SuperSeal Triathlon - Triathlon


View Member's Race Log View other race reports
Coronado, California
United States
SUPERFROG Triathlon
65F / 18C
Sunny
Total Time = 2h 39m 29s
Overall Rank = 105/283
Age Group = M 45-49
Age Group Rank = 10/25
Pre-race routine:

We arrived in Coronado, picked up the race packet and checked into Hotel del Coronado. Jenna had always wanted to stay there, and when I saw how close the race site was and coupled that with the fact that they allow pets, we decided to take the opportunity. Feeling like I had lost a little bit of fitness over the winter led me to focus more on the vacation aspect than the race, so I went into the event with no concrete goals – just wanted to have fun and not embarrass myself. If I were to have a bad race, there is plenty of season ahead to redeem it, and a good one would provide a little momentum.
Event warmup:

On Sunday morning, I rode the bike down to the event to make the morning as uncomplicated as possible. Riding would take parking and traffic out of the equation, and Jenna would have the morning with the pups to relax and enjoy the dog beach a mile from the hotel. I put my transition spot together and started the long wait (almost two hours) until my wave started. The ride to transition got my legs going and the long wait gave me the opportunity to get in the water and get used to the cold temperatures. The water was probably in the mid 60s.
Swim
  • 30m 42s
  • 1500 meters
  • 02m 03s / 100 meters
Comments:

Despite the chilly water, I felt really relaxed on the swim. There wasn’t much contact, the water was calm, and progress was quick. I got wildly off course a few times, especially in the second half, but my time was one of my better ones for an Olympic. The good news is I had a really good first open water swim of the year. The bad news (or perhaps more good news) is that I received validation that I really don’t need to devote much time to practicing in the off season. I can really get away with the bare minimum and it doesn’t make much difference.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing – solid swim
Transition 1
  • 03m 53s
Comments:

Transition was through a tunnel under the highway, so a long way from the water. I put on gloves and sunscreen, so it was kind of a long transition, but no disorganization or wasted time.
Bike
  • 1h 05m 6s
  • 24.8 miles
  • 22.86 mile/hr
Comments:

I wasn’t sure what to expect on the bike. I have put in some time over the winter, but that is nothing new. My (very few) outside rides since Pumpkinman last October have been very tentative – I just haven’t felt confident on the bike. I also managed to wipe out riding to and from the mailbox the week before the event (embarrassing!) so I was hoping that things would click in for me on event day. I was a little nervous on the ride from the hotel, but riding with a backpack on a multiuse path in the dark is going to be a little awkward no matter what. I do think that it got some of the jitters out of the way, though. Once I mounted the bike and got on the road, I felt right again.

Since there were nine waves before I got in the water, the course was pretty thick with people. Even so, it wasn’t too crowded and the straight lines helped with visibility. The course was flat, but there was a noticeable breeze coming from the South which made itself known after the first turnaround. I still made it to the second turnaround without losing much speed in the wind, and when I passed transition to start the second loop, I felt good about maintaining a 22-23 mph average speed.

The second loop went just as well. I took advantage of the breeze for the first few miles, knowing that I would be against the wind for the middle six. After the last turnaround, I used the wind again to get back to transition and get ready to run. I was relieved that I felt confident again and was riding like my old self.

What would you do differently?:

Nothing - solid bike leg.
Transition 2
  • 02m 40s
Comments:

Put on sunscreen again and got a drink before heading out
Run
  • 57m 5s
  • 6.2 miles
  • 09m 13s  min/mile
Comments:

The run course combined sand, dirt, and pavement on an out and back along the highway. The San Diego area was experiencing record heat, so the temperature was in the 80s by the time the run started. Although I am used to the Phoenix heat, the humidity was a lot higher than I am used to. However, I still felt much more equipped to deal with the conditions than a lot of the other folks, who weren’t used to running in those temperatures. A few speedy runners passed me, but they would have under any conditions, even at my best paces.

Instead, I focused on catching the people who looked like they were wilting. I walked a few steps, but only at aid stations, and once I got past someone, I tried to pick up the pace to deter them from trying to chase me down. I tried to turn it into a mental game. I have lost a little bit of speed since last year, but I was able to maintain a better pace than I used to manage. The finish area was finally in view and I saw that I could get in under 2:40 for the event, so I focused on hitting that goal – I came in 30 seconds early at 2:39:29.

What would you do differently?:

I am not quite as light as I was at the end of last season, which has slowed me down a bit. However, I am light years ahead of where I was this time last year.
Post race
Warm down:

I went back to transition and packed my things. The ride back to the hotel seemed longer than it did in the morning, but I was still glad I didn’t have to deal with loading the bike and everything else into the car, traffic, and parking. I rode right up to the hotel, and by the time I got out of the shower, Jenna had arrived with lunch – perfect timing, and I was ready to switch back into vacation mode. It was a great weekend for all of us.

Event comments:

The race was well organized and the course was safe. It is a good destination event




Last updated: 2015-03-18 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:30:42 | 1500 meters | 02m 03s / 100meters
Age Group: 15/25
Overall: 0/283
Performance: Good
Suit:
Course: Large triangle around San Diego Bay
Start type: Run Plus: Waves
Water temp: 65F / 18C Current: Low
200M Perf. Remainder:
Breathing: Drafting:
Waves: Navigation:
Rounding:
T1
Time: 03:53
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike:
Jump on bike:
Getting up to speed:
Biking
01:05:06 | 24.8 miles | 22.86 mile/hr
Age Group: 4/25
Overall: 29/283
Performance: Good
Wind:
Course: Two laps of an out and back course along highway 75 (Silver Strand Hwy)
Road:   Cadence:
Turns: Cornering:
Gear changes: Hills:
Race pace: Drinks:
T2
Time: 02:40
Overall: Average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike
Racking bike
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
00:57:05 | 06.2 miles | 09m 13s  min/mile
Age Group: 12/25
Overall: 0/283
Performance: Average
Course: Out and back over sand trails and on multiuse path along CA 75
Keeping cool Drinking
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5]
Physical exertion [1-5]
Good race?
Evaluation
Course challenge
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities:
Race evaluation [1-5] 4