Cranberry Country Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

Did the same course yesterday, without wetsuit, in 36 min. Today, my watch says 30:16. Not bad, consider my left shoulder had a pinched muscle.

We white caps were the 7th (2nd to last) wave. At the start, I stayed in the MOP. First 200 yd I swam leisurely, waiting for the crowd to disperse. Didn't happen until the 4th buoy. Swam INTO the 2nd buoy. Had the urge to pee, but couldn't do it while pushing through a crowd in the water. Tried very hard to relax when the mass thinned out. It helps the swim, as I usually tense up a lot. By the 5th buoy, felt the release, ah.....

In between the 5th and 6th bouys, I passed a blue cap (wave 6). Started drafting a gal in front of me. By the turn around, the watch showed that I was 2 min faster than yesterday. Not bad. Water level was lower due to the lack of rain, and at certain points it was so shallow that it was impossible to do the front crawl without hitting your hands to the bottom.
Shortly after the turn-around, I got passed by some orange caps (last wave). Pushed a bit harder until the finish.

2006 = 27:46
I am suffering from the swim for the whole season. I do well in the pool, but my OWS had been much slower than last year's. I have problem with my shoulders and neck and I can't rotate my arms well. Need to find a way to fix that.

Also it was kind of warm for a full suit. May need to invest in a sleeveless. Meaning I'm I need to buy more lottery, go to the casino and day trade.

Ran with wetsuit half off - I had my sleeves partially covering my watch which made pulling out sleeves much easier. Wetsuit still got stuck at my (right) ankle. Maybe I should just sit down when removing it.

Wiped off feet, put on my running socks which is a bit thincker than my bike socks. My bike shoes are slightly larger and I found that it's more comfortable wearing thicker socks. Wore race belt with number facing back.

Took a couple of electrolyte pills, pop a piece of Cliff bar into my mouth and headed out while chewing.

Forgot to apply sunblock. :(

Nothing. Bike exit was close to my rack.

Maybe put on sunblock to avoid burning.

First mile I took a relatively easy gear to get my legs use to the spinning, then put on the big chain ring and try to keep a 85 rmp most of the time. During the entire course I and 2 other Trifury women kept passing one another.

The roads in mile 5-7 was all patched up. My body absorbed so much shocks that irritated my left shoulder (don't know how i did it, but woke up Friday morning not able to raise my left arm and had difficulties turning my head. A muscle by the shoulder blade was pinched, according to my PT. It's still irritating the time I am typing this).

Mile 10 - Ontherun harrassed me from behind, saying something about me riding so slowly. We talked a bit about the swim, and he took off, chasing down the 2 Trifury ladies in front. Here I want to point out that Joe and I were like twins - Trifury top and BT shorts. Earlier I had reminded Max and Nick (Tri_Again's son) not to mistake us as we look exactly alike :)

Mile 12 - bottle exchange. Planned to drink 2 bottles of diluted diluted gatorade on the course, and by then, I had finished one bottle. Right on. It was hot, and I had to remind myself to keep drinking. Didn't drink as much on the 1/2 half, partly due to the 2nd bottle on the back cage where I still had some difficulties grabbing. Ate some clif bar.

Mind my own business holding onto the drop of the handle bar, and riding on the right side of the road most of the time. Almost ran into a photographer. Was riding too close to the road edge to avoid cars and almost skidded on the sand. Managed to control the bike alright. I am gaining confidence on the bike, thanks to the Walden rides.

Mile 20 - Starting to feel tired. Felt it especially on the uphills toward the end. There were several places with a right turn uphill. The Mooseman fall still haunted me, and I slowed down quite a bit and made big turns.

Entering bike dismount, my watch showed exactly 2 hours. Off the bike and felt a pinch on my right piriformis - pain in the ass returned. Damn!

2006 = 1:28:43, about 2 miles longer. I was slower this year.
Need to practice cornering.

May consider getting aerobars just for having an aero bottle - easier to drink.

Took some time applying sunblock as my shoulders and back were burning. Swallowed 2 electrolyte pills. Run out was relatively long from my rack. Grabbed a gel and 1/2 a bottle of water. Adjusted race belt to have numbers facing front.

nothing

Running out of T2 was long. There is no way I could run 6.2 miles within 57 minutes (my avg pace is 10 min/mile). Saw Max and May and told them I wouldn't be able to break 3 hours. At that time I still hoped to break 3:10.

Once I started running, I knew somthing was wrong. Besdies the piriformis, my legs felt heavy. Not the typical jelly legs after a bike ride, but difficult to pick up the legs. Ate the gel and washed down with water, hoping gain back some energy. It was very hot. By the mile 1 station, I knew I wouldn't be able to break my old time. One of the Trifury ladies whom I passed on the bike over took me there.

At every drink station, I drank and pour water over my body to cool down. My strides were short. Tried to keep up a higher cadence to make up for the short strides.

Shortly before mile 3, saw Ontherun and MATriMom walking. Heard Joe's voice 10 yd from behind. THought it might be his knee that made him walk, coz he usually runs pretty fast. Pluck up and ran toward them, saying "Joe, if you're not talking, you'd have the energy to RUN". With that, Laura threatened not to give me muffins. :p Saw water station. Decided to walk - walked for about 3 min.

Starting running and legs felt worse. 5 min after my right hamstring threatened to cramp up. Did some brisk walk. Found that long strides of walking without the boucing motion helped loosening up the hammy, and I actually go faster doing that. When legs were loose enough, I started running again.

After mile 4, I had to do more occassional walking - 5 min running, walked 50 steps. Saw Sue there, told her I wasn't going to make it in 3:10.

Tried to run the last mile, but couldn't help to slow down to a walk again after crossing the road right before mile 6. Turned the corner into the camp site, and I was determined to run to the finish. A girl was in front of me. With my pace, I could pass her. Decided to pass her before getting in the finishing chute so that I don't block her finisher photo.

In the finishing chute, saw a siluoette of a tall guy coming from behind. It was Ontherun, harrassing my photo opportunity. I picked up my pace, he followed. I knew he can run fast. I pulled further. We both broke into a sprint. Spectators must have found it interesting seeing 2 racers with the same outfit sprinting toward the finish. Heard loud cheers - must be very entertaining for both BT and Trifury. I crossed the line 2 seconds ahead of Joe. :) :)

2006 = 1:07:57
Dont' cramp.

Cool with a wet towel, ate some oranges. Joe almost collapsed after the finish line. Brought him some oranges. Laura came in shortly after, brought her some oranges. I had to keep moving or I would collapse too. c2fd was right outside the finish area. Went over to talk to him. Then headed to the pond with Joe to cool down.


Heat and humidity.


2nd time doing this course. last year was cold - everyone had to wear a jacket afterward, but was great while racing. This year, it was hot and muggy. I wasn't able to beat my old time, and I wasn't in perfect health. Still a great race, and I had a blast. The best part of the dueling with Joe. Didn't expect I still have the energy to sprint that 0.2 mile.