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 Swim
Comments: In 2010 my swim took 11-something minutes. I lined up with the 9 minute group. This was just about right for me. I followed a gal in a black suit with a hot pink swim cap, this was just about perfect. At two points in the swim, the lane got all backed up with people trying to pass and we sort of had to wait to get under the lane lines. We were all bunched up like cattle. Some guy passed me and the pink-cap girl in the third lane. He was all balls to the wall, but then he crashed and burned in the fourth lane and I had to pass him. About 30 seconds of the swim is running from the pool deck, down a small flight of stairs and into T1. I was happy with my swim today. What would you do differently?: Nothing, just a lot of people in a small area so you have to be patient.  Transition 1
Comments: T1 went pretty well. I did choose to put on socks and a long sleeved shirt and that probably added crucial time but hey, it was cold out there!  Bike
Comments: Let me preface this by saying that I wilt in the wind. For whatever reason, this race is notorious for having strong winds and today was no exception. The first lap I was down in aero in the big gear, then changed direction and had to back off a bit. The headwind was pretty challenging. Still I felt strong and passed a lot of people. Toward the end of the first lap, the wind seemed to change direction and I struggled. Finally dropped down to the small gear to maintain cadence. Going out on the second lap, had a hard time staying in aero. The crosswind was very treacherous and I felt Jack (my bike) shimmying violently from side to side. Had to go up on the horns for most of the second lap. It did not help to have an ambulance go screaming by half way through the second lap. I can only hope that no one was hurt. What would you do differently?: More riding in the wind would help. Transition 2
Comments: Went all right I guess. I was close to the bike in/out and about as far from run out as geographically possible. Tried to be very careful not to hit the Decatur girls' bikes as i racked Jack. Decided to leave my long sleeve shirt on for the run.  Run
Comments: I always struggle with the run. Seemed to go all right. Took a couple of walk breaks and at one point tore off my long sleeve shirt. The trees blocked the wind and I started to overheat. What would you do differently?: Just need to run more and figure out a way to keep legs from hurting so much when I run. Post race
Warm down: Not much, got a Subway sandwich and chowed down. Event comments: This is a very popular race, with good reason. The race director does a great job communicating with everyone via email and the website. Volunteers are knowledgable and helpful and the nasty weather is just part of the allure. Last updated: 2012-04-04 12:00 AM
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United States
Sullivan Civic Center
58F / 14C
Overcast
Overall Rank = 144/192
Age Group = W50-55
Age Group Rank = 3/4
Wasn't even sure I wanted to race today. We had been on vacation the weekend before, I got hit with a bout of food poisoning upon returning (Mexico!). My training buddy has had to pretty much drop out of the season and gave me her entry. So between feeling like doodoo, facing the prospect of going to this race alone and a poor weather forecast, the temptation to just skip it was strong.
The race is at 12:30 so it's kind of weird getting ready. Ate a normal breakfast (fruit, toast and egg), then got packed and hit the road at 9:15. Sullivan is about an hour and a half from home. Good thing I went early because I spaced out and missed the exit to I-72. Not a big deal but I had to backtrack about ten miles and that's just another stresser.
My Google Map directions were terrible and had omitted an entire road. WTF???? Fortunately I remember the route from doing this race in 2010. Got to Sullivan, picked up packet and set up transition. I horned in on some really nice Spin City (Decatur club) ladies' section and made a couple of new friends. They had marked their section of the rack with some plastic flamingos. Knew I would like these people immediately!
Went back to car and ate a turkey sandwich.
The swim is indoors at the Sullivan Civic Center. It's a gorgeous facility. I swam about 300 yards and then just stood around. Took a gel at noon.