Spirit of Racine Sprint Triathlon - TriathlonSprint


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Racine, Wisconsin
United States
HFP Racing
74F / 23C
Sunny
Total Time = 1h 43m 27s
Overall Rank = 199/288
Age Group = F 30-34
Age Group Rank = 15/28
Pre-race routine:

Got up at 4:30, had some of the balance bar, and a banana. Also had a little bit of water...then left around 5 after 5. Was the second person to arrive at transition. I set up my bike and towel, but later realized it would be better to move my towel to the opposite side of the racks, since we had them packed in there like sardines. It worked out FABULOUS. Then, I would have all the space I needed. My bike was on the first rack right when you came into transition on the left. So, it was really nice coming in from the swim, as I had all that extra room to set up my towel, and it was then very easy to know where my bike was racked. It was a little far from the bike out/bike in, but there was so much room within the transition area itself, that it was totally fine. Then, my spot was right by the run out, so that was really nice too. Met up with Peggy from here, and chatted...also talked with Jim and he told us he wasn't doing the race today, since he cut his foot this morning.

While standing around at transition, I had a couple rolaids to help settle my stomach, as I was having a little bit of the nervous stomach like I did before Subaru.

Glad I had worn my L/S race shirt as it was a little chilly in the morning, standing around. Some people had sweats or warmup pants on, but I was fine with the navy cutoffs.

About 7:10, I got the wetsuit on halfway, and headed down to the lake.
Event warmup:

After I set everything up, I decided to take the bike out, and throw on the shoes and go out to the bike out/bike in transition to practice getting in, biking up, turn around and come back down, and get out. Felt good about it.
Swim
  • 27m 29s
  • 820 yards
  • 03m 21s / 100 yards
Comments:

Before the start of the swim, I pulled on the rest of the wetsuit, and threw on the cap and goggles, and got in and swam out a little bit, into the waves, and felt very "shaky" to say the least. Had to get out, and so I took a bunch of deep breaths to help me relax.

This was the most unbelievably difficult swim that I have ever done. I don't know if you could call what I did in there swimming...I did get a little panicky and therefore, felt like I couldn't catch my breath, and then when I did try to put my face in there to swim, I couldn't time the breathing quite right, and I would turn my head to the right to take a breath, and it wouldn't be the right time, and a wave would come and crash over me. My timing just never seemed to match up when the waves came in.

The current was also really bad, and I felt like anytime I did actually start swimming, I would look up to see where I was, and I felt like I hadn't even gained any ground. To make a funny comparison, I thought to myself while looking for the next buoy, it felt like the movie Poltergeist, the part where JoBeth Williams is trying to get to the children's bedroom, and she starts running down the hallway, and it keeps getting longer and longer...that's how it felt. I would swim, and look up, and think, "Crap, did I even move?"

But, I stayed calm, tried to take some deep breaths, and ended up side stroking the majority. I heard A LOT of people calling for help, and I promised that I was going to try my hardest to just try to stay calm, and keep going.

When all is said and done though, I am very proud of myself for completing this swim without any help. All of the practice down in the lake I think is paying off.

As soon as I was able to stand in the water coming into shore, I did. I just really wanted to be out of there, and done with this awful swim. I unzipped the wetsuit halfway, took off the goggles next, then stepped a little bit to the side, and stripped off the rest of the wetsuit while still in the water, as I thought if I didn't, it would "stick" and be really hard to get off if I left it on while running all the way back to transition. It was really easy to get off the left leg, but it got a little stuck on the right one, the same leg as my chip, I think it got stuck on that since the thing was a little bulky, and then finally I ripped off my cap.

Being that you have a long run up the beach to transition, your feet get really sandy and it was nice that they had water tubs to rinse the sand off your feet.


What would you do differently?:

In hindsight, I think it's easier to say that I would have tried to just go with the waves, and stick my face in and go, but you just don't know until you're being tossed around in there just how very difficult of a swim it was.

There have been times that I have gotten down to Ohio street, and turned around and gone home, because the waves were too high. I can't do that anymore, after what I experienced today. When it is like that down there, I really just need to get in, and do the best that I can, since that is the only way I'll get stronger swimming in water like that.

I just need to gain more confidence in the water, like I have been saying in almost every race report. I see now how very easy the swim was at Subaru a couple weeks ago, and I am confident that I can go a lot harder in that race when I do it next year, after having swam what I swam in today, so I guess that is a positive outcome of today's swim.
Transition 1
  • 04m 26s
Comments:

Having practiced this a couple of times in the morning, this went really well. Got into the right one right away, and started to peddle up the hill, and the left one clicked in pretty much right away.
What would you do differently?:

Apparently, by the looks of others (sister's) T1 time, mine is a little slow, and I think this has to do with, as stupid as it sounds, my moving my pony tail, to be able to get my bike helmet on, so, for PP, I am going to fix this, so I can hopefully cut my time down. I don't know anything else that would be slowing me down???
Bike
  • 40m 21s
  • 12.43 miles
  • 18.48 mile/hr
Comments:

Being that my bike is a little bit older, I really felt the bumps or cracks along the route, and it was kind of giving me a headache. Other than that, no real notes for the bike. I felt strong on the way back in, as I think my legs were really tired from the swim on the way out. There was a little bit of wind, but it wasn't too bad. Took my power gel right away, and had sips of the gatorade a couple of times while on the bike.

I didn't let any females pass me on the bike, so that was good.

Split times from watch: 21:30/18:54
What would you do differently?:

Swim more freestyle so I'm not kicking and using my legs so much in the swim, as I think that then makes my legs really tired for the first leg of the bike, since they were a little tired going out.
Transition 2
  • 01m 37s
Comments:

This was a really good transition for me, it was a little hard to rack the bike, as they were jammed in there so tight.
What would you do differently?:

Absolutely nothing.
Run
  • 29m 39s
  • 3.11 miles
  • 09m 32s  min/mile
Comments:

Ok folks, how about a drumroll please.....

I got the side stitch again, around the mile marker...GET OUT!!

I don't mean to be so sarcastic about this but, I can't help but be so frustrated by this. I'm sure whatever I say would totally echo what I said in my race report for the Subaru race, so I'm going to not waste my time typing it in here.

Bottom line is this...the side pain hurts, and I am really limited to the pace that I have to run, I don't really have a choice. I can't get air, and I try to stand up straighter, breathe in through my nose, and exhale out my mouth, and not matter what I do, there's little or no change.

I stopped and did try to stretch it out at the turn around of the run, but I didn't notice a change.

I was determined to pass someone, so with about a 1/2 mile away, I chose to just ignore the pain, even though it really hurt, and I passed 5 people on my way in and running strong (hey, the crowd doesn't have to know that I'm wounded, right?)

I made sure not to look at my watch as I crossed the finish line, as that has been pointed out to me as being a BT faux pas.


What would you do differently?:

Have to set up appointment with the new PT that Dr. Nichola recommended, and start the new treatment.

I have to be really diligent about doing any and all of the stretches and exercises that this new PT recommends, as apparently, that is the only way this is going to get any better. I've been doing them, but doing them more often/frequently couldn't hurt.

Also, it was recommended that I could do the lat pull down machine, which should help elongate that muscle.
Post race
Warm down:

Drank lots of water, and pretty much packed up, and headed back to the hotel.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

STUPID SIDE STITCH!!!

Event comments:

This was a very well run race, and I would definately do it again next year. I would just really have to practice swimming in waves for next year.

One other note...even though I b*tch and moan about my side pain, I'm not going to let it stop me. I am frustrated, but that's just becasue I want to be able to run faster like I did growing up.

Good thing is, they (the doctors) have finally figured out that I have a bum Iliapsoas muscle on the right side that is causing all the pain. (From Webmd.com: The iliopsoas bursa is the largest in the body and lies in front of, and deep to, the hip joint. Bursitis here is usually associated with hip problems such as arthritis or injury (especially from running).

Someone at work once asked me, "Amy, if you get this side pain, why do you keep doing these races? Why don't you stop running?" I laughed and said, "You must not know me!!" While I may take time off, I'll never stop.

When I pulled up to the race site this morning, I was sitting in the car, and I became pretty emotional, and cried a little. I get emotional because doing these races is such a challenge, and even though I may not be the best in the race, I feel very proud of myself for being able to do these.

Part of me when I was sitting in my car, really wishes that Mom could be there to cheer me on as she did in every one of my high school races. I know she's up in heaven watching over me, helping me through the difficult parts of the race, and just thinking of her gets me going. I picture her standing on the sidelines saying, "GO MIAMY GO!!" I just hope she's proud of me and how much I'm trying to do my best!!




Last updated: 2007-02-14 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:27:29 | 820 yards | 03m 21s / 100yards
Age Group: 15/28
Overall: 231/288
Performance: Below average
Suit: Jen's L/S Orca
Course: It's and upside down U...you go out (against the waves), turn right, swim parallel to the shore, turn right at the next buoy, and then swim into shore.
Start type: Run Plus: Waves
Water temp: 62F / 17C Current: High
200M Perf. Below average Remainder: Below average
Breathing: Below average Drafting: Below average
Waves: Average Navigation: Average
Rounding: Average
T1
Time: 04:26
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Average Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Yes Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Good
Biking
00:40:21 | 12.43 miles | 18.48 mile/hr
Age Group: 11/28
Overall: 161/288
Performance: Average
Wind: Little
Course: It was an out and back course, with a couple of turns.
Road: Rough Dry Cadence:
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Average Hills: Good
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 01:37
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Average
Shoe and helmet removal Good
Running
00:29:39 | 03.11 miles | 09m 32s  min/mile
Age Group: 13/28
Overall: 194/288
Performance: Below average
Course: Run along the lake on a path. A couple of big hills. Good thing about the hills was, the ones you had to run up, you then had to run down.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 3
Physical exertion [1-5] 3
Good race? Ok
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Below average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4