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 Swim
Comments: There was a long time between waves - 7 minutes. Nevertheless, when they called for orange caps, I decided to go over and claim my spot. I am a swimmer, so I unabashedly and without excuse line up in the first row. It's the only time in a tri where I feel like I'm in the front, and I belong there. So I claimed it. There was a slight current running north (the direction of the swim), and a few of the early waves were backtracking a bit to hit the first buoy. I was front row, 3 from the far left. When the gun went off, we took off down the beach, all us Clydesdales and Thunderthighs. Hopped over the small surf, dolphined a few times, swam, then dolphined again, and then a set started coming in. Too deep to dolphin under, so I just swam until it was almost on me, slithered down to the sand, let it pass, and swim on. Do that two times, and I'm beyond the surf zone. I had one guy ahead of me, and he was way too fast, I wouldn't be catching him. Another guy to my right, dropping away, another to my left, coming around. I hit the buoy a hair before the guy on my left, but it was a right turn, so my line was much better, never saw him again. The run to the second buoy was quick. Passed a couple swimmmers from the prior wave. Wondered where everyone else was in my wave. As I came to the second buoy, finally spied a guy coming up on the right, and pretty fast. I figured he'd catch and pass me, but he stayed about even. Later, my wife said she saw me coming around the buoy, and the guy sharking me, and wondered if I saw him there. We neared the surf zone and I started looking for waves to bring me in... nothing, dammit. The guy was keeping pace. I thought he would have passed me but maybe he blew his wad. Just outside the zone, I saw a small wall behind me. I wasn't far enough in but I gave it a shot. I felt a huge rush forward, and while I didn't catch it fully, it gave me a good 50 feet. I looked back, and the orange cap was gone. Another few strokes and I touched sand, dolphined, got up, goggles off, cap off, and the trudgery begins. It was about a 200 yard run, up a sandy slope to the concrete Strand and to T1. I actually felt pretty good running up the sand, and didn't die like I usually do. My wife was there, said "you're number two." They had a fresh water rinse, which was a nice touch. Only problem it made the slippery concrete even more so, and as I came across the timing mat the whole thing slid a foot or so. 2006 - 8:40 2007 - 8:15 What would you do differently?: Didn't feel like it was a sprint swim, but overall pretty happy with it, especially since I haven't been swimming as much as usual.  Transition 1
Comments: Ran into transition, all three Clyde/thunderthigh racks empty of people... except for Swimmer Dude. He smoked it. I said "great job swimmer." "Yeah, but now you guys smoke me on the bike." Helmet on, wetsuit off, shoes on, decided to leave the straps off until I got on the bike, run the looooong T1 to bike out.....get passed by the ultimate Clyde 200 winner What would you do differently?: just move faster  Bike
Comments: This is a horribly designed 3 loop crowded course that has people going in all directions and merging in front of eachother. This race has a lot of beginners, and a lot of fast racers, and a lot of medium racers... and they all have to fit in less than one lane's width (since the cones take up part of the lane). It can get messy. I headed up Pier and soon passed Swimmer Dude. In my attempts to close the velcro straps, I pulled the main strap on my left shoe out, so all I had were the two smaller straps. oh well. The front side of this course (Valley) is a false flat with a couple risers, so the heart rate rises. But the back side (Valley) is the opposite, this is where you hammer. At the end of Valley is a very narrow lane (2 bikes width), followed by a 90 degree right, and another 90 degree right, with water in the intersection. So it's technical enough to break any rhythm you might get into. I was using HED 3 race wheels for the first time, and I love them. I didn't have a computer on, so don't know the speed, but I was moving at a good clip. I got passed by a few fast guys, and then basically played cat and mouse with about 3-4 other riders, they'd pass me, I'd pass them back. Oddly enough, a lot of my passing was on the uphills, think it's the light wheels (and HEDs aren't even that light). Passed a ton of people, but was always courteous. Didn't see anyone I know on the bike 3 laps and it was time to head back down Pier for the run. 2006 - 27:45 2007 - 27:04 What would you do differently?: I've got decent speed, I can only imagine what having 30 less pounds to lug around would do. Transition 2
Comments: This was crappy. As I was pulling on the shoes, one of the bungee cords came out of the speedlaces. So I had to tie the bungees as laces, and it got all messed up. Plus I had to run basically the length of transition in my bike shoes. What would you do differently?: not fuck up  Run
Comments: Grabbed my hat and number belt and headed out. My legs felt OK, my lungs felt OK, but I wasn't sure of my pace or how long I could hold out. Got passed, as usual, by a bunch of folks. Did a little bit of passing myself. About 1/4 mile in Swimmer Dude passe dme back. He ended up 2d in Thunderthighs (185+), the guy was not 185..... Didn't check my watch as I left transition but hit the mile 1 marker in just under 9 minutes (which seemed a bit short.... I run this path all the time, and I know it's 1 mile from about Millenium Park (50 yards north of the pier?) to the stairs.. this marker was a couple hundred yards shy of that). Whatever, it's gonna do what it do. Time was about 47 minutes, I figured if I ran 10 minute miles I still beat last year's time, and I ain't running 10 minute miles. At 9 minute miles I go 1:05, it gave me the juice to go on. Up the stairs, turn left, course is a little different than last year. Also a little shorter, since last year the run was on the bike path, and the turnaround was after the bathrooms and almost to the Manhattan Pier (trust me, this all makes sense if you've been there). After the turnaround, race is filled with small goals. OK, get back to the stairs. Pick it up a bit. Now, to those two palm trees. Keep it up. The pier and finsh in the distance. Look at that dude walking. Pick it up! Hit the mile 2 marker, took a swig of water, time was :56. Maybe I can break 1:05?? If you pick it up. Not if you don't. Picked it up. Pier and finish getting closer. I lengthened my stride just to use more strength. Hit the sand 20 yards from the finish (cruel!) and powered through it. I was most happy with the run improvement. Granted, it was a slightly different course, and shorter by about 50 or 100 yards. Still, I was happy with the effort off the bike. 2006 - 28:15 2007 - 26:04 Post race
What limited your ability to perform faster: Same as in every other race. Weight, fitness Event comments: I give this race a 4, when it really deserves a 3, simply because of where it is and who does it out of the people I know. I am blessed to train with some very talented people, and saw my friends take 4th in 50-54, 3d in 45-49, 1st and 2d in 30-34, 1st in 40-44 Note to RD next year - DON'T use the plastic bands for timing chip bands. Ended up with a cut on my ankle from the frigging thing....... Also, no swag bag? I mean, 90% of it gets thrown away but I still keep the mini bottles of sunscreen or whatever. Last updated: 2007-05-11 12:00 AM
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United States
65F / 18C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 166/776
Age Group = Clyde 225+
Age Group Rank = 1/14
This is a great local race, the traditional last tri of the year, and just a big party. I hadn't been training as consistently or for speed recently, and I had wavered on signing up for it, but decided to. The next day, it sold out.
They have a Clyde 225+ division. I've done that the last two years, and every year promise myself I'll be in the 200+ division next year. Turns out I am still in the 225+ division.......
It's held about a mile from the gym I go to, so I arrived around 6, parked at the gym, and got my warmup on the bike on the mile ride up the Strand to the pier.
The surf the day before was a little frisky. I'm good in the waves, but I must have had a bad past life experience, since large waves really freak me out. Power of nature and all that. I like waves to some degree as it breaks up the pack and I can handle them pretty well. But if they get too big..... I could hear the surf as I rode along the Strand, sounded mushy, and I could tell the early onshore wind was knocking down any power they might have.
I got to Pier Ave after 6, and was surprised to find a spot about two bikes in from my rack. Surprised because there were a lot of bikes racked further in. These racks are very narrow, and the closer you are to the exit (a good thing in any tri), the better, so you don't end up stepping over everyone's shit.
After racking the bike, got marked, and threw on the shoes for a run. Walked out to the pier to check the surf. Some waves, but nothing to worry about. Somewhere in there Mark (GolfMark) found me, as he does every race we do together.
There was a guy.. a dude we'd call him around here....long blond hair, board shorts, apathetic attitude :), said "am I supposed to do somethign with this?" as he held up his race number. Clearly his first race, but would I see him again? why else would I mention him. Let's call him Swimmer Dude.
Ran/jogged/walked up and down the Strand a bit. Laughed as the announcer kept saying that everyone in transition was about to get DQ'd because there was a mandatory meeting in 3 minutes and they were closing transition. All 800 of us. Yeah right.
Threw on the wetsuit and looked up. The skes were clearing, it was going to be a beautiful day. Chose the smoked goggles for the turn back into the beach, it was going to be in the sun (urns out the clouds were in the right place, so that wasn't an issue)
Met Jocelyn (sealiongirl) on the walk to the shore. Saw (Pete) PJOinSM at the water's edge. Funny, I've only met the guy twice, both times just before a tri, and at the water's edge.
Got in and swam out equal to the first buoy. I had heard the water temps were in the 60s. Honestly, I didn't notice the water temp, whether it was cold or otherwise. To me, that means it was pretty darn warm. Warmed up the wetsuit just in case :)