![]() Swim
Comments: Practice Open water swimming and in particular sighting. Probably need to learn to go out faster, but breath every stroke for awhile rather than the every third stroke so that I don't tire too quickly. Maybe I ought to get in some of the Masters swim races, I may get last, but I will learn a bit more about handling race situations and the anxious/fast start. What would you do differently?: I was one of the last ones but I am happy with it. I survived! ![]() Transition 1
Comments: Those guys at Clearwater have the clean transitions and it is so well organized. What would you do differently?: Nothing ![]() Bike
Comments: I made a lot of mistakes. I really got out too slow from the water and being in the last group meant I rode by myself for ever. My training was not very good the last month or so and I really had not ridden my new (used) tri bike enough and it sure seemed to use different muscles than my road bike. I quickly questioned that decision - I used my quads much more and on my road bike I use hamstrings a lot. Should have danced with the lady who brought me. I almost did not ride the tri bike, but was afraid my wife would kill me since I had just bought it. I could not manage to get up much over 22. It did not take me long to figure out it was going to be a long day. Often I could not see anyone to catch early on but later picked off an occasional rider. When the course hair pinned back, I could see two big packs of riders (40 or so bunched together like a peleton). I am sure there were many that had already passed. I wished I had more people to pass, because of the adrenaline and the motivation and the legal draft you get in doing so. I am new at this game but I have not seen anything like it. There were a lot of people single lined and keeping "draft legal spacing", but many chose to jump onto the train. I did not have to worry about that I was so far behind. I really just wished I had more riders to pass. Granted at 22.2 mph in many races I still would've gotten in the mix, but this crowd was too fast. Unfortunately it wasn't until the last 5-10 miles that I started to have consistent people to pass.I did get passed once. A couple of youngsters passed me and they were taking turns pulling! Kind of honked me off so I gave good chase and found enough to blow by them and drop them with a couple of miles to go. I decided not to let it ruin my day and I was happy to be able to do this. Heck a few years back I weighed 236! Life is good. In the end I pedaled that bike as hard a s I could. What would you do differently?: Not ride the tri bike I had probably only ridden 8 or so times. Train better the last month, I just was getting burned out and lacking the motivation to train in the cold weather. ![]() Transition 2
Comments: Again clean transition-they do it right ![]() Run
Comments: My quads were very sore from the bike, just not used to the tri bike. I started out pretty good but soon started thinking man this just isn't the day for a good performance. I did not have a watch, I changed the batteries on my Polar and must not have gotten it sealed back up because it no longer worked after I swam. I really did not know where I stood time wise and was not putting in the best effort, I was in the this isn't my day just finish the darn thing mode. When we came around and passed the finish line on my first loop, I saw the time for the first time since coming out of the water. I didn't catch it when I started the run. I started to do the math and said, I am not going to be able to pick it up enough to come in under 5:00. It is possible that I could have, but I just did not feel like working that hard. I just kind of plodded along. What would you do differently?: Give it my all even if it wasn't going to be as good as I had hoped. I'd feel a lot better had I hit the run harder and come in under 5 hrs. I ran a 1:23 half a few weeks earlier, I did a 1:35 at Steel head and was not in as good of shape. I just gave into the temptation of giving it less than my all. Frankly, I can say I gave the other legs my best even if the times were not quite what I had hoped for, but the run is something I am pretty comfortable with and I did not try my hardest. Oh well, it was an honor to be there in that fast crowd of athletes and the fans were great. ![]() Post race
What limited your ability to perform faster: Shouldn't have switched bikes. Should have been mentally tougher on the run. When I realized I was not going to be as fast as I hoped I caved and gave the run less than my best effort. Event comments: I was disappointed, but it was a great experience. I saw a level of talent that I have never seen before. I still had a great time and it was a good experience. Best thing was my friends did great. there were three of us from Indy, one won our age group with a 4:07 and the other got 13th in our age group with a 4:17. Those guys are amazing and have worked very hard at this for a number of years. they really deserved a good performance. For me, I have a lot to learn but I was really glad for them. Maybe some day I'll go back, but boy it is tough to stay motivated that late into the fall. Hey, I now have a HIM PR to shoot at! Last updated: 2008-08-05 12:00 AM
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United States
World Triathlon Corporation
70'sF / 0C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 828/1254
Age Group = 45-49
Age Group Rank = 90/107
Got up early, ate a little, drank Powerade, headed to the start.
We ran out a little ways and then did some striders. Went back to the beach and swam out a little ways and then went back to wait for our wave to start. Pretty much all went well.