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Stonebridge Ranch Triathlon-Short - TriathlonSprint


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McKinney, Texas
United States
Playtri
Overcast
Total Time = 1h 26m 43s
Overall Rank = 96/464
Age Group = M 20-24
Age Group Rank = 11/35
Pre-race routine:

Went to bed at 10pm. Woke up at 12am, ready to go. Went back to bed. Repeated at 1:15, 2:35, 3:50, and 4:30. Think I was excited? At 4:30, I realized I wasn't tired at all, and I might as well get up. Turned out to be the right choice, as it took me longer to get setup than I expected, and only finished 8 minutes before they were supposed to close the transition area.
Event warmup:

Just stretched, didn't want to waste much energy.
Swim
  • 15m 7s
  • 820 yards
  • 01m 50s / 100 yards
Comments:

It was an in-water start, and my first OW swim, so I gained a lot of experienced. Most notably, I decided to start on the very outside of the group, that way I would angle towards the buoy. Since the first leg was about 350m, I thought avoiding people would be the better answer. Would have been a great strategy...except for the mudbar that grabbed me! Got free and continued, but I couldn't even see my hand during my strokes, much less the feet coming for my head. Kept running into people, and didn't do well sighting. Learned that I can side-stroke very well to get oxygen and sight, but didn't feel like it was that good of a swim. Imagine my surprise, then, when I finished well under my expected time! I had decided that anything under 18 minutes would be acceptable, and I believe I was out in under 16 (official results pending). So, I was suprised how well it went given that it didn't feel that good. My competitive instinct, however, was at a 5-year high...I forgot what this feels like!

UPDATE: Now that I have the official time, I am amazed. I did not think I would be that fast, I was really happy with how this went!
What would you do differently?:

Get used to this starts, and swimming with other people, but that just comes with more races.
Transition 1
  • 04m 20s
Comments:

There was a long, grassy downhill that was quite slick...but I remembered my hill running, and just let my legs go. The key is controlled falling, and I did it to perfection. Passed about 15 people that way. A competitor actually said "Wow", and another exclaimed "My God!"...that was pretty cool. Did okay in the transition, could be faster, but wanted to make sure I did everything right.

UPDATE: Took longer than I expected, but it was a LONG way! The run plus the size of the transition area swallowed at least 2:30 of this time.
What would you do differently?:

Hm...put a water bottle on my bike so I don't feel the need to gulp water during transition. That was about it...couldn't have gone much faster without risking forgetting something or tripping or something.
Bike
  • 39m 14s
  • 12.43 miles
  • 19.01 mile/hr
Comments:

I had thought the bike would be my weakness...we'll see what the tale of the tape is, but I felt very, very strong here. I passed people going up hills, and then would scream coming down them...all on a mountain bike, baby! I could feel the crushing of spirits as I skimmed by people on uphillls...still seated since the bike ate the distance. I was also not nearly as out of breath or have the soreness of quads that I expected. I'll be able to slice time off of my bike in large portions, but I was very, very happy with how this first one went. Every time I heard a blow-out, though, I thought my race was over...did not realize how loud other people's blowouts sounded.

UPDATE: Averaging 19 miles per hour on my bike is ridiculous. I haven't been able to go that fast ever in practice. Very happy with this...but now know that I have to bump up my training!!! 19mph on HILLS!?! GET AFTER IT!
What would you do differently?:

A different bike for speed, plus more training with changing gears on hills. A major key to this race is who does that better. Definitely need to get a water bottle for the bike, felt the lack on the run.
Transition 2
  • 01m 34s
Comments:

There was a pile-up of people right where you had to get off the bike...but I flew off and ran right by them. The advantages of not caring if your $400 mountain bike gets a scratch or two. :) Just put the bike on the rack, already had my running shoes on, so I was off!

UPDATE: Whereas my T1 was mediocre, this one was middle of the pack. Good.
What would you do differently?:

Had just a tiny bit of trouble putting the bike on the rack...hadn't ever done it before in a hurry, so I had about 10-15 seconds of wasted time there. But that's just inexperience.
Run
  • 26m 25s
  • 3.5 miles
  • 07m 33s  min/mile
Comments:

I have rage in my heart over the stupid volunteer sending us the wrong direction. I knew at the time that it was the wrong way, but everyone else was doing it, so what can you do? I estimated, right afterwards, that the difference would be between a half and a full kilometer. They are giving it .64 of a km.
My legs were not wanting to do this at all! I felt like I was barely above a walk pace for the first mile, so it surprised the hell out of me when I was at 7:33. Coming through the second mile in over 10 minutes was a clue that there was a screw-up...and they also added a part that they had indicated on the map was only for the 10k people. Therefore, I was too tired, and started my kick earlier than I should have, and was exhausted. However, I passed probably 50 people on the run. One person that I passed passed me back, but if someone actually passes me on the run, I will be very surprised.

UPDATE: I SAID I was a runner! This went well for me; I passed two people in my age group. They say 3.5 miles, but the average times they give mean it would have to be a 3.6...so it was .4 or .5 miles farther. I'm quite happy, especially since conditioning will drop this time like a stone.
What would you do differently?:

Drink more water during the bike, train more. Really, just having enough energy, and having my legs ready for the hard workout of the bike, followed by the hard workout of the run is important. I had done bricks and thought I was ready, but getting enough oxygen is what I need to work on.
Post race
Warm down:

Drank tons of water, sat around talking with the other people, ate some bananas, almost threw up when they brought pizza around (could not imagine eating it right after the race!). Stretched a little, not enough, and just enjoyed the moment! I AM A TRIATHLETE!

UPDATE: I can, without too much trouble (just training right and practicing transition), take 13 minutes off my time at this course. There's no doubt that's what I could do if I decide to do the sprint again next year. That would put me in the hardware department.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Swim: Just have to fight past people. Have more confidence that I am a faster swimmer than I give myself credit for. Work in open-water swims.

Bike: The bike I was riding, and not having aerobars or water.

Run: Total fitness level, as I was exhausted by the time I got here.

UPDATE: Here's where time will fall away:
Swim: Could be up to a minute faster by next year, no doubt. Especially with more race and OW experience.
T1: Pick up 2 minutes here, that's what the other guys in my age group did.
Bike: Drop 5 minutes. More time in the saddle, more overall conditioning, more water, and a better bike. Good as done.
T2: Pick up half a minute with racking the bike better, but maybe lose overall if I go with biking shoes.
Run: Will drop 4 minutes at least. Ain't nobody faster than me on the run!
So there's 12.5 minutes, just by planning on doing a triathlon more than 2 months beforehand...however, next year it's a harder age group, so I'll be glad to be in the Olympic!

Event comments:

The race gets an average, because I loved competing again after such a long hiatus, and nothing could really damp my enthusiasm...but that one volunteer screwing up the course was a real bummer. Worse, not everyone took the turn, so some people will have faster times because of it, and there's nothing they can do. People will know for themselves, but it just makes it harder to figure how I really did. Everything was backed up a little at the beginning because of road construction, so I can't hold that against them. This race is going to be a Regional next year, apparently, and while I think it would be a good race for it, I think they have a lot of work to do. I would straighten out the bike course (instead of having 13 separate turns including 4 U-turns on a 12.4 mile course, but that's just me), and have a more detailed map, but it was an amazing first race experience.




Last updated: 2005-08-26 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:15:07 | 820 yards | 01m 50s / 100yards
Age Group: 10/35
Overall: 86/464
Performance: Good
Suit: jammers
Course:
Start type: Wade Plus: Waves
Water temp: 84F / 29C Current: Low
200M Perf. Below average Remainder: Average
Breathing: Bad Drafting: Average
Waves: Average Navigation: Bad
Rounding: Average
T1
Time: 04:20
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Below average
Biking
00:39:14 | 12.43 miles | 19.01 mile/hr
Age Group: 16/35
Overall: 177/464
Performance: Good
Wind: Some with gusts
Course: I went around the course in my car the day before, something I will do every single time. I don't know if other people do that, but knowing exactly how far landmarks were, where hills and turns were, and planning when I would be pushing did immeasurable good. Definitely made my race as good as it was. Course was quite hilly, though most of the hills weren't that big of a deal, just long, slight uphills and downhills. The one major hill, right before the half-way point, had intimidated me the day before, but I crushed it.
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence:
Turns: Average Cornering: Average
Gear changes: Below average Hills: Good
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Not enough
T2
Time: 01:34
Overall: Average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike Good
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Bad
Shoe and helmet removal Good
Running
00:26:25 | 03.5 miles | 07m 33s  min/mile
Age Group: 7/35
Overall: 62/464
Performance: Average
Course: Hilly, mostly uphill, which was accomplished because the only downhills were very steep.
Keeping cool Average Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Below average
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 5
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] 3

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2005-09-01 1:16 PM

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Veteran
142
10025
Wichita, KS
Subject: Stonebridge Ranch Triathlon-Short
Whoops! Thought this meant it would show what I was GOING to do! Will edit this when I actually DO the race! :)

Edited by goodzen 2005-09-01 1:18 PM


2005-10-03 9:11 AM
in reply to: #238970

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Regular
76
252525
Round Rock, TX
Subject: RE: Stonebridge Ranch Triathlon-Short
Awesome Job! - Congrats, Triathlete!
2005-10-03 9:25 AM
in reply to: #238970

Veteran
155
1002525
Houston, TX
Subject: RE: Stonebridge Ranch Triathlon-Short
Darn impressive! Congratulations on becoming a triathlete.

19 mph on a mountain bike is pretty darn good. We won't even talk about 7:30 miles at the end of your first tri.

You will definitely be in the hardware category in the coming season...

Congrats again.

Brittain
2005-10-03 10:36 AM
in reply to: #238970

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Extreme Veteran
319
100100100
Dallas, Texas
Subject: RE: Stonebridge Ranch Triathlon-Short
You should be proud! Great race report. I enjoyed it.
2005-10-03 11:25 AM
in reply to: #238970

User image

, Texas
Subject: RE: Stonebridge Ranch Triathlon-Short
You really hammered the course. 19mph on a MTB is really flying.

I knew from your training logs you would do well (ie beat me), but I didn't think you'd demolish my time so bad.

Contrats on the good effort.
2005-10-03 12:09 PM
in reply to: #238970

Subject: ...
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2005-10-03 1:32 PM
in reply to: #238970

Veteran
282
100100252525
Dallas, TX
Subject: RE: Stonebridge Ranch Triathlon-Short
Congrats on getting your first race under your belt.  Pretty impressive times.  Sorry I didn't get a chance to meet you yesterday.  Look forward to seeing you at some races next season.
2005-10-03 2:29 PM
in reply to: #258407

Elite
2421
2000100100100100
Subject: RE: Stonebridge Ranch Triathlon-Short
Bang up job, eh. For even more time improvements I recommend eating some of your spicy foods the night before... methane power.

bts
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