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Folsom Long Course Triathlon
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Folsom Long Course Triathlon - Triathlon
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 Swim
Comments: Was a mass start, but the field was not that crowded, so I didn't experience any issues with getting kicked and what not. Got myself into what turned out to be an appropriate position for my speed, on the inside, but ended up working my way to the outside. I briefly drafted off another swimmer, but I've never really been good at that, and they kicked a lot, which made a lot of bubbles, which made me really dizzy to watch for some reason. So I drifted to the outside and swam on my own the whole way. My April oly swim was so bad, and lately I've only been going to Masters once a week, so I went into this with very low expectations. But I've been feeling for a while like unless you're going to swim 5 days a week you're not going to get *that* much better at the swim. I feel like swimming 1 day a week I can more or less maintain my current level of swimming fitness and I'm not convinced swimming 3 days a week is going to improve that level, and I'm not entirely willing to swim 5 or more times a week. Anyways, I had new goggles this time, and swam straighter, and sighted much better. Was very happy with the result. I did cost myself a few seconds at the end by trying to stand too early. I was really close to shore and thought I could see the bottom, but it turns out I couldn't stand yet so I had to get back into freestyle position and swim a few more strokes. What would you do differently?: Nothing really, it went better than I thought it was going to. I'd say swim more in training, but if I had the hours to do so over again I'd spend them biking or running, honestly.  Transition 1
Comments: A little slow, but not too bad. Walked out of the water to my bike to get myself oriented. Had no problem with the wetsuit, tri-glide works perfectly. My spot was close to the run exit but completely on the other side of the area from the bike entrance/exit so that factors in. I already had my shoes clipped in and the running mount worked well, better than last time. I think last time I had my left shoe rubber banded near the bottom, this time I set it up higher so that when I stepped on it would push down and give me more momentum. I'm sure everyone already knows to do this but for some reason it didn't occur to me before. Anyways, it went better this time than the last time I tried in a race, and I think that was a big reason for it. What would you do differently?: During the run I started to feel some blisters on my feet almost right away, though they must be ghost blisters because I can't find them now. Either way it wasn't that hot out so maybe I'd put my socks on in T1 instead of T2.  Bike
Comments: The course was good, rolling hills, only one category 5 hill. I think about 1300 ft of climb total. I had my aero bottle and two other bottles on the bike, all filled with lemon lime skratch. I also had a gel flask with 6 honey stinger gels. Used all of it. If it had been hotter I would have needed more water, would have grabbed some from the aid stations. As it was, I had enough. There were a few people I was playing leapfrog with, they'd pass me on the uphills, I'd pass them on the downhills or flats. I took my time on the uphills, and also at 205 lbs I carry more weight than the average HIM athlete :). I'd love to have an expensive tri bike with the sweet wheels and all that jazz, but my road bike with aero bars works well enough. I was comfortable in the aero position all 3 hours, so I'm not complaining. The last mile or so there was a logjam, it closed in to a narrow winding path so things really slowed down. As I was doing my flying dismount I heard my family screaming my name - they had literally just gotten there. They were walking from the car to find a spot to set up when they happened to see me. Perfect timing. :) I felt great coming off the bike, though by the end I couldn't help but think, "I can't believe I still have to run a half marathon." What would you do differently?: More training time in the saddle. Get a nicer bike. Transition 2
Comments: As noted, my family got there just in time to see T2, so they were cheering me on and that was awesome. Spent a few extra seconds throwing on some more sunscreen, and putting some lube on my nerps. And then went over to get a kiss from each of my two kids, which was awesome. They were so excited, it was contagious. Some guy on the run even recognized me as the dude whose kids were yelling and cheering. What would you do differently?: Maybe spend a few more seconds to get a hug from the kids too? :)  Run
Comments: It was an out-back-out-back, hillier than I expected, and though it wasn't too hot it was significantly less shaded than I expected as well. It was brutal. I intended to just walk the aid stations, but by mile 5 or so I was walking the uphills and the aid stations. I brought along a gel flask with watered down gels, and I took about three swigs during the first hour or so, but wasn't really interested in more gel so just went with water for the rest of the time. Energy-wise I felt relatively fine, but my legs were dying. At the halfway point my family were waiting for me and they had signs. They went nuts, it was awesome. My kids were so excited. My 3 year old daughter kept saying "DADDY YOU FOUND US I'M SO PROUD OF YOU GOGOGO!!!" I've got video, not sure if it will let me post it here but I'll try. Got some high fives and kept going. Best part of the whole race. :) I was keeping tabs on my watch and at about mile 11 I kicked it into gear to do what I had to finish sub-6 and I barely made it but I made it. My family said they were remarking after they saw me that I barely looked winded, but that might be because before I rounded the turn and saw them I had been walking an uphlll. :) What would you do differently?: Maybe just bring a bottle of concentrated skratch instead of the gels. I was sick of those by that time, and lack of energy wasn't the issue. I never really reached the mileage in training that I wanted, and didn't have enough long runs. It all comes down to training. More time in the saddle would get my legs fresher for the run, and more time running in training would get my legs stronger. By definition, the walking slowed me down a lot. Post race
Warm down: Hugged my family. Jumped into the cold water. Should have spent more time stretching and maybe focusing on post-race nutrition, but I was enjoying time with the family. What limited your ability to perform faster: Training. Need more of it. A lot more. And a nicer bike :) Event comments: USA Productions puts on a good race, and this was a good course for the most part. I went into this hoping to go sub-6, and then after I rode the course a few weeks ago and with the hills and what not I didn't think it would happen. Even though I only made it by 10 seconds, I still made it. :D Last updated: 2013-07-02 12:00 AM
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 2013-08-12 7:43 PM |
Veteran  493   Chicago, Illinois |  Subject: Folsom Long Course TriathlonSome pictures from the race: Headed to the finish line, I'm only smiling because I can hear my family screaming at this point:
The medal:
Post-race dip in the water:
Halfway through the run, after giving my daughter a high-five. She was so excited:
Approaching my family at the halfway point:
Edited by Fresno_Joe 2013-08-12 7:48 PM |
| 2013-08-12 9:25 PM in reply to: #4827475 |
Regular 673 SF Bay area | Subject: RE: Folsom Long Course Triathlon Way to go, sounds like a race well executed. What a bonus on the run having the family there halfway to give you a boost! Good Job! |
| 2013-08-13 7:37 AM in reply to: TTom |
Master 3195  Just South of Boston | Subject: RE: Folsom Long Course Triathlon Nicely done! Love the parts about the family saying you looked great. And the high 5 had to be a real boost! Seems like your bike works quite well.. |
| 2013-08-13 11:51 AM in reply to: #4827475 |
Veteran 2842 Austin, Texas | Subject: RE: Folsom Long Course Triathlon Sub-6! Congrats on hitting your goal! I love that your improvement plan includes getting a hug as well as kisses from the kids - awesome. Great job on the race and finishing strong (would have been easy to let that 6 hour mark go by, but you picked up and finished well). What's next for you?? Matt |
| 2013-08-13 11:55 AM in reply to: #4827475 |
Extreme Veteran 541 Virginny | Subject: RE: Folsom Long Course Triathlon What a great all-around race! I love the part of your family cheering you on! My hubs has brought my kids to races before, but my 4 yr old just stares at me when he sees me on the course, like I'm some weirdo. And that you had some kick to pick it up and bring it in at under 6 hrs is just fantastic! So happy for you! Love the pics, too.  |
| 2013-08-13 12:14 PM in reply to: #4827475 |
Veteran 1677 Houston, Texas | Subject: RE: Folsom Long Course Triathlon Congrats, sub-6 is awesome!! |
| 2013-08-13 12:19 PM in reply to: 0 |
Veteran 493 Chicago, Illinois | Subject: RE: Folsom Long Course Triathlon Thanks, everyone! Yeah, having my family there was the best part, my kids in particular were awesome. My 1.5 year old son was too young to understand why I wasn't picking him up and taking him with me, but he seemed sufficiently distracted so he didn't get too upset, but my daughter was just ridiculously excited the whole time. Loved it.
As for what's next, I'm not really sure. I'm not entirely convinced that I'm a HIM kind of guy. I still really like the oly race, but at this point the oly swim and oly bike feel too short. Maybe that means with the increase in my mileage and swim/bike abilities I might see improved results in my oly races. The only thing I have scheduled right now is a half marathon in November. I think I'll be waiting to see how that goes. I'd like to do another HIM to see if I can get a better time, but I think I'd only do so if I can get to a point in training where a stand-alone half marathon is not a daunting workout, and I'm not there yet. I mean, I can do the 13.1 run, with no walking, but I dread it, and by mile 9 or 10 I'm having a hard time convincing myself to keep going. The 1.2 mile swim I don't mind at all, and the 56 mile bike takes a long time but if I have the time to set aside for the workout I'm on board. If I can get to the point where I feel the same way about the stand-alone half marathon, I'll do the HIM again. I'm hoping my continued training for this half marathon in November helps get me to that point, and then will keep working on it during the offseason and I'll see where I stand. I don't have any more tri's scheduled for this year, so for swim and bike I'm in my offseason. Going to keep going to Masters, hopefully more often. Bike when I can. I want to fit some circuit workouts back into my routine. Edited by Fresno_Joe 2013-08-13 12:20 PM |
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United States
USA Productions Events
Sunny
Overall Rank = 74/192
Age Group = M30-34
Age Group Rank = 10/18
Didn't do anything particularly special the day before the race besides make sure all my stuff was ready. Ate normally. Drank skratch all day. Woke up at 4:15, took a long shower. Made my smoothie. Ate a clif bar at about 5, sipped my smoothie on the way to the venue, although it wasn't sitting well for some reason so I didn't drink much of it. Pre-race jitters I guess. USA Productions puts together a well run race, but it was a bit of a cluster because they were doing a sprint, oly, and HIM all at the same venue, same morning, same transition area. Transition area was first come first served, so I got there early enough to get a decent spot, which ended up being in the aisle three rows from the run exit. I like being in the aisle, feels like you have more room and makes it easier to find your stuff. Put sunblock lotion on about 1.5 hours before racetime, based on some stuff I read about giving it time to soak in. Normally I just use the sport sunblock spray, works great. In the past I've had issues trying to put it on in T1 and T2 because with the water/sweat it doesn't soak in. So that worked well. Also put on the assos chamois cream before the race, and that lasted me all the way through, so that was awesome. Used that on the recommendation of someone here, definitely worked better than the chamois butt'r I normally use. Put tri-glide on my arms, legs, and neck to help with the wetsuit.
I drove myself to the race, some family members were going to get there later.
Didn't do much of a warmup. Got in the water to get my face used to it but the water was warmer than I expected it to be so that wasn't an issue. Swam maybe 100 yards to the start line. Had a new wetsuit, my first race in a full sleeve suit, so that went well.