Island Lake Triathlon - TriathlonSprint


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Novi, Michigan
United States
FAST
55F / 13C
Precipitation
Total Time = 1h 24m 57s
Overall Rank = /
Age Group = 30-34
Age Group Rank = 5/13
Pre-race routine:

Woke up in the dark, had instant oatmeal, grabbed 3 kitchen garbage bags to keep my stuff dry and got picked up by buddy Glen by 6:10am. We drove to the transition area because Glen still had his bike (I dropped mine off yesterday) where we were greeted by Boy Scouts who took his bike and wheeled it to his transition area for him so we didn't have to park long. Drove back to the high school up the street where we parked and caught the shuttle. It was misting lightly on and off but stopped when we got to the bike racks to set up our stuff. Porta-john-ed. Got body marked and heard the announcement that it was a wetsuit legal day. Debated...debated... climbed into my wetsuit just to stay warm while waiting around. Then we realized we'd forgotten to pick up chips, so back to the registration area we went. It was getting sort of close to Time, so we just hung around on the beach waiting until we felt like getting into the water. There was serious fog coming off the water, it looked super eeeery.
Event warmup:

Finally decided to get in. Swam around a bit and realized that once in the water, it was near impossible to see the bouys through the fog. Shit! Sat around with chattering teeth until they cleared us out, a bit panicked about sighting. I was in the second wave and lined up near the front this time. Peed in my suit while we were waiting... that's better! ;)
Swim
  • 14m 26s
  • 800 yards
  • 01m 48s / 100 yards
Comments:

This was the craziest swim ever! I started in the first line of women and was immediately in a bottleneck, but I stayed tough and swam through them. Tried to be very gentle with my kicking until I didn't feel any more bodies. And then... NOTHING. I couldn't see a damn thing. Kept swimming and sighting, but I veered too far right and the other chicks in my wave were on my left. NOte to self: learn to breath on both sides to increase sighting capabilities!! Suddenly, I looked up and this enormous house boat had appeared out of NO-where. It was so bizarre. Saw the bouy finally and had gone about 50 yards too far right which sucked, but I was still in front of 95% of the other ladies and starting to reel in the slow guys.

Second leg was just slogging away. I felt like my style and technique was gone. It occured to me that I'd forgotten to eat my pre-race Cliff Bar and thus was doing the race on 1 packet of instant oatmeal, gatorade and the hammer gel I'd planned on the bike. Not a good move (I get really hungry!). Passed a kayak and a lot more slow dudes.

Rounded the second bouy and was thrilled to see that the boathouse (where we were headed) was lit up like Christmas. ThankyouGod. Just kept swimming, swimming, swimming.... passed more of the back of the guys and a couple of women from my wave. Hit a really shallow patch of weeds where the slow guys actually started walking, but I kept going as we were still over 100yards out. Finally made it and was thrilled to be done swimming. oof. ETA: I'm so impressed with my swim, all things considering. I was not only 2nd in my AG, but beat 10 of 15 of the guys in the same AG.
What would you do differently?:

Learn to breathe on both sides, have a bigger breakfast, get x-ray see through fog vision!
Transition 1
  • 03m 19s
Comments:

This was probably my worst transition EVER. I haven't worn my wetsuit since June, so I wasn't really fast getting out of it. Actually did the little kid undressing move where you stand on one of the suit legs to pull your other leg out. It was graceless.

Also tried to throw on a longsleeve shirt for the ride, got my helmet on and then realized the shirt was on backwards. Shit! Took off helmet & shirt and just tossed it, grabbed my bike and ran. Saw an aquaintence at the mount area which gave me a boost since I'd just totally frustrated myself.
What would you do differently?:

Stop promising to practice my transitions...and practice my transitions!
Bike
  • 41m 13s
  • 12 miles
  • 17.47 mile/hr
Comments:

This was a chore. I'm not confident anyhow, but it started pouring almost immediately and I was out there with the fasties. Not even 5 minutes in I came around a corner and there was a guy on his ass in the middle of the road getting helped by two volunteers. I had to veer which was scary enough, but then I had images of my own road rash potential for the rest of the ride. The first loop was fine, but there were lots of turns and enormous puddles. I was totally, utterly soaked by about mile 3. The corner they used for the end of first lap start of second transition was NASTY. It had incoming bike traffic doing a 90 degree right hand turn, the outgoing traffic going to the second lap doing a parallell 90 left turn and then people finishing the bike doing a 90 degree right hand turn, all in the same spot. I had to slow down to almost nothing, which was demoralizing since THAT was where all the spectators were! Also, coming back in from the end of the loop you come hurtling down the only real hill and are faced with spectators and a major tight turn at the bottom of the (very wet) hill. YIKES.

I feel good for not bailing, but I sure didn't break any records today. And I was just so, so, so wet! The second loop my arms got pretty darn cold and my hands were so stiff I really struggled with the gel. Ick. Got passed alot including by the Mustang lead car in front of the winner guy (as he lapped me).

ETA: Now that I've seen my race (over 17 for the first time EVER) and my rank, I am way more impressed with myself. Hooray for the new slicks! I'm now super re-motivated to put the time in on my bike.
What would you do differently?:

Practice, practice, practice.
Get a new bike!
Transition 2
  • 00m 51s
Comments:

This was a better transition, but I was diheartened to see I'd left my baseball hat out of the garbage bag and it was ring-out-able. I grabbed it anyhow and took off. ETA: I was the 2nd fastest through T2 in my AG and only the two of us made it through in less than a minute. The one good thing of not changing shoes.
What would you do differently?:

Keep my stuff dry!
Run
  • 25m 10s
  • 3 miles
  • 08m 23s  min/mile
Comments:

I was soooooo thankful to be off the bike and back on my own two feet! This really was the homestretch. But it did take an eternity and I had to run through several ankle deep puddles which was less than pleasant. The middle section had this random trail bit where we ran along the lake and then into a forest- it was pitch black and the rain was really loud. The mud and woodchips felt sooo good on my legs though, and was *really* fun. I was sad the rest was back on the pavement. Very tiny sprint to the finish. I didn't get passed by anyone in my age group and passed a lot of slower guys again.

ETA: Now that I know my time, I am having a really hard time believing the course was accurate. My 5k PR (without the other two events) is 25:12 so I am doubtful that I could have run 3 miles that fast. My other two tris were 27 and high 26 something. Seriously? Did I really go that fast??
What would you do differently?:

Nothing. I think my shoes are dead. Wear my new HRM so I can record my own splits! ;)
Post race
Warm down:

Tried to find some dry clothes. Put on my rain jacket and wrapped my dry towel around me like a skirt. Went for food but was so cold I couldn't keep my teeth from chattering. Ran back out in the rain to grab my pants which helped, but I was still so cold and drenched that I really couldn't eat. Didn't really stretch either. Heard the awards and then bailed.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

The weather!

Event comments:

I was very impressed with both the volunteers and the spectators. I couldn't believe how many folks were out there soaked to their skin but not moving... that had to be rough. I didn't really like the way the parking/shuttle bus logistics go because we had to wait for the buses to start running again and then to arrive in order to get out of the rain and back to our car... then we had to drive all the way back in to get our bikes. Otherwise, a fun event and in nice weather it would be a very fast course.




Last updated: 2007-07-31 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:14:26 | 800 yards | 01m 48s / 100yards
Age Group: 2/13
Overall: 0/
Performance: Good
Suit:
Course: Triangle w/very, very low visibility.
Start type: Wade Plus: Waves
Water temp: 74F / 23C Current: Low
200M Perf. Good Remainder: Good
Breathing: Average Drafting:
Waves: Navigation: Average
Rounding: Good
T1
Time: 03:19
Performance: Below average
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike:
Getting up to speed: Good
Biking
00:41:13 | 12 miles | 17.47 mile/hr
Age Group: 8/13
Overall: 0/
Performance: Below average
Wind: Some
Course: 2 laps through a twisty turny suburban neighborhood with a little car traffic.
Road: Smooth Wet Cadence:
Turns: Below average Cornering: Below average
Gear changes: Hills: Below average
Race pace: Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 00:51
Overall: Average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Average
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
00:25:10 | 03 miles | 08m 23s  min/mile
Age Group: 8/13
Overall: 0/
Performance: Good
Course: Out and back through neighborhood with the middle mile (little less) on dirt/wood chip trail.
Keeping cool Drinking
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4