Pat Griskus Olympic Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic


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Middlebury, Connecticut
United States
Pat Griskus Triathlon
74F / 23C
Overcast
Total Time = 3h 01m 10s
Overall Rank = 444/485
Age Group = M4044
Age Group Rank = 60/61
Pre-race routine:

The usual, except even more abbreviated.
Event warmup:

None.
Swim
  • 21m 16s
  • 880 yards
  • 02m 25s / 100 yards
Comments:

Heavy fog delayed the start by ~30 min, and the swim course was shortened to approximately half a mile. Sighting was still dodgy, but I could usually make out the next buoy, and there were plenty of kayaks shepherding us around. And race management didn't pull the "ha ha swim caps same as buoy color SUCK IT LOOSERS" trick.

I swam in my Sharks trisuit and no wetsuit. The trisuit was comfortable and I didn't feel that it added any drag. The water temperature was great, but I missed the buoyancy of the suit (especially when subsequent waves went blasting past).

Overall, not bad for one of the first open water swims of the season.
Transition 1
  • 01m 50s
Comments:

Slow and steady.
Bike
  • 1h 28m 19s
  • 25 miles
  • 16.98 mile/hr
Comments:

Again, not bad, considering the lack of training. No mechanical issues other than creaky pedals.
Transition 2
  • 01m 12s
Comments:

Again, no hurry today.
Run
  • 1h 08m 35s
  • 6.2 miles
  • 11m 04s  min/mile
Comments:

This was the only part I was really worried about. I hadn't been running more than 5 miles, averaging 10 miles/week (if that), and I hadn't done a single brick since ChesapeakeMan kicked my feet's asses 9 months ago. But again, I was just here to finish, and I took it easy, walking a few times back up the hill. I finished the run a little slower than at my first tri (1:07:14, Griskus Olympic 2006).
Post race
Warm down:

2 beers STAT.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Almost nonexistent endurance training for 9 months prior to this race.

Event comments:

After ChesapeakeMan 2010, my endurance ass was kicked proper, and I decided that I needed to go back to the basics. So I took a few months to just dick around: short runs, leisurely swims, and no time on the bike. In February, I began lifting, following the Starting Strength novice program. I worked my way up to a 405# squat by the middle of May, all the while doing one session/week in each tri discipline. Three weeks prior to Griskus, I put weights on hold and picked up the endurance training a bit (2x/week run & bike, 2-3x/week swim). My endurance was low, but my leg strength is unbelievable, and my core is stronger than ever. Forget core workouts, I'm squatting for the rest of my life!!!

I knew that I'd have to take it easy if I wanted to even finish, and still it was tough to rein myself in; first, when the second wave's fast swimmers started blowing past me, and then on some of the climbs that I usually dominate. But it all paid off when I put on the shoes and started "running". I made it to the turnaround and back up the hill before I had to slow to a walk, and then I only walked for a minute. The second loop was easier than the first, and I was able to pick up the pace a bit after turning back onto Middlebury Rd. I could just feel my quads starting to tighten dangerously at the final turnaround, but I managed to run across the line.

Adjusting for a wetsuit and the full swim, I estimate my time would have been 15 minutes longer (given my existing condition), which means that I'm still faster than my first time here.

Overall, still my favorite race, and I'm looking forward to next year.




Last updated: 2011-06-19 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:21:16 | 880 yards | 02m 25s / 100yards
Age Group: 0/61
Overall: 479/485
Performance: Average
Suit: None
Course: Triangle, CW.
Start type: Wade Plus:
Water temp: 74F / 23C Current: Low
200M Perf. Average Remainder: Average
Breathing: Below average Drafting: Below average
Waves: Average Navigation: Below average
Rounding: Average
T1
Time: 01:50
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Good
Biking
01:28:19 | 25 miles | 16.98 mile/hr
Age Group: 0/61
Overall: 364/485
Performance: Average
Wind: Little
Course: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/37546356
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence: 90
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Good Hills: Average
Race pace: Hard Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 01:12
Overall: Average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike
Racking bike
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
01:08:35 | 06.2 miles | 11m 04s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/61
Overall: 472/485
Performance: Average
Course:
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %0
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: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 5