the other, and then east bound again on the other side of the road. Roads were in fair shape with a few notable exceptions and very little trash. The only risky part was some of the drainage points on the road had been added and had a grove just the right size for your bike tire to go in...
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence: 85
Turns: Below average Cornering: Average
Gear changes: Good Hills: Average
Race pace: Hard Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 00:00
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes Good
Jumping off bike Average
Running with bike Average
Racking bike Average
Shoe and helmet removal Good
Running
01:26:16 | 06.2 miles | 13m 55s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/87
Overall: 0/442
Performance: Below average
Course: A unique run on roads, through neighborhoods, around lakes with locals cheering from the back yards, through a football stadium, and evily up the ramps to the second floor then back down on the other side and back out of the football field till with more roads till the end. There is very little shade, though a fair number of water stations one set of ice cold water guns and one place they were offering ice near the last mile.
Keeping cool Average Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? No
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4