Giant Acorn International - TriathlonOlympic


View Member's Race Log View other race reports
Bumpass, Virginia
United States
Set Up Events
57F / 14C
Overcast
Total Time = 3h 11m 35s
Overall Rank = /
Age Group = 30-34
Age Group Rank = 24/32
Pre-race routine:

Woke at 5:30 and loaded car and kids to drive 90 min to race site. Drove through pouring rain and wondered about weather in Bumpass. Ate a PB&J bagel 3 hrs out and then had water/gatorade mix until start
Event warmup:

No real warm up....just trying to warm up...literally was very chilly and windy. Got suited up and swam 200yds to start. Very excited and nervous as this was my first Oly raceand first race in wetsuit.
Swim
  • 33m 40s
  • 1640 yards
  • 02m 03s / 100 yards
Comments:

Definitely my hardest swim and usually this is my strength. I may have felt overly confident, but have only done 1 other open water swim and no chop or current to worry about. Heading into the chop was tough to get the timing of my breathing in between waves crashing in my mouth. From first turn buoy to second I was fine and felt good, but coming home I kept getting pulled right off course and had a hard time sighting. This was definitely where I lost time.
What would you do differently?:

More practice open water swimming.
Transition 1
  • 03m 19s
Comments:

This was a first dealing with the wetsuit in transition. I was able to run in and remove top half on the way so was pleased with that. Felt a bit disorganized in T1, and due to cold i did put on a longsleeve shirt over trisuit. Long uphill run with bike over gravel, but got on and going with no trouble. Suprised that I placed so high here (8th in AG) as it felt really slow.
What would you do differently?:

Not much other than just keep practicing.
Bike
  • 1h 27m 47s
  • 24.85 miles
  • 16.99 mile/hr
Comments:

A very nice course for my first time at this distance. No real climbs just nice and steady. I was unfamiliar with the course so I started relatively easy in second ring. I wasn't really slacking, but entertained myself by counting the number of people who passed me. Even though I can definitely use more time in the saddle, I will have to upgrade the bike this winter if I hope to be more competetive next year. It can be frustrating watchng people with the same cadence blow by you when you are in top gears. Took a Gu prior to start and at halfway point....really nailed the nutrition on this first Oly race. Only water on the bike. Second loop I switched to big ring for the entire course. One very negative thing.....as I was appraoching the dismount a spectator ran in front of me about 15ft out. I yelled "heads up" and she couldn't decide whether to move forward or backward. I slammed on the brakes and skidded badly. I really thought I was going down. I definitely yelled at her. I remember thinking how upset I would be if I finished 25 miles only to crash at the dismount.
What would you do differently?:

Probably nothing. My bike and I are just slow (although this was my fastest race pace of the year). Not almost crash at the finish??? Easily lost a minute here and was shaking on dismount.
Transition 2
  • 03m 26s
Comments:

Sooo.....my feel were completely numb after the bike. Not sure whether from cold or just long bike. Had to run downhill to transition (I am sure I looked pretty funny hobbling with numb feet on the slope). Was still a bit rattled from my almost crash and fumbled with my equipment. Started out to run when I realized I forgot my number. Ran back to get it losing probably 45 sec.
What would you do differently?:

Not forget race belt!!!!!
Run
  • 1h 03m 25s
  • 6.21 miles
  • 10m 13s  min/mile
Comments:

So running is really my weakness, but this was a great run for me at the end of a long race. I have only done 2 6mile runs in training and this was faster than both of them. The first lap was tough mentally. My feet were numb until mile 2. I did a few short walks (30 sec or less) to get breathing down. My calves were really tight the entire race, but held up. I did step on a root wrong in the first trail section, but only a minor tweak. During the second lap I felt great....really proud of myself for completing this distance. I passed a few people in my age group and the last half mile really turned it on. I chased down a woman who I though was in my AG (not, but felt good) and generally felt amazing at the finish!
What would you do differently?:

Nothing really...could have pushed a little more I suppose, but happy with my run.
Post race
Warm down:

Walked around and chatted. Had a soda and cookie. food line was too long. Then went to campsite with the family and dedicate some time to them.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Just practice and experience and maybe some new gear (bike!)

Event comments:

Good race and would definitely suggest it for someone looking to move up to first Oly. Only issue I had was that all the lines were really long for a small race. Check in took forever and my friend only had 8 min in transition to set up. Food line was also really long so I passed.




Last updated: 2011-10-02 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:33:40 | 1640 yards | 02m 03s / 100yards
Age Group: 23/32
Overall: 0/
Performance: Below average
Suit: sleeveless
Course: Triangular shape with depp water start. Headed into the chop for the first 600 or so yds.
Start type: Deep Water Plus:
Water temp: 72F / 22C Current: Medium
200M Perf. Average Remainder: Below average
Breathing: Average Drafting: Below average
Waves: Navigation: Below average
Rounding:
T1
Time: 03:19
Performance: Good
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
No
Wetsuit stuck? No Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed:
Biking
01:27:47 | 24.85 miles | 16.99 mile/hr
Age Group: 26/32
Overall: 0/
Performance: Good
Wind: Some
Course: Nice and easy. Perfect for first Oly
Road:   Cadence:
Turns: Average Cornering: Average
Gear changes: Good Hills: Good
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 03:26
Overall: Below average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike Average
Racking bike Average
Shoe and helmet removal Average
Running
01:03:25 | 06.21 miles | 10m 13s  min/mile
Age Group: 25/32
Overall: 0/
Performance: Good
Course: Rolling course 2 laps with little trail section that was a bit treacherous at turn around.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
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: Below average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4