Swim
Comments: Good swim. Definitely can improve in my technique, as I noticed just going into autopilot on low oxygen. Need more practice to make my TI stroke my default technique. What would you do differently?: More controlled breathing/stroke efficiency. All over, it was a very good, but not great swim. Transition 1
Comments: Largest transition area I have ever seen. The transition is a long (.2 mile total from beach) road with a jagged surface. I have multiple cuts on the bottom of my feet from the rocky surface of the boat ramp road What would you do differently?: Not run quite so hard up the hill. Cut my feet. Maybe try flip flops but jogging uphill in flip flops doesn't sound appealing to me. Bike
Comments: Easy course, with no noticeable wind. What would you do differently?: Pretty happy with my performance on the bike. Was very comfortable on my new aero bars, and kept up a steady cadence. Transition 2
Comments: Transition was a little slower than last year, as I have started using SPD-SL bike shoes instead of clips and running shoes. I had to take some time switching shoes. After donning my Hokas, I took off from transition, and jogged downhill to the run start, quite a ways away. Still spent 2:15 minutes in transition due to the layout. This number compared favorably to my peers, so there is that consolation. What would you do differently?: Pretty happy with my transition. I could have run faster but transition was pretty busy at that point. Run
Comments: Here is where I was most nervous during the day. I felt good, having put forth maximum aerobic effort up until this point. I started out slowly, not sure how my knee would respond. When I tested it the day before, it felt solid while running but this was just a quick jog on pavement. I hadn’t tried it on loose dirt/rock trails. To my amazement, I was able to run and pick up my pace without any pain at all. Cheered by this development, I pushed my pace pretty hard until we started the rise up out of the beach. I kept my HR below 180 so I didn’t pass out, expecting to make some serious time up on the downhill of the return loop. This kept my body in good shape, and I was able to pick up the pace as the trail leveled off. I really feel like the MAF training yielded benefits here. My earlier testing with MAF training yielded an estimate of 6:30-7:00 per mile run rates, but that is for just a 5k standalone race. Considering I’d already stressed my body for 45 minutes prior to starting the run, I was ecstatic to learn that I was able to run the 5k at an average pace of 7:05/mile. It was an out and back course with a pretty flat profile, so I wasn’t really challenged by the course, and neither were my competitors. I didn’t catch anyone in my age group but was passed by two. Given my apprehension prior to the run, I’ll take it. What would you do differently?: Happy with my effort. Can always go a little harder, but my HR was about right. Post race
Warm down: Walked around the beach with my son. I prefer to go for a slow bike ride, but I had to provide some entertainment for my youngest. Was able to walk out most of my muscle fatigue. What limited your ability to perform faster: Worried about injury on the run. It would have been nice to drive the bike course, but we didn't have time prior to arrival. Event comments: Very solid event. Would like a mat on the transition road. Last updated: 2014-04-01 12:00 AM
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United States
BBSC Endurance Sports
60F / 16C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 35/224
Age Group = 40-44
Age Group Rank = 5/30
Didn't eat as I normally do because family prep took too long. Usually have a banana, hard-boiled egg, and a code red (YES, a soda!).
Did a little stretching, and limited swimming (probably 100 yards or so). Stayed wet for about 10 minutes prior to race start to acclimate to cooler water temp. I am used to mid-60's for my races.