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 Run
Comments: Just as the race began the rain started. Great!! It felt great to run in the rain but I was already thinking about the turns that I had just practiced on a dry track. Oh well, back to the run! Started in the front of the field maybe 3 or 4 rows back and had a good smooth start. The "real" runners took off like bats out of hell. We got to the first turn and I spotted a few porta-pottys and my stomach started to act up. NO!! NO WAY!! THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!! That one passed and I just got into a comfortable stride and cruised. I looked down at my HR and in was 176!! Hmmmmmm. Should I slow down? Nah, it's only 1.75 miles. It'll come down on the bike! :) Felt very good through this run leg. What would you do differently?: Maybe pushed a little more. Looking back I may have been able to run a bit faster although my HR was up there.  Transition 1
Comments: This seemed to go pretty well. Ran to the bike got shoes off and on quickly, helmet on, swallowed some gel and a swig of water and was off. Ran with my cleats on as it was a pretty good distance to the track. Clipped in and got up to speed very quickly. What would you do differently?: Nothing.  Bike
Comments: Got up to speed quickly down the straitaway and proceeded into turn 1, a sweeping 90 degree downhill turn that leads into a 90 degree uphill turn after a short strait stretch. I came into the turn at full speed and coasted into the top of the turn with a little higher line than I had taken in warm-ups. The tires held the road nicely and I accellerated out of the turn and got what little confidence I had lost back. :) I said to myself...."I OWN THESE CORNERS!!!" :) Coming out of turn 2 is a steep uphill than a long gradual uphill that I was able to spin up at 95 rpm pretty easy. This led into another turn going into "The Boot". This was a long, 90 degree turn that led into a hairpin turn and a steep uphill. I passed people that were braking going into the turn, people coasting through the turn and passed more people on the straight leading to the hairpin. What a great feeling!! I don't know what place I was in coming off the run but I know I gained a lot of spaces during this bike leg. What would you do differently?: Absolutely nothing!!! Transition 2
Comments: Good transition. Racked bike, took a shot of gel, water, got the running shoes on and off I went. Gave the kids a high five as I went by and said thanks for not fighting!! What would you do differently?: Nothing Run
Comments: Came out of transition feeling pretty good. My legs actually felt fresh. I was hacking crap from my lungs but that was about it. Got about 3/4 of a mile into the run before I heard footsteps behind me. I said hello and nice job to the guy that passed me while I thought to myself "I need more room after the next biking leg!!" MUST GO FASTER!!! :) One other person passed me in this leg of the run and before I knew it this leg was over. For how high my HR had been I was feeling pretty good. Onward, upward!! What would you do differently?: Perhaps take the runs a bit harder. Transition 3
Comments: Same as last transition. Felt very good about it. There is no competing with the duathletes and their platform pedals when it comes to transitions. What would you do differently?: NADA!! Bike
Comments: Okay, time to get back to work!! The rain had stopped and the track was drying out again. Looked down at the HR and saw 174 and thought "it is what it is" and went with it. Adrenaline....is such a rush!!! Started to look for "targets" and get some distance between me and them for the next run. Picked 2 guys off on the hill coming out of turn 2 and got a few more before the end of the first lap. Going into the second lap there were a lot of racers on their first lap and I encouraged them and asked if they were smiling and having fun as I went by. Thought I held a great pace on this leg and did everything I could do to position myself for the run. What would you do differently?: Nothing at all!! Transition 4
Comments: Same old, same old What would you do differently?: NADA Run
Comments: Started off the run at what was a fast pace for me, trying to push myself a bit. One guy that passed me running on the 2nd loop was right on my tail coming out of transition. He was looking strong. When I got to about the 1 mile mark there was a turn that I could look back and I saw the second guy that passed me on the 2nd run leg. He was closing pretty fast and I had no chance of holding him off. There was nobody behind him so I backed off on the pace and settled in to a much nicer pace to finish the race in. I felt great coming across the finish. What would you do differently?: Nothing. I did everything I could on this day and finished strong. Post race
Warm down: Jogged around a little bit, used the bathroom, rolled my legs out with my runners stick and stretched. I forgot to bring my special recovery drink so I settled for gatorade and Heed (YUK!!) What limited your ability to perform faster: Being sick and hacking up crap throughout the whole race. Event comments: Great race. It's too bad that this was the last year for it. It was a great experience to ride around the track!! I probably won't be doing any more duo's, I need the swimming!! ;) Last updated: 2007-04-12 12:00 AM
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United States
One Million Revolutions
78F / 26C
Precipitation
Overall Rank = 9/63
Age Group = 40-44
Age Group Rank = 4/11
Pre-race routine included walking up Watkins Glen State Park with the Lauryn and Matt. Karen and Kathryn stayed home to get the ponies ready for a horse show on Sunday. Saw some great falls and rock formations. The kids had a blast! After that we visited a friend in Watkins and the kids played tetherball for a while. We got up to the track early and watched some of the Porsche class races. Finally found the registration table and got registered.
Got the bike off the rack and over to transition. I turned my blinkie light on for the hell of it to see if I got any comments. :) Chatted with a few guys and went over where the kids could stand and watch to cheer me on. (Wondering how I was going to get through an hour and a half race without them killing each other) They had a cowbell to ring so I could hear where they were. It had rained pretty hard after we got out of the falls but at this point was a nice day.
At 5:30 we were able to go out on the track for a warm-up. This was sooooooo cool!!! Riding on Watkins Glen Speedway! What a great way to see the track! I took 2 laps around the 3.5 mile track. The first lap I wanted to get an idea of the layout, the second lap I wanted see how fast I could take the turns. :) (I like going fast!!) I got out on the track and just the adrenaline rush of being on the track brought my HR in the 160's. I had the disc wheel on so I had no speed, just HR and cadence. During the second lap I took the uphills easy and really pushed the downhills. I found out that with the right line I could pedal at 125 rpm in my 52/12 gear. No clue how fast that is but it was FAST!!
I got back into transition feeling pretty good about the bike. Threw my running shoes on and ran for about a mile or so doing a few strides to get the legs loose.
There was a pre-race meeting at 6:20 and the race began at 6:30. Got to the pre-race meeting and at 6:25 guess what........OH SHIT!!!! I GOTTA GO!!! I ran to the bathroom, took care of business and got to the start line with a minute to spare. Whew!!