SavageMan International - TriathlonOlympic


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Deep Creek, Maryland
United States
68F / 20C
Sunny
Total Time = 3h 25m 39s
Overall Rank = 154/230
Age Group = 30-34
Age Group Rank = 10/21
Pre-race routine:

For this race it was a week of getting healthy. My body finally decided to react to the Jordan Lake water and I got a sinus infection. So I spent the week taking Sudafed, Tylenol, sinus srays, etc. We got to Deep Creek on Thursday night. Spent the weekend acclimating to the altitude and taking lots of Mucinex and Advil.

Thankfully the race start time was pushed back to allow for the temperature to warm up and the fog to burn off. This allowed me to wake up on my own, eat a good breakfast and walk down the path to the race. We are fortunate to have friends that own a lake house literally on the run course and are only 1 mile from the race. How awesome is that!
Event warmup:

I was expecting freezing temperatures but it was unseasonably warm. Granted it was 52 degrees when we woke up, but after body marking and the sun came out it wasn't bad. My rack was women only and they were a very friendly group. Bob, (willie05) found me and came over to say hi. It was nice to meet him.

I stood in the water to allow my feet to adjust (or go numb) until it was time to exit the water to cross the timing mat and re-enter the water. Took care of my personal water heater and then submerged my face several times to adjust to the temperature on my skin.
Swim
  • 32m 8s
  • 1640 yards
  • 01m 57s / 100 yards
Comments:

For me this was a fabulous swim! I actually passed several people and stayed with the pack. It was the back of the pack but there was a definite pack there. Usually I am trailing behind all by myself. My family took a canoe ride over the swim course the day before and saw a large grass patch near the turn around so I stayed as close to the markers as possible going out and I avoided the grasses.

I think I went around the last buoy when I didn't have to. There were a pair of buoys set up perpendicular to the exit beach and I rounded both of them on my right. But when I cleared the second buoy I noticed everyone else was coming in on the inside of that buoy - oh well. It was only an additional 10 feet and I don't think it cost me that much time. Thinking back on it I think those buoys were there to mark the channel for the return on the Half swim course.

Several women were complaining how frigid the water temperature was. Now it was chilly, but compared to the 63 it was last year, it was much better. There wasn't the take your breath away shock. Plus I thought about Roni swimming in Glacier National Park in 53 degree water and realized I had better keep my mouth shut.
What would you do differently?:

Not round the last buoy on the wrong side.
Transition 1
  • 05m 16s
Comments:

The race set up was moved from last year and this was a better spot. It was still a long run from the lake and the International group had our transition station on the higher parking lot, above the half transition, but it was better. I put Body Gluide over every inch of my exposed skin so taking the suit off went better.
What would you do differently?:

Not to much, it went well.
Bike
  • 1h 34m 33s
  • 23 miles
  • 14.60 mile/hr
Comments:

Where else can you go from speeds of 30+ mph to 4 mph in less than 5 seconds? The SavageMan bike course!! To start off there was Toothpick, a short but steep 2 tiered climb less than a mile out of the gate. Took the first hump out of the saddle and strong, then rounded the corner and "oh snap!" Didn't remember Toothpick being that tough. People were already off their bikes and walking. No way! I made it last year and I'll make it again this year.

Took my legs a while to recover from that climb and for my heart rate to settle, but then I was good. I wasn't as intimidated by this course as I was last year and I knew there was 5 miles of really tough climbing and then it was spread out enough to allow for good recovery. You start the hills with the fast descents and those are serious. Same as last year I found myself going 20mph down hill with my breaks fully engaged and trying not to wipe out at the 120degree turn at the bottom. Serious stuff. Then the worst part was at the bottom of those turns was an immediate climb, so if you are not in the correct gear you are in a world of hurt.

But I made it through all of that and came to Frank Brennaman road - the Continental Pass. Same as last year I opted not to attempt it was off my bike - me and at least 20 other people. See the photos in my photo album for all the funny inspirational signs they put on the hill. Great stuff. The thing is - overall I didn't loose any time walking the hill, for all the people that passed me riding up it were toast for the later climbs and I passed all of them.

The advantage of having done this race last year was my familiarity with the course. Overall you are very gun shy about opening it up on the flats and descents because of the switch backs at the beginning, but this year I knew where I could let her rip - and that is just what I did. I know where my strenghts are and was really able to make up some time on the flats and rollers. I averaged 22mph on the rollers, 25 on the flats, and over 30 on the down hills. Then I'd climb at 4 mph and there wasn't a thing I could do about it. THAT'S SAVAGE!!!

I passed a guy on one of the tough climbs and he commented about my pink. After that we joked back and forth when he would pass me on the downs - I yelled at him that he outweighed me on the down hills and it wasn't fair - then I would pass him on the climbs and joke that it was my time to pull. After the last difficult climb he didn't pass me again and as I was coming down State Park Road (the final mile into T2) I heard him yell, "watch out Pink, I told you not to let me catch you, here I come!" So I yelled back, " you're not going to catch me!" and we had a nice little drag race into the finish shoot. Good fun!

The coolest part of the bike was the last 2 miles. At that point the bike course over laps with the run course. Last year it seemed like everyone was already on the course and I was the last one in, but this year there were only 10 people on that section of the course - and my husband was the 5th one! So not only was I stoked about my personal time, I was super excited for him having such a great race as well!
What would you do differently?:

Nothing. Took 10 minutes off last years time and I felt great.
Transition 2
  • 02m
Comments:

Very good. Had to strip off the insulation layer from the ride. Took my gloves off with my teeth as I ran back to my rack, then stripped off the top, changed the shoes and grabbed everything else to put on during the run.
What would you do differently?:

nothing
Run
  • 1h 11m 44s
  • 6.21 miles
  • 11m 33s  min/mile
Comments:

Running is always my weakness, but overall I am pleased. It took me a few miles to get my legs settled down. Between miles 2 and 3 I had to remind myself it is easier to run faster than suffle along at the rate I was doing. I ran up to the Fire Road and then walked. Fire Road is an access dirt road (serious trail running) up the side of a mountain to the mountain fire aide station. It is almost a mile long and steep. Once again most people were walking it. It took me 10 minutes to walk up it and 3 minutes to run back down. But when I was at the bottom I looked at my watch and knew not only was I going to make my time goal of 3:30, but if I hurried I could get in under that. So no more walking for me and I was able to shave a total of 35 minutes off last years overall time!!

As I got to the finish shoot my family was there and my girls asked if they could run the shoot with me. I have a great photo of the 3 of us crossing the finish line together.
What would you do differently?:

I can tell I am in marathon training mode for my running legs settled into an endurance pace and not the sprint pace I needed. However for this course and this race I'll take an average running time of 10:20. The total run average takes into account my walk up Fire Wall.
Post race
Warm down:

Waited for the awards for the hubby - he took 2nd in his age group!!!

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Still keep working the swim and run - but I am very happy.

Event comments:

This is a great race with wonderful volunteers. If you are looking for a triathlon that is different from the norm - this is the race for you! Looking at the race as a whole this was my best performance ever. I never sacrificed one event for another and my overall time was a huge improvement from last year.




Last updated: 2009-02-25 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:32:08 | 1640 yards | 01m 57s / 100yards
Age Group: 15/21
Overall: 0/230
Performance: Good
Suit: full
Course: Loop starting to the left, keeping buoys on the right.
Start type: Wade Plus: Waves
Water temp: 68F / 20C Current: Low
200M Perf. Good Remainder: Good
Breathing: Good Drafting: Average
Waves: Navigation: Good
Rounding: Good
T1
Time: 05:16
Performance: Good
Cap removal: Average Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Yes Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike:
Getting up to speed: Good
Biking
01:34:33 | 23 miles | 14.60 mile/hr
Age Group: 8/21
Overall: 0/230
Performance: Good
Wind: Some
Course: MOUNTAINS
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence: 76
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Good Hills: Good
Race pace: Hard Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 02:00
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Good
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
01:11:44 | 06.21 miles | 11m 33s  min/mile
Age Group: 16/21
Overall: 0/230
Performance: Good
Course: Up through the camp grounds, up State Park Road, SERIOUS UP the Fire Road, back down State Park Road, through Meadow Mount lane, pass the boat ramps to the finish line at the beach.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 5
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