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 Swim
Comments: This was my favorite tri swim ever. I REALLY enjoyed it... The horn goes, and most of the wave jumps off the pier - about 10ft down. I wait...about 15 seconds. LEAP, I'm in. Instantly the goggles fill with water, so I tread water, fix 'em, and off I go, setting moderate tempo and breathing on the 2. Swim was relaxing; that's the only way to describe it. The buoys curved slightly to follow the shoreline countour, and sighting was tough; the swim was right into the sun. So I figure I swam maybe 100 extra yards, maybe 200...the crowds weren't too bad, either, didn't have much bumping or steamrolling of others/me. But I accomplished my goals...low HR getting out of the water, semi-decent time. What would you do differently?: Maybe go harder?  Transition 1
Comments: My best T1 ever. The transition included maybe 400 yards of running...first up the sandy beach, then onto a wooden boardwalk, then onto carpet laid over cobblestones, then all the way across a paved parking lot (which was the transition area). I figure it was 2-3 minutes of running. Wetsuit came off easily, since I chopped 3 inches off the legs. Had to sit to hose off my feet, which were covered with sand, with fresh water, then dry 'em off. Helmet, race number, glasses, shoes, grab bike and go...and I only had to run about 20 yards - I had the BEST spot in the entire transition area, minimizing the run with the bike. Stopped to get on the bike - although it was quick - because jumping on the bike with the behind-the-seat bottles is a dangerous activity. What would you do differently?: Not much...the pros were still in the 3:30 range for T1, and most of my peer group was 5 min + on transition - so I think it went well. Maybe figure out how to jump on the bike without hooking my leg on the water bottles?  Bike
Comments: My best ride ever - Jumped on the bike, and right away, I start passing people...I've got the hammer down. 1st 20 miles I averaged 22.1; I think to myself "this is too fast", but keep rollin... The next 20 I focused on picking people off, one-by-one. Bike riding is MUCH easier when you've got someone to chase, or someone's just passed you. You can't HELP but to pick up the pace. But I made a concerted effort to stay within my limits, and actually felt like I was holding back. Apparently not, average was still 22.1. WTF? Managed to dump an entire gatorade over my head at mile 30. Nice work, MENSA. Tried, again, to dial it back between 40 and 56, in a feeble attempt to preserve some legs for the run. But those people needed passing, and they just weren't going that fast. I picked up 0.2 on my average for the last 16 miles. /*DRAFTING RANT*/ Three peletons went by me on the ride - 1) the Mutt & Jeff peleton (one HUGE guy pulling, with 12 really teeny guys all lined up behind him), 2) the 'Gang of 20', which is pretty self explanatory, and 3) The Orange shirt boys (5 guys in bright orange singlets). They were drafting like it was ALLOWED in the rules. Most of these folks were in my AG, too...pisses me off completely. I rode the ride by the rules and think I got rooked. /*RANT END*/ What would you do differently?: Drink the gatorade, dump the water over my head. Not vice-versa. Dorkage. Transition 2
Comments: Excellent T2. Dismounted, racked bike, helmet off, socks / shoes and hat on, quick blast of eFuel, and a 30 second run through transition to the run exit. Saw Jean and LisaZapato on the run exit - thanks for the awesome support!!! Again, the pros were between 50 seconds and 1:30, and my age group peers were between 2 and 5 minutes. About as fast as it could have been. Good stuff, here. What would you do differently?: Nothing.  Run
Comments: BOOM! That was the sound of my hamstrings exploding. Not 1/2 mile out of transition my left hamstring and right calf cramped. Tried to stretch out, but the cramps plagued me throughout the run. Started running with Paul from Valparaiso, and we did 5 8:30's, with about 45 seconds walking at aid stations. At 5 1/2, I let him go and walked some more...ended up walking maybe 1/3 of the rest of the run, with cramps coming and going. Saw trix at mile 10.5 - she was at about mile 3 or 4, looking strong. Got to mile 10, and I had 35 minutes left to beat 5:30. That's a 35 minute 5K. Couldn't do it, though...finished the run/walk home with Doug, a local that had just finished CDA...he was hurting, too. What would you do differently?: The funny part is...I wasn't at all disappointed in the run. I performed about at the level I was trained for. That's what running 3 times in the previous 4 weeks will get you. I don't think it was nutrition, it was just what I was trained for...pure and simple. But in the future - more bricks. Run some more. Train adequately. Post race
Warm down: Finished, met LisaZapato, went straight to the lake and jumped in. AHHHH...Refreshing!!! Dawdled around the finish - met up with Brian and Bernadette, Jean (nice swim), Trish Liddiard, Trix, Lisa. Scarfed more Pizza Hut buffet. What limited your ability to perform faster: Run training, bricks, lack of experience at that distance. Event comments: Excellent race, excellent company, excellent experience. The course was fantastic, the volunteers outstanding, the weather great, and my performance (in total) better than I ever could have imagined. A great day with great company. Thanks - especially to Trix, Lisa, and Jean for playing. :) I'll be back next year. With a chip on my shoulder, and in a new AG. :) Last updated: 2006-05-10 12:00 AM
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United States
Capri Tri
80F / 27C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 569/1423
Age Group = M 35-39
Age Group Rank = 114/224
What an awesome race. This is a good one...let's start with the Pizza Hut buffet the night before as carb loading, and a trip to Wal-Mart in flip flops to make sure we got 'trailer foot', water, markers, and junk food. Stopped on the way back from Wal Mart at Sophie's pancake house to crash the McFuzz family dinner, then back to the red roof inn (which was conveniently situated next to a 24-hour McDonalds, heh). Bed around 10:30, slept like a rock after Travis Pastrana did his double backflip on the motorcycle during the x-games.
Woke up around 4:15, went to the McDonalds, the counter was closed. Walked BACK to the hotel, got in my truck, drove the 100ft to the DRIVE THRU, and they announced "We won't be open for another hour". THE HORROR!!!! Ok, so now I'm looking for plan B for race-day meal. Never try anything new on race day, y'know? Hmmm...there's the Burger King....
One ENORMOUS Omlette Sandwich, a Diet Pepsi, and a Red Bull later, I'm ready to roll. Threw my bag in the car, made sure the girls were up, and took off for the race site. Shuttle from parking to the start - where no one grabbed MY ass - and why are we so loud?! Set up transition, another shuttle to swim start...
Took a quick swim in Lake Michigan, maybe 500 yards, water was perfect - maybe 76 degrees, relatively calm and clear, outstanding. Chatted with a guy from work, Andrea Fischer (women's pro), then mosied up to the pier to wait for my wave start.
This was the first tri I've EVER run where I was not nervous, even a little bit. Racing is so much better when you're not freaked out about it. I was ready to roll.