Lone Star Triathlon Festival - Quarter - TriathlonOlympic


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Galveston, Texas
United States
EndorFUN SPORTS
71F / 22C
Sunny
Total Time = 3h 04m 49s
Overall Rank = 383/795
Age Group = 40
Age Group Rank = 50/78
Pre-race routine:

This may not be the ideal pre-race routine, but it is what it is. Got into Galveston around around 3pm and went site seeing with kids. Had issues with Hotel San Louis about screwing up my reservations. But in the end, they fixed things. Met up with friends at Perry's in Clear Lake to have Dinner the night before. I had the Sea Bass. We didn't get back to the Hotel until 1030pm. Didn't actually go to bed until MN. Woke up at 5 am. At Odawalla Superfood. Packed up and left for the transition area around 6am
Event warmup:

In the future, this is some thing I will take more seriously. I have to realize I am no longer a 20 year old that can get away with not warming up and stretching before an event like this.
Swim
  • 23m
  • 1056 yards
  • 02m 11s / 100 yards
Comments:

This is my first open water swim triathlon. My goal was to swim the course in about 20-23 min. For the most part, I wasn't unhappy with the swim. Although,I never could truly find a good rhythm. I think I could swim faster if I tried to site a little more often and learn to breath on both side. I felt I was zig-zagging in and away from one buoy to next. At the end of the swim and right after the last buoy turn. My calfs really cramped up. So, there was not going to be any finishing kick this time around.
What would you do differently?:

1. Stretch
2. Stretch
3. Stretch
4. Site- every 6th stroke (like K- told me to do) not whenever. I think this will help with finding a better swimming rhythm.
5. Learn to breath on the left side. Otherwise, only enter races that have a clockwise swim course
6. Learn to draft.
7. Getting more comfortable in the open water.
Transition 1
  • 03m 51s
Comments:

Because cramping prior to finishing the swim leg. I basically walked to the transition area. Thank God for the strippers. Wetsuit came off in 2 seconds. Getting on the helmet, socks and shoes went smoothly.
What would you do differently?:

1. Stretch
2. Stretch
3. Stretch
4. Try to run to the transition area
5. Learn to mount bike with shoes preclipped.
Bike
  • 1h 25m 40s
  • 28 miles
  • 19.61 mile/hr
Comments:

This was my best part of the whole entire race. My plan was to ride at a 18-20mph pace. Average 19.6 mph. So, I am very happy about that. Pass a bunch of people, but also had more that a few guys blow by me. I went faster coming back in than going out. However, because I may have gone too hard, after getting off the bike, I started to cramp immediately. So again. I walked my bike through the transition area.
What would you do differently?:

1. Stretch
2. Stretch
3. Stretch

Transition 2
  • 01m 54s
Comments:

At the dismount area. I almost fell off the bike. I think because of cramping in my legs again. Also I almost ran out of transition with my helmet still on.
What would you do differently?:

Not much. Except try to remember to take my helmet off before leaving transition.
Run
  • 1h 10m 21s
  • 6.5 miles
  • 10m 49s  min/mile
Comments:

Coming into this race, I was not completely injury free. I have been suffering from an ACL strain since December. So I have not logged any outdoor running or speed work. My goal was to try to finish the run in 50-60 minutes. Because of my cramps I could not get going. I had to stop after about 30 yards to try to stretch my legs. So throughout the race I was running, walking, running. I also had to take a rest room break about at mile 1 or 2. Adding insult to injury, I developed a blister on each foot at around mile 3. All in all, the run went from bad to worse. But the great thing is I finished and never thought about quitting.
What would you do differently?:

1. Stretch before the race
2. Stretch before the race
3. Stretch before the race
4. Incorporate a negative strategy
Post race
Warm down:

Hung around, talked to other finishers, and ate. Then decided to make the 5.5 hour trip back to Dallas. After the kids went to bed, my wife and I opened a 2003 Elderton Shiraz to celebrate completing my first open water tri.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Poor pre-race preparation. Leg cramps

Event comments:

This was a very organized race that EndorFun put on. The pre-race meeting was very informative. The volunteers and spectators were very encouraging throughout the entire race. The bike ride was protected from street traffic. Nice looking Techinical T and cap. I would definitely do this race again. Maybe next year, I will try doing the double. Finally, Kudos to EndorFun for coming back and giving Galveston a chance to host the event. The economic impact of having an event like this will surely help Galveston rebuild.




Last updated: 2009-02-26 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:23:00 | 1056 yards | 02m 11s / 100yards
Age Group: 53/78
Overall: 418/795
Performance: Good
Suit: Zoot Zenith
Course: Counter clockwise swim in Offats Bayou. The start was deep water about 25 years from the pier in front of Palm Beach, which is a great place for spectators. The end of the swim was just behind the River Boat. The water temperature was comfortable (As long as you had a wet suit.) and very calm.
Start type: Deep Water Plus: Waves
Water temp: 68F / 20C Current: Low
200M Perf. Average Remainder: Average
Breathing: Below average Drafting: Below average
Waves: Average Navigation: Below average
Rounding: Average
T1
Time: 03:51
Performance: Bad
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
No
Wetsuit stuck? No Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Good
Biking
01:25:40 | 28 miles | 19.61 mile/hr
Age Group: 33/78
Overall: 223/795
Performance: Good
Wind: Some with gusts
Course: This was flat in and out course. Once I maneuver my way through the small streets, I hit Seawall BLVD and headed west toward the state park. The street prior to the Seawall had speed bumps, loose gravel, a few small little pot holes (probably damage from Ike). Seawall Blvd was very smooth. The event organizers did a good job of sweeping the course beforehand. There was occasional gust of wind on the later part of the race, otherwise there was a nice breeze.
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence: 80
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Good Hills: Good
Race pace: Hard Drinks: Too much
T2
Time: 01:54
Overall: Average
Riding w/ feet on shoes Average
Jumping off bike Below average
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Good
Shoe and helmet removal Below average
Running
01:10:21 | 06.5 miles | 10m 49s  min/mile
Age Group: 66/78
Overall: 511/795
Performance: Bad
Course: 2 loop course that meandered through Moody Gardens. It was all concrete, which definitely is not good for my knees. Plenty of volunteers and spectators. The portion of the race included roads outside of Moody Gardens. Those roads were not in the best shape
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 3
Physical exertion [1-5] 3
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: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 4