Webster Lake Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

I started at the front of my wave...never done that before. People were spread out as the shortest way to the out bouy was from farther to right of shore. When they announced 30 seconds I said something silly and just had fun. I was in 3rd wave, and off I went. I was passed right away, but bumping into people was okay. Lots of folks were swimming to the right and accross in front of me. I focused on what swim instructor told me keeping legs together. He said I'd swim faster like that compared to how I kick as was using lots more energy but having to displace lots more water. I also was trying to catch differently...why not a race to practice...but easier to focus on one thing...legs together and no kicking I did better at.I got to the first bouy and the wave behind us hadn't caught me like last year. I felt good, kept swimming and started to pass the slow yellow caps. About 1/3 way to 2nd bouy the fast 40-50 men passed. I'd try to draft a bit but they were so fast, they'd be gone. Rounded 3rd bouy felt super and swam all the way until knee deep. The thought passed my mind, I'd like to swim another lap...I had fun and enjoyed the swim.
(Last year measured short: 18:24, 322/338) Ended up 222/321...very happy with my swim!

Nothing

I saw Courtney manning the T1, said hi, ran through and took off my wetsuit there as it is easier to run 1/3 of a mile to bike w/out it on. Lots of people passed me on the run to my bike...was okay with that...didn't want to be out of breath at start of bike. Once in T1 my rubbermaid tote with a lid worked great to keep my stuff dry...fast here. Had to rack my bike by seat with bottle I have, so new thing to get it off rack, tipping it slightly and off. Saw Pat at bike exit...fun!

Estimated time compared to last year...T1 time in with bike..but I break it out. Last year 6:30 timed by me.

Nothing

It was slightly raining at start of bike course. Started passing people right away. My swim wave was women under 39 & Athenas and the following wave was men 40-49. My number on my bike moved and was to close to my legs...note to self need to attach it differently next time. After exit from park went aero ...love my bike! Found that one women we'd pass each other ...I on flats or downhills she on uphills...but fun to be racing with others. Roads were wet, I'd get behind someone in the wheel tail splash and get soaked and tried to move over. Isn't it like being a kid playing outside in the rain, getting wetter and dirtier! Recall the hills were a series of 4 hills with no or little downhills. Saw someone with a flat changing it...yelled out encouragement..turned out to BT SunnyS...bummer two flats w/in 50 yds...DNF.

Made it up first hill, was able to recover a bit for the next, repeat times three. Saw a few people walking up. Zoom time for the downhill..water streaming onto the pothill steep downhill and it was pouring now. I rode the brakes down..no need to fall or be reckless. I was passed by guy I'll call 45 (his age), being foolish. Made the turn onto new beautiful road, aero and flew...passed lots of people and some folks were really flying like I was and others were not. It amazing...fun times here...favorite part of the course. 45 guy was all over the road avoiding puddles but didn't go straight...almost came into my sideways twice and made it so I had to slow down I wasn't passing on far left of the other lane..he drove me nuts. I finally did pass him...sweet.

Kept going, and found my sweet spot of cadence of about 95-97 and my legs feel super. I was riding with a group of men for the last third and only saw a few women we'd pass..I loved this part as I felt fast. It was great to pass people like they were standing still. I had drank about 20 oz of Gatorade and felt like I might puke so I stopped hoping it would settle before the run. Had a guess but no clue really how fast, how long or how far I had gone. I kept thinking we should be near the end but we weren't. Passed that one women from the begining for good.

Waved to all those helping with traffice and the cops. Enjoyed the ride, felt super...love my bike!

On way into transtion saw Joanne out on the run...she looked good but hurting a little.

Made the corned got off the aerobars, but saw the photographer so got back on them for hopefully a good picture (vanity at it's best). Back in T2 my rack mates were there and they started 6 minutes in front of me...I knew I had a good bike.

(Last year 43:53, 288/338) This year 165/314...solid MOP...bummer just shy of 18mph..next race!

Nothing

Saw rack mates, said a few comments, quickly opened my lid, put on socks, shoes, grabed hat and 7 oz bottle, off I ran. I had used a new trick of putting on race number rolled up prior to swim. Had a great T spot but this year they made us run out the back...it is fairer as everyone come in one way and leaves the other.

I had forgotten to stretch my calves at end of ride...they felt tight. Focoused on light and quick steps. Right off lots of people started passing me. This is normal and really it don't bother me. The rain had stopped and it was muggy feeling..I wished it would rain. One of the things Will has me remember it is okay with an effort that is uncomfortable.

Made it to turn into neighborhood. I didn't drink as I worried I took to much in on the bike, but my stomach felt okay. Saw folks from tri team, my soccer team, and just before the lollipop saw Joanne...double high five and big grins from both of us...we were having fun out there playing...good stuff. Made it turn around, tried to push harder, kept it light and quick. Saw Glen...then Ellen...kept going. At main street back pushed a bit hard, breathing was labored the whole time. About 1/3 mile or less from end I get a slap on the back and it was Glen..he stayed with me a bit..asked if I could push more..I mumbled or grunted yes...but he is way faster than me. I kept seeing people just starting the run...wow it meant I was ahead of many many folks...seriously this was amazing to me. As much as my placement isn't supposed to matter to me..it made me think wow...I'm doing well. Trying to push that aside, but it is hard, I was having fun and enjoying the day which earlier in the week seemed very hard for me...good stuff here.

Made it under the overpass, and around the corner to the field, and I heard my name on the loud speakers first time for this...here comes Kathy Graves from North Attleboro...I waved my hands in the air and my smile got bigger...ran as fast I could to finish with cheers from Glen and Joanne..sweet BT welcome to the finish!

I did glace at my finishing time as I crossed the line subtracted 6 minutes, and saw I was just over 1:30. As a freedom from watch race, it was hard.

(Last year 32:18 328/338 & I walked some, course was 2.7 miles this year 3) This year ran strong whole way..finished 274/314



Good run for me...gave it all I had today.

Hugged BT friends and waited for Ellen and tri team friends to finish. Walked some, drank my gatorade in my little water bottle..felt good. Saw Ellen finish strong, almost all the food was gone. Visited with everyone.

This was challenging....should I check the results or not? Joanne said I should and we needed to know if we could leave or stay. It was weird for me. As I didn't want to wreck the magic of the day with disappointment in number. But I placed well so I didn't really face the struggle. Freedom from the bar others set wasn't so hard for me this race, as I did better probably than any other race, % up from the bottom. Best thing was to have fun, raced well and feel good about what I did out there playing like a kid..swimming, biking and running in the rain. Already plotting...just 10 mintues from 2/3 place Athenas.

Confession time: I was to have no goals but to play, have fun and smile...met all of them. I had done my race plan before my coach Will encouraged me to have a free race. I didn't forget my goals though. I hit all my goals, was faster on run and swim than my goal time range and fast side of bike range..given weather did awesome. I had hoped to go sub 1:30. I feel great about what I did as the run was longer and the swim.

This was my fastest pace for each section for any tri....swim, bike and run. Swim still may have been short a little..or perhaps so was the run. Today it all came together for me. Maybe this racing without HRM, watch and bike computer is the way to go for me...frees my mind to just play which is fun and isn't this why we do the training and racing!

Now my main goal, is to keep the feelings I have and not let Monday morning race results online play with my head.

Monday update: So far so good...check results on line..interesting stuff. Middle finisher this year 1:25:07, last year 1:17:06, so almost 7 minutes slower this year...swim middle finisher last year 12:11, this year 15:10, run middle finisher last year 21:22 this year 24:19. Confirms that run and swim were longer this year. Makes my 12 minute improvement look even better. 1:45 off exact middle for swim, 21 second off middle for bike, and 5:40 over middle for run..quite good for me!!



Come on..for me I did wicked good...raced well both mentally and physically...did best I could today. Of course I'd like to get thinner and faster...but therein lies the challenge for the next race and next year.




Joanne place 2nd in her AG...whoo hoo Joanne! Even with a tough winter/spring that women is awesome. Best of all she raced and had fun...the 2nd place hardware was just a bonus!