The Great White North Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman


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Stony Plain, Alberta
Canada
The Great White North Triathlon
22C / 72F
Sunny
Total Time = 5h 36m 37s
Overall Rank = 285/672
Age Group = 20-29
Age Group Rank = 16/42
Pre-race routine:

Woke up at the hotel around 5:00am a bit paniky, feeling like I had to get up and get going, because we heard noise in the hallway. I'd pre packed and organized all of my things the night before, so it was just a matter of putting on the race suit, chamois butter, and having breakfast.
2 rice cakes with peanut butter
1 glass of oj
1 thing of activia yoghurt
1 small piece of home made chocolate banana bread w/margarine
1/2 a tea w/ sugar and skim milk
Event warmup:

Had a lot of time to set up transition, wait in line for porta potties, and get the wetsuit on. Said goodbye to Greg and went down to the beach. Splashed around and got wet for a few minutes before getting out and on to the shore to start the race. Hung out with the boyz from Regina.
Swim
  • 36m 32s
  • 2000 meters
  • 01m 50s / 100 meters
Comments:

The swim was busy. I think this was good practice for IMC, since there are a decent # of folks who do this race, and the course is much more packed together compared to IMC. there was a lot of jockeying for position throughout the swim, but I just kept my wits about me and tried to stay in the grove.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing. I felt good and didn't have to swim over too many folks. I think I was seeded correctly so that I was able to maintain a good pace. Very happy with my swim improvement at this race compared to last year! 4 minutes!
Transition 1
  • 00m
Comments:

T1 was lumped into the bike. So my bike was probably closer to 2:50 or slightly less. Pointless to remark upon really since everyone is in the same boat.
Wetsuit strippers, I love them :) Sorry for peeing just before coming to shore! :S ha ha ha!
Greg and I had marked out where my lane was so I knew where to run getting out of the swim. The transition area was very congested, only one bike could run up the isle at a time, but it wasn't a problem for me. Didn't put my bike gloves on until I was out on the course.
What would you do differently?:

Try out my spiffy new tri shoes... :)
Bike
  • 2h 52m 49s
  • 90 kms
  • 31.25 km/hr
Comments:

Food: I started eating after turning off of 779. I had 4 fig newtons, 1 peanut toffee blitz cliff, 1/2 pack of sharkies, 5 pieces of beef jerky. Will have to check and see how much of that I actually ate...
Felt pretty good on the way out. Lots of men passed me, but not many women (apparently I passed some in my AG!). The way out felt good and strong, but the way back seemed to zap my energy.
What would you do differently?:

Apparently I shouldn't be drinking NUUN, but something with actual calories. I don't think I ate enough on the bike, because I was already convinced the run would be a shit show before I'd even gotten off of the bike... perhaps I was bonking already...?
Transition 2
  • 00m
Comments:

You have to package your gear up in a bag and drop it off at the beginning of the race (there are two separate transitions for this race) so you have to get into your bag at T2. I packed a cowboy hat thinking I would wear it for the run, so grabbed that, stuffed the gels in my suit, threw on my shoes and headed out.
What would you do differently?:

Not wear a damn cowboy hat for a half marathon. Who does that!? Idiot!
Run
  • 2h 07m 17s
  • 21 kms
  • 06m 04s  min/km
Comments:

I would have died had Greg not brough my visor to wear. I'd already started asking strangers, when I heard him say that he had a visor for me.
This run was the most difficult run that I've done to date I think. From the bike, my mind started playing games with me. I didn't want to run, I couldn't possibly run 21km. What if I injured myself - did I feel anything nagging - should I quit? What should I drink... do I want anything? should I quit? Maybe I should just walk, but should I walk, or should I quit? Oh shoot, here comes (insert name of person I wanted to stay ahead of here) - oh, and there they go... no... I shouldn't quit... okay... keep going. oh, there is Greg. Thank god, I'm so glad to see you! Keep running? You love me? Oh, come on, can't I just walk and be done?
What would you do differently?:

I don't know... I guess maybe work on my nutrition on the bike more, so that I don't get dug into this bottomless pit of a hole...?
Post race
Warm down:

Crossed the finish line and fell into Greg's arms. Was pretty happy with seeing my time, as I had no idea what my time was all day. I wear a watch, but I don't look at it. I figure it'll be whatever it'll be, so what's the point in having that extra pressure. Knowing that I'd beat my last years time by so much, I was thrilled with how the day went.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

I think my nutrition on the bike limited my ability to pull off a semi decent run. The heat may have got to me a little bit too.

Event comments:

Not enough porta potties on the run course.
Food at post race was not enough
Post Race dinner started too late
Food was not worth $20 (potato salad under cooked, beans under cooked)





Last updated: 2009-03-18 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:36:32 | 2000 meters | 01m 50s / 100meters
Age Group: 19/42
Overall: 204/672
Performance: Good
Suit: Zoot Synergie
Course: 2 loops, 400m 200m 400m
Start type: Run Plus: Shot
Water temp: 20C / 68F Current: Low
200M Perf. Good Remainder: Good
Breathing: Good Drafting: Good
Waves: Navigation: Average
Rounding: Average
T1
Time: 00:00
Performance: Average
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
02:52:49 | 90 kms | 31.25 km/hr
Age Group: 10/42
Overall: 267/672
Performance: Average
Wind: Some
Course: Out and back course that is pretty flat. I thought about when I was getting a tail wind and a head wind... try not to take those things for granted, but the head wind on the way back in kinda kicked my arse.
Road: Rough Dry Cadence:
Turns: Average Cornering: Average
Gear changes: Good Hills: Good
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 00:00
Overall: Average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Good
Shoe and helmet removal Good
Running
02:07:17 | 21 kms | 06m 04s  min/km
Age Group: 0/42
Overall: 0/672
Performance: Bad
Course: Loops and loops and out and backs... lots of time to see who is gaining ground on you for sure. There are some exposed areas along the run route, which, because it was so sunny, get quite warm.
Keeping cool Drinking
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Below average
Mental exertion [1-5] 2
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: Below average
Race evaluation [1-5] 3