Rip Van Winkle Triathlon #1 - TriathlonSprint


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Jefferson Island, Louisiana
United States
Tri-Cajuns
84F / 29C
Precipitation
Total Time = 1h 14m 49s
Overall Rank = 96/119
Age Group = M 50-54
Age Group Rank = 5/6
Pre-race routine:

Coffee and bagels, shower, pack and drive to race. Ten minutes from the race site the skies opened up, rain accompanied by thunder and, of course, lightning .

Event warmup:

Rained right up until race time, luckily the lightning stopped in time for the RD to make a determination, ten minutes before start, that we would indeed swim.

Have to set up my transition area in the drizzle so that everything gets fairly soaked. Once the swim determination is made, I have time for one more portapotty stop, then have to jog to the lake for the swim. Get there just in time to get my goggles on before they start counting down to the start.
Swim
  • 06m 56s
  • 400 meters
  • 01m 44s / 100 meters
Comments:

Upon start, I immediately scrape the skin off the top of my foot and ankle on submerged concrete and rebar. Yes that water is brackish and dayum that salt stings.

This was one of the most violent OWSs that I've ever been in, probably because they jammed fifty or so men into such a short course. Other than the pushing, pulling, shoving and kicking, it was a pretty decent swim. Probably shorter than the advertised 400 meters, maybe even closer to 300.

What would you do differently?:

Not lacerate my foot.
Transition 1
  • 02m 12s
Comments:

Longish run (quarter mile or so) up the bank from the lake to transition. Running on the gravel road I step on a rock and punch yet another hole in me, this time in the bottom of my bare foot.

Rest of transition is uneventful except everything is damp from the rain
What would you do differently?:

Not step on rock.
Bike
  • 45m 43s
  • 12 miles
  • 15.75 mile/hr
Comments:

I struggled from the start here. Lack of riding is finally catching up with me. Probably the worse biking split I've ever had in a race. Averaging all of about 20.5 when, about 1-1/2 mile from the finish, the effort gets harder. Finally it dawns on me that the rear tire is nearly, no, wait, all the way flat.

Curse for about a minute, finally decide that it would be more expedient to change it and ride in than to wait for the SAG or walk the 1-1/2 miles. Doesn't take but a few minutes to do the change and pack up, but seems like half the field passed by in the meantime.
What would you do differently?:

Train. Not flat.
Transition 2
  • 00m 51s
Comments:

No longer in any hurry, manage to get through it with no problems and, all things considered, pretty quickly.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing
Run
  • 19m 6s
  • 2 miles
  • 09m 33s  min/mile
Comments:

Coming out of tranisition, Dante' was working the water stop. Took a cup of water from him, drank half, dumped the rest on his head and hauled butt (Picture 1, below).

Now the sun starts to break through and it's not just muggy but downright steamy. Don't push too hard, just a decent jog while enjoying the sights, since now I'm in the midst of the female wave that started last.

Of course, I have to run back past Dante' and he's waiting with a full cup(Pictures 2 & 3).
What would you do differently?:

Eh, not flat, train a little more.
Post race
Warm down:

Drank a couple gatorades, swapped flat stories with the other racers. Counted at least six flats out there today, may have been more that I didn't see. Far as I can tell I'm the only one who changed his and went on to finish, so I'm declaring myself winner of the Flat Tire Division.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Lack of training especially on the bike and, of course, the flat.

Event comments:

This is our tri club's race series, and we do a great job if I must say so myself. Great venue, good food after. Rain didn't help, but we can't control that.


Profile Album


Last updated: 2008-05-31 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:06:56 | 400 meters | 01m 44s / 100meters
Age Group: 3/6
Overall: 84/119
Performance: Average
Suit:
Course: Three buoys, counter clockwise.
Start type: Wade Plus: Waves
Water temp: 0F / 0C Current:
200M Perf. Good Remainder: Good
Breathing: Drafting:
Waves: Navigation:
Rounding:
T1
Time: 02:12
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: Yes
Getting up to speed: Average
Biking
00:45:43 | 12 miles | 15.75 mile/hr
Age Group: 6/6
Overall: 106/119
Performance: Bad
Wind: Little
Course: Short way out, then a big loop, then a long stretch back. Crappy roads, especially that back stretch in the big loop.
Road: Rough Wet Cadence:
Turns: Average Cornering:
Gear changes: Hills:
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 00:51
Overall: Average
Riding w/ feet on shoes Average
Jumping off bike Average
Running with bike Average
Racking bike Average
Shoe and helmet removal Average
Running
00:19:06 | 02 miles | 09m 33s  min/mile
Age Group: 3/6
Overall: 84/119
Performance: Below average
Course: Basically an out-and-back through the Garden's commercial nursery.
Keeping cool Below average Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 3
Physical exertion [1-5] 3
Good race? No
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 4