Finish Strong Challenge - TriathlonMini Sprint


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Raleigh, North Carolina
United States
Finish Strong
55F / 13C
Precipitation
Total Time = 1h 07m 33s
Overall Rank = 38/93
Age Group = Clydesdale
Age Group Rank = 2/?
Pre-race routine:

Not much of a routine, considering this was my first road tri. Ate a sandwich and banana 1 1/2 hrs before. Was wondering if it would be canceled right up to start time, as big storms were threatening. Might have been canceled if it had been an open-water swim...
Event warmup:

swam 2 lengths of pool and stretched.
Swim
  • 04m 11s
  • 200 yards
  • 02m 05s / 100 yards
Comments:

Pool was very warm. Thankfully, since it was a pool swim and we were ordered by time, I was in the back. My time was better than I thought - my swim is weak - but would've been better if my damn watch hadn't kept coming off! Excuses. Lost all rhythm after the third length, but still managed to pass one simmer. Can't do flip-turns, so didn't even try. Passing under ropes was hard to get used to.
What would you do differently?:

More training, of course. New watch band. Gills. Need a coach at some point...
Transition 1
  • 04m 11s
Comments:

Bit of a run out of the pool house and to transition. No major problems except everything being wet, even though I had covered stuff with trash bags. Drying feet and lacing up shoes took the longest. Had to be reminded to fasten helmet strap before leaving.
What would you do differently?:

Plastic sheeting to cover bag on ground; trash bags get blown away too easily.
Bike
  • 36m 27s
  • 10.5 miles
  • 17.28 mile/hr
Comments:

Went out too hard, but I passed many people and was passed only twice. Got lucky and didn't get rained on.
What would you do differently?:

Even out pace a little, went out too hard.
Transition 2
  • 00m 49s
Comments:

Very quick because I have pedal clips and still use same shoes for bike & run.
What would you do differently?:

Nada.
Run
  • 21m 56s
  • 3.11 miles
  • 07m 03s  min/mile
Comments:

Guy who had passed me on the bike said "You'll be passing me in about four minutes." I thought, nah. Couldn't feel my legs for a few minutes, and for a minute, felt like a fist was squeezing my chest, trying to force my heart out through my throat. Thankfully, that went away. Passed the guy, who said, "You're ahead of schedule." Tried to respond with encouragement, but no breath. Passed the other guy later who had passed me on the bike, so that felt good. Felt like the course was 75% uphill, but it also felt too short. I bested my stand-alone 5k time by a minute! That makes me think that the course was maybe 2.8 miles or so, rather than a full 5k. Who knows.
Post race
Warm down:

Chilled, went to breakfast. Didn't stay for awards, never expect anything. Don't think there were awards for it, but it turns out I was 2nd in the Clydesdales (only 6 or 7 of us), and if i had gone with age group (35-39), I would've been 2nd, too! Argh!

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Wet roads, wet shoes, wet everything. But the downpour during the run was welcome.

Event comments:

I think this was their first tri; they did a great job considering the weather. This was my 2nd tri, but first road one; I did the Xterra Sport last year. I expected a road tri to be much easier, and it was, by far. But only relatively.




Last updated: 2007-04-20 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:04:11 | 200 yards | 02m 05s / 100yards
Age Group: 0/?
Overall: 77/93
Performance: Below average
Suit:
Course: Nice pool.
Start type: Inside Pool Plus: Waves
Water temp: 80F / 27C Current:
200M Perf. Below average Remainder:
Breathing: Below average Drafting:
Waves: Navigation:
Rounding:
T1
Time: 04:11
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed:
Biking
00:36:27 | 10.5 miles | 17.28 mile/hr
Age Group: 0/?
Overall: 26/93
Performance: Good
Wind: Some with gusts
Course: Course was nice, through some neighborhoods with million-$ homes. Sweet. Had rode the course 1 week before, so I knew where the hills were.
Road: Smooth Wet Cadence:
Turns: Good Cornering: Average
Gear changes: Average Hills: Average
Race pace: Hard Drinks: Not enough
T2
Time: 00:49
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike Average
Running with bike Average
Racking bike Average
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
00:21:56 | 03.11 miles | 07m 03s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/?
Overall: 27/93
Performance: Good
Course: Hillier than expected. Lots of turns.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Not enough
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 3
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? No
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? No
Post race activities: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4