![]() Swim
Comments: This also includes a fairly long run into transition. I think I did the swim in right at two minutes (give or take a few seconds) First time in the front and mercifully I wasn't embarrassingly passed by 30 people... woohoo. What would you do differently?: MOAR SWIMNG! I might also give that whole Kevin Costner "Waterworld" thing a go (evolving to have gills) seems like it might be legit. ![]() Transition 1
Comments: Down to business. Helmet/Glasses on, run with bike, hop on take off and chase that lead out cop car as hard as possible. What would you do differently?: Catch the cop car. ![]() Bike
Comments: The goal was to smash the bike on the Zipp. Mission accomplished in that regard. When the first lap was ending the cop who was directing traffic had decided the best place to park was IN THE ROAD... holy sh*t... had to cross into incoming traffic lane to avoid him. Unhappy. Also, on the second lap I got caught behind a truck who was behind a cyclist on the only fast downhill. It sucked to have to grip my brakes the entire way down instead of absolutely bombing down it :/ Probably would have broken 23mph avg. if not for that... sighs. Nonetheless, great showing by the Zipp. What would you do differently?: Ehh, on a two lap course you have to expect to get caught behind a few of the slower cyclists on the second lap. Nothing to do but accept it. I would also get a bit faster of course. I think shooting for 27mph is a good goal. ![]() Transition 2
Comments: Good t2 for me, very minimalistic. What would you do differently?: Nada, this was a good one. ![]() Run
Comments: There were supposed to be a troupe of Boyscouts volunteering at the race, and a very large number of them didn't show up. As a result, the run course was basically unmanned. Besides that, the course was fairly confusingly set up with multiple cones / signs that contradicted. I saw Josh at one turnaround and he was already upset that he had been sent off course on the bike. There was a lot of confusion on the run as well. :/ Sucks for everyone involved. As I was returning on the run I saw that volunteers had been moved to the run course. What would you do differently?: The easy answer is to "know the course," which I agree is the athlete's responsibility. However, expecting 9-5 Mon-Fri Age groupers to come scout a course beforehand is a little bit unrealistic, especially with an hour+ drive to get to the course. I am not placing any blame (except possibly on the volunteers that didn't show up after promising to) because it was just a bad series of events for all involved. It's an especially bad handicap for the fastest people, since later runners had people pointing them in the right direction. :/ ![]() Post race
Warm down: Pretty much dealt with the confusion at the finish line. Saw Josh and knew he was upset... he had been sent down part of the run course on the bike and DQ'd as a result. I feel your pain sir (As I've had the same happen) I feel like it was a hallowed victory for me. 2nd OA is great, but not being 100% sure that I did all of the course really hurts. I did finish with a considerable margin above 3rd place (over 5 minutes) so I am confident that even if I did skip something It would not have changed the standings. That said, If anyone wants to call me out and say I did skip some or whathaveyou, I will not argue with you because I am saying up front, I'm not sure. I indeed may have and apologize if it hurt anyone elses race or experience. I would certainly never purposefully cut a course, (especially when I was already pretty much leading it!) What limited your ability to perform faster: Not scouting the course. I should know better. Event comments: I liked the race and the area it was in. The volunteers not showing up really hurt, no way to sugarcoat it. I think it's frustrating for everyone involved. Hopefully that does not happen again. The only other gripe I have is... DIET DRINKS! A bunch of Type A personalities and no diet drinks post race. tsk :P Last updated: 2012-07-14 12:00 AM
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United States
Endurance Sports Management
87F / 31C
Overcast
Overall Rank = 2/112
Age Group = M25-29
Age Group Rank = 1/5
Up extra early since the drive was a bit longer than I had imagined. Routine as normal, checking over the bike one last time (and Fretting over my Glueing job on my tubular) It was the ole' Zipp2001's maiden voyage (for me) so I was just a bit nervous.
Got out and got a good ride in (scouting the bike course) and making sure everything was working right. Got a really short run in (since it was about time to start) and then swam a few laps. Jumped out and lined up for the swim start... anybody going faster than me? "Anybody....???" WTF... first in line?!? Oh hell.
I also saw Josh (Jwade13) and we had an (ominous) laugh about going off course... cue the music.