Life Time Tri Marquee - Sprint Course - Triathlon


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Tempe, Arizona
United States
Life Time Triathlon Series
Total Time = 1h 29m 7s
Overall Rank = 146/370
Age Group = M55-59
Age Group Rank = 8/20
Pre-race routine:

This triathlon marks the beginning of my 10th year in this sport. (First race: August 17, 2006, Rockwall, TX) Last year this was my first triathlon following heart surgery. Since this was a sprint triathlon I had no specific training. My “normal” weekly training should be enough. Currently my schedule is 2 swim sessions (including a Masters class with Frank Sole), an hour spin class and a longer outdoor ride on Saturday, two runs – one short (4 mi) and one long (6-12 mi), two 1 hour barbell classes, one yoga session and massage every other week.

I didn’t vary from last year’s pre-race routine. No training the Friday before the race and a 1 hour easy spin class on Saturday followed by packet pick-up and bike check in at the race venue. Spaghetti and chicken dinner (and some vino) and to bed around 9 pm. Got my wake-up call at 4:45, and got to the venue by 5:45. Set up transition and then had about an hour wait from the Pro/Elite Olympic start to my wave. Goal for the day: sub 1:30.

Swim
  • 17m 25s
  • 750 meters
  • 02m 19s / 100 meters
Comments:

My wave was men 40+. I would have preferred a 55+ wave but would have to get in there and mix it up with the young guns. This would be my first open water swim of the year. But Tempe Town Lake is familiar so anxiety was low. The water was calm and cool and perfect for my sleeveless wetsuit. The swim was crowded but I found a decent amount of open water and even “drafted” on some feet after the turn-around. But then suddenly the back of my wetsuit opened up and the water gushed in. That was a first. I wondered whether the zipper came down or the suit ripped. But I realized I could still swim although obviously slowed, so I soldiered on through the last 200 meters. My Garmin showed 16:30 when I exited but there was some running to do before the timing mat. I crushed last year’s swim by 8 seconds!
Transition 1
  • 02m 40s
Comments:

I ran into transition at a good clip, found my bike rack and sat down to get my socks and shoes on. No issues, no stress. I gave back my 8 seconds and 3 more to last years’ time.
Bike
  • 38m 15s
  • 14 miles
  • 21.96 mile/hr
Comments:

Just like last year I didn’t use my race wheels for this 14 mile bike sprint. It was a perfectly calm day and after a few minutes trying to get my heart rate down I got into aero position and realized this could be a fast bike ride. I checked in with my Garmin and saw the swim icon. Dang it. I had hit the stop button instead of the lap button in transition so I realized I wouldn’t get any decent feedback from my Garmin until I started the run.

Back to the task at hand. Despite the easy speed with no wind, there were lots of slow Olympic riders to pass and the fast women from the wave behind me were steadily passing me. I finally found a set of wheels to follow and away we went at 22-24 mph. Unfortunately I heard (and then saw) two women go down only a couple riders ahead of me. Thankfully there was a right lane to veer into or there could have been a pile up. And the accident occurred at a busy intersection so help was on its way immediately. At least one of these women got an ambulance ride to the hospital. (Been there, done that. Hopefully her injuries are minor.) I stayed well above 20 mph on the straights but was slowed by the many turns (including 3 U-turns) on this course. Very pleased with the bike ride which was a hefty 5 minutes and 30 seconds faster than last year.

Transition 2
  • 01m 56s
Comments:

Uneventful T2 (4 seconds faster than last year) but as I crossed the timing mat to start the run I ducked into a porta-potty. I would have preferred to add that wasted 30 seconds to T2 but it went instead to my run time.
Run
  • 28m 52s
  • 3.1 miles
  • 09m 19s  min/mile
Comments:

The run didn’t feel very good during the first mile. I was surprised that the gentle rolling “hills” out to the Rural Street bridge were even noticeable. But they were. I was encouraged by a 9:30 time for the first mile which I knew was in reality a 9 min pace given my ports potty detour. Mile 2 felt better albeit a 9:15 pace. I worked even harder in mile 3 but my pace stayed the same. I didn’t even want to know my heart rate so I didn’t check that. I passed no one in my age group and was passed once with about a half mile to go. I looked for a gear to keep up but it was not there. Saw a photographer on the bridge but didn’t realize it was Paul. If I had, I am sure I could have mustered a smile for the picture below.

While I didn’t have good information from my Garmin due to operator error, I knew I should be very close to my goal time. As it turned out I did get in under 1:30 and 5 minutes faster than last year. A good start to my 10th season. Next up Vineman 70.3 in July and my first half ironman since Oceanside 70.3 in April 2013.

Post race
Event comments:

1:29:07
M55-59 10/20
Men 109/221
Overall 148/370



Profile Album


Last updated: 2015-03-16 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:17:25 | 750 meters | 02m 19s / 100meters
Age Group: 6/20
Overall: 150/370
Performance:
Suit: sleeveless
Course:
Start type: Plus:
Water temp: 71F / 22C Current: Low
200M Perf. Remainder:
Breathing: Drafting:
Waves: Navigation:
Rounding:
T1
Time: 02:40
Performance:
Cap removal: Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike:
Jump on bike:
Getting up to speed:
Biking
00:38:15 | 14 miles | 21.96 mile/hr
Age Group: 10/20
Overall: 133/370
Performance:
Wind:
Course:
Road:   Cadence:
Turns: Cornering:
Gear changes: Hills:
Race pace: Drinks:
T2
Time: 01:56
Overall:
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike
Racking bike
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
00:28:52 | 03.1 miles | 09m 19s  min/mile
Age Group: 10/20
Overall: 179/370
Performance:
Course:
Keeping cool Drinking
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5]
Physical exertion [1-5]
Good race?
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