YMCA Colonial Beach Sprint Triathlon - TriathlonSprint


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Colonial Beach, Virginia
United States
Set Up Events
78F / 26C
Sunny
Total Time = 1h 46m 25s
Overall Rank = 156/183
Age Group = 45-49
Age Group Rank = 20/20
Pre-race routine:

Drove down the night before and stayed at the Beach Inn. It wasn't really how I planned it, but I started to think through how early I would have to get up to make a 6:50 start and thus the hotel. Visited with Steph, and was in bed by 10. Up at 5:15, had a bagel with peanut butter, climbed over the wall, got my number, chip, and marked. I then set up transition. All very smoothly.
Event warmup:

Walked around and just relaxed. Having a room 15 yards from transition was nice. I think it was spitting just a little rain. One of these days, I'll need to see what it is like to do a race with a full lather to start.
Swim
  • 20m 39s
  • 820 yards
  • 02m 31s / 100 yards
Comments:

My first open water swim since October 2010. I think I did well enough. The taste of salt water was odd in that it wasn't constant. I had someone on my heels the first 200. Had a purple cap (next wave) swim under me at about 400. Bumped a guy not long before the second turn. Nothing too unusual. My lower left back tightened up after I made the last turn. I swam as far in as I could. Stood up, looked at my watch, cursed 20:09, and fell back down. Argh!
What would you do differently?:

I don't redline it at all in the water. I swim a very calm, controlled and SLOW pace. Thus, I have slow results. I was sighting a bot too much and not concentrating on my improved stroke.
Transition 1
  • 02m 43s
Comments:

I was 115 overall and 15 in my age group for T1, comparatively my best of the race. I was more ordered and controlled than Salem. Cleaned my feet off, put my shoes on and got going. I forgot my gel and carried my gloves.
What would you do differently?:

GLOVES. If you are going to ride with gloves, you have to get them on. Fumbling with them as you start the bike is a HUGE mistake.
Bike
  • 46m 51s
  • 14 miles
  • 17.93 mile/hr
Comments:

No two ways about it, this was my best ride ever. I averaged right about 18 MPH. That's pretty much a function of the course. I spent about 10 miles in a group of about five riders. It was a first for me to be in a group. I don't think we were drafting, but none of us were getting away. When I felt like I was too close, I just took over the group. Riding up front as clearly harder. Half way in I was hammering so hard my calves started to cramp. That was a first as well. But I didn't really slow down much. I just kept hammering. So much fun.
What would you do differently?:

If I was in better shape, I could have gone even faster perhaps. It would be interesting to train in more group rides. The pulling and pushing aspect of being in a group was very different.
Transition 2
  • 02m 16s
Comments:

I was 152 overall and 18th in my age group. I think I transitioned orderly and smoothly but I wasn't rushing because my calves were VERY unhappy.
What would you do differently?:

One of these days, I am going to have to get better at transition. Running the bike, etc.
Run
  • 33m 57s
  • 3.11 miles
  • 10m 55s  min/mile
Comments:

A very bad run. I had nothing after my best bike ever. I kept going and put one foot in front of the other, but I had no other gear. My left Achilles barked a bit. I started to feel a bit hot on the second mile. On a better day, that would have been a great course.
What would you do differently?:

I had put two miles on the road since Salem. I got what I deserved. Taking my gel as I started my run left it sitting heavy in my stomach. That was a mistake.
Post race
Warm down:

Wandered for a moment after the finish then worked my way back up the course to see Steph. Ran back in with her (the fastest I ran all day). Then hung out with her and had pizza and Gatorade (the real stuff is too sweet). Cleared out transition, took a shower and got on the road.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Lack of training. I had a nasty cold that morphed into a sinus infection that took out two of the weeks after Salem. My left Achilles won't ease up on me. It was 100 degrees out for a week. Excuses, excuses. Do or do not. There is no try.

Event comments:

If I had a room at the Beach Inn, I'd do this race again in a heartbeat. The bike and run course are made for redlining. I wish I had been in better shape. Losing the first four weeks after Salem was not helpful. Still, I had a great bike. One of these days, I'll put it all together at a race.


Profile Album


Last updated: 2012-06-11 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:20:39 | 820 yards | 02m 31s / 100yards
Age Group: 19/20
Overall: 149/183
Performance: Average
Suit: No
Course: Triangle course with relatively equal legs.
Start type: Wade Plus: Waves
Water temp: 84F / 29C Current: Low
200M Perf. Average Remainder: Average
Breathing: Good Drafting: Below average
Waves: Navigation: Good
Rounding: Good
T1
Time: 02:43
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike: No
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Below average
Biking
00:46:51 | 14 miles | 17.93 mile/hr
Age Group: 19/20
Overall: 141/183
Performance: Good
Wind: None
Course: Triangle course. Almost dead flat. Only a couple of hills and most of the inclines and declines were imperceptible.
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence:
Turns: Average Cornering:
Gear changes: Good Hills: Good
Race pace: Hard Drinks: Not enough
T2
Time: 02:16
Overall: Average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike
Racking bike Average
Shoe and helmet removal Below average
Running
00:33:57 | 03.11 miles | 10m 55s  min/mile
Age Group: 20/20
Overall: 166/183
Performance: Bad
Splits: 10:59 10:55 11:10 (0:54)
Course: Flat as a pancake, out and back course along the water.
Keeping cool Below average Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
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: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4