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 Swim
Comments: Only my best swim ever. I was actually surprised at my time when I came out of the water. Did not seem faster than other swims, although I was able to keep it going without a whole lot of dog-paddle breaks, and I sighted halfway decent too. Initially assumed they'd just short-measured the course - and that might still be a part of it - but I also finished much better in the swim overall. Last year I finished ahead of just six participants (3% of the competitors); this year I finished up on almost 14% of the field. I've never done that well. What would you do differently?: I'll take this kind of performance for the rest of my career! Pretty cool to break 11 minutes for the first time ever. And it had a very positive impact on the overall race.  Transition 1
Comments: Normal T1, except I got the wetsuit off faster than normal. That said, it took a bit longer than I would ordinarily expect, and I'm not completely sure why. I was close to the swim-side entrance, so had a long jog through transition in my bike shotes, running through the grass. What would you do differently?: Not sure. Seemed pretty normal, but came up slower.  Bike
Comments: I was pumped on the way out, thinking I was about to turn in my best bike split ever. Although the Quarc never read my power, the Joule was at least picking up speed; and every time I glanced at it, I was above 20mph, many times significantly so. Completed the turnaround and the wind smacked us all in the face; not sure I even saw 18mph again, except coming off those two bridges. I was almost two minutes faster on the bike this year, so apparently pushed harder in that regard, and it cost me 17 seconds on the run. I can't fully recall what the conditions were last year - although I think they were similar...maybe a little warmer this year. Plus, last year, I dropped a chain on the bike coming up one of those bridges. Don't think that would account for the entire amount of the improvement, but maybe half of it. What would you do differently?: Pushed a little harder on the way back, I guess, but I was paranoid about that. Felt like I was pushing pretty hard as it was. Transition 2
Comments: Normal T2, maybe a little faster than normal. Took it easy coming out. What would you do differently?: Only option is to move faster, really faster.  Run
Comments: I was worried about the run. And I did have to slow down and walk a couple of times, but never for more than 20-30 seconds. And I tried to make up for it by pushing harder at certain segments. So I guess I still have to work on the bike/run combo dynamic. This run seemed tough, and I had to tough it out psychologically. Ended up 17 seconds slower than last year, so not too bad. Still cool to beat 30 minutes. What would you do differently?: I think, given effort level on the bike, this was about as well as I could expect. Post race
Warm down: No time to warm down! Grabbed a bagel with cream cheese on it and we headed to the car. What limited your ability to perform faster: This time it was the run. Turned in a decent enough time, but don't seem to have that fitness level where it ought to be yet. Event comments: Third place in my Age Group!! I was stunned when I saw that result, and I was certainly slower than the two guys ahead of me. Disappointed I didn't stick around to get an aware...whatever that would've been...but we got out so quick (especially since there were announcements about the potential for towed vehicles parked near the library; we were parked by the front door) they hadn't posted final results. I didn't see how I'd done until we were at the Safeway in Easton. Last updated: 2014-05-21 12:00 AM
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United States
DQ Events
58F / 14C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 174/245
Age Group = 55-59
Age Group Rank = 3/10
Up at 4:30, blended up my pre-race smoothie of Pom, a banana, and peaches, while also eating half a bagel with almond butter. Did have to stop at a McDonald's in Hammonton for a pre-race number two, my second of the morning. Nervous stomach too, made more so as a result of my being a nice guy, holding the door for a customer who drove up same time as us, and then went straight to the men's room for his own "sit down". Come on, who but a triathlete would be up at that hour, on the road, and needing a McDonald's to take a poop!!? I'd have forgiven him if he'd had a bike on his car, but he didn't. TSW sent me to the women's room and guarded the door.
TSW helped the guy who runs and bikes with his disabled son...pushed the boy up to the transition area. I've seen him at numerous races...67 years old and still at it, pushing a wheelchair no less. Pretty inspiring.
Got my packet, set up transition, put on the wetsuit, then got in the water, and that was pretty much it.