Athens YMCA Triathlon - TriathlonSprint


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Athens, Texas
United States
Athens YMCA
70F / 21C
Sunny
Total Time = 1h 44m 57s
Overall Rank = 328/378
Age Group = 25-29
Age Group Rank = 18/22
Pre-race routine:

Drank lots of water Friday. The night before I had bruchetta and macaroni and cheese. Yummy! Went to bed by 10pm. Woke up at 4:30. Had a long drive to get there (1 hour and 45 minutes). Ate two breakfast bars and had one bottle of water about 2 hours before the anticipated race start. Tried not to let my legs get restless. The fog coming into Athens was really a pretty site. Picked up my packet, put air in my tires, got my transition area ready. Picked up chip, got marked, put on sunscreen. Was ready to go.
Event warmup:

Stretched a little, but mainly conversed with friends.
Swim
  • 07m 58s
  • 300 meters
  • 02m 40s / 100 meters
Comments:

The swim was delayed 45 minutes or so due to fog on the bike course. The anticipation just about killed me.

I think I was a little too preoccupied with slowing anyone else down and weather or not I seeded myself correctly. I was pretty close to what my time would have been if I hadn't had to stop at the end of the lane to let others pass. I saw so many people swimming in the middle of the lanes and didn't want to cause anyone to collide.
What would you do differently?:

Not skin my knee when I jump into the pool. Ouch! Try to relax and just enjoy it. Try to focus on my stroke and making it efficient.
Transition 1
  • 03m 10s
Comments:

Found my area pretty easily. I liked the way the transition area was organized. Honestly I wasn't in too much of a hurry, I was really just worried that I would forget something.
What would you do differently?:

Not step into the water that I rinsed my feet in with my dry socks. I think I may just try and sit to put on my shoes next time. I'm thinking that trying to balance on one foot probably takes longer
Bike
  • 56m 40s
  • 14 miles
  • 14.82 mile/hr
Comments:

I had passed a few people and was about to pass a few more when I popped my chain on one on of the overpasses. I wasn't able to recover without getting off my bike and fixing it :-( The hills weren't all that bad I felt pretty calm on them. I kept feeling like something was wrong with my tires while I was riding. After the race I discovered that my little bag that held all my supports equip. was apparently dragging on my tire. Stupid Tara. I wonder how much time that cost me :-(
What would you do differently?:

Not pop my chain and learn to drink while I am on my bike, I'm still struggling with balance issues. Ensure that support bag is securely attached to my bike.
Transition 2
  • 02m 16s
Comments:

Grabbed a drink of water after I got off my bike.
What would you do differently?:

Missed picking up the goo that I had planned on eating on my run :-(
Run
  • 34m 59s
  • 3.11 miles
  • 11m 15s  min/mile
Comments:

Transition into the run wasn't so bad as I thought it was going to be. Although I realized I had forgotten my goo right after I started. Dang. Then I started to hear this clicking sound. Figured out it was my laces. So annoying, but I delt with it while I ran. The run was nice. I got passed by a few, but passed a few others as well. At the half way point they had a water station. I was really thirsty so I stopped and walked while I drank almost all the water in the cup. Continued on my run. Had a small cramp in my side from too much water, but it didn't phase me too much. I was able to run through it and finished pretty easily. I was pretty happy with my run. I really think my running is improving seeing as how I was able to run the same pace as my last 5k race in Dec., even after all the biking and swimming.
What would you do differently?:

Tuck in my speed laces so they don't click the whole run and annoy me. Not drink so much water at the turn around.
Post race
Warm down:

Did a little stretching and enjoyed a baked potato. Drank some Gatorade and water. Cheered in some of the other TNTers.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Looks like my weakest link was my bike. Don't know how much to contribute to popping my chain and my bag dragging on my tire.

Event comments:

It was a nice race. I was just excited that I completed my initial goal of just doing a triathlon. I didn't go full out at any point because really I was trying to run all this at a pace that I could do my quarter ironman in. I felt good after the bike, I do feel like I could have done it again. The swimming, had I been able to get into my zone and out of my head I think would have been fine to do 3 times. The run i am a little worried about, if only because it will be after the others. However I kept a pace that I do think I could have kept for another 3 miles or so. So considering that this was my first tri and I didn't go all out, I'm really happy with the way everything turned out. I want to do the Irongirl in July. I think I will have recovered enough to really see what I can do if I push myself a little more :-D. Before my race I had tried to estimate my time, so I guessed around 1 hour 45 minutes. I was right on, 1 hour 44 minutes and 57 seconds! I'm a TRIATHLETE!!!




Last updated: 2006-11-07 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:07:58 | 300 meters | 02m 40s / 100meters
Age Group: 19/22
Overall: 305/378
Performance: Average
Suit: Adidas top w/ awesome support and tri shorts
Course: Down and back in 6 25 m lanes, swim under the lane rope on shallow end.
Start type: Inside Pool Plus:
Water temp: 78F / 26C Current:
200M Perf. Average Remainder: Average
Breathing: Below average Drafting: Good
Waves: Navigation:
Rounding:
T1
Time: 03:10
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Average
Biking
00:56:40 | 14 miles | 14.82 mile/hr
Age Group: 20/22
Overall: 332/378
Performance: Below average
Wind: Some
Course: The first mile or so was extremely rough. After that we were on a highway with overpasses. We rode on the shoulder of the highway. I didn't realize there were going to be so many 'rolling' hills.
Road: Rough Dry Cadence:
Turns: Below average Cornering: Below average
Gear changes: Bad Hills: Average
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Not enough
T2
Time: 02:16
Overall: Average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike Average
Racking bike Average
Shoe and helmet removal Average
Running
00:34:59 | 03.11 miles | 11m 15s  min/mile
Age Group: 19/22
Overall: 308/378
Performance: Good
Course: Nice out and back run through a park area and then down a residential road. Was shaded a little by trees. It was a beautiful day.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Too much
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5] 3
Physical exertion [1-5] 3
Good race? Ok
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? No
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 4