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Stonebridge Ranch Triathlon-Short - TriathlonSprint


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McKinney, Texas
United States
Playtri
75F / 24C
Overcast
Total Time = 1h 38m 40s
Overall Rank = 203/390
Age Group = 40 - 44
Age Group Rank = 25/42
Pre-race routine:

Made the hour drive to the race with my brother, had a Smoothie (chocolate activator with an energy boost!). Talked strategy - two newbies - "what are you gonna do?" "I dunno, what are you gonna do?" Got there about 6:30 and wandered to transition area. First race so not sure what to expect. Tried to look like I knew what I was doing. Set up my transition area just like the guy next to me. Stuck a GU in my bike shoe so I'd remember pre-bike energy boost.
Event warmup:

Looked at the swim area. "CRAP! 750 yds is a long way!". Jogged 20m to the porta potty line. Tried to look intense like I knew what I was doing. Wandered around and found my cheering section (wife) and waited for my group. Watched the first group of Oly's get out of the water - cool.
Swim
  • 23m 20s
  • 750 yards
  • 03m 07s / 100 yards
Comments:

This was pretty much the worst 23 minutes of my life. Trained in the pool and figured that would translate OK to open water. I can hear the laughter out there...Not a great swimmer anyway. Reflecting on the experience, I think biggest issue was "race excitement". Basically, kind of hyperventilating while trying to swim. Figured out that wasn't going to work and turned the swim into a modified dog-paddle. I think the guys that finished behind me must have drowned because you can't go any slower than I did. Proud to say I didn't hang onto a boat & I lived through it.
What would you do differently?:

Practice open water. Get in the water before the race & relax
Transition 1
  • 04m 7s
Comments:

Crawled out of the water. Jogged to bike area (concerned cheers from lovely wife). Couldn't find bike. Brother riding out of transition hollered and pointed. Found bike. Stuck my foot in shoe and felt something at end of shoe - GU (lucky it didn't open). Yanked GU out and yanked shoes on, crammed helmet on head & sunglasses on face. Swallow of Gatorade (lake water tasted awful) and out of transition
What would you do differently?:

Don't put stuff in shoes. Learn how to do that cool "flying mount"
Bike
  • 38m 19s
  • 12.5 miles
  • 19.57 mile/hr
Comments:

Bike was pretty fun after my near drowning. Got up to speed pretty well & passed more than I got passed.
What would you do differently?:

Go a little harder - I think I left a bit of time on the bike
Transition 2
  • 02m 16s
Comments:

No skills in this department yet so not sure what's good/avg/bad. Felt slow tying my shoes. Had those little lace lock things but couldn't figure out what to do with the rest of the laces so I just tied shoes like always
What would you do differently?:

get some skills!
Run
  • 30m 37s
  • 3.5 miles
  • 08m 45s  min/mile
Comments:

Run was OK. Had done a little "brick training" so the dead legged feeling was expected. Bit of a bummer that we were mis-directed and ran a longer course. Not that big a deal, just would be nice to see what real times were. Began to feel great toward finish as I'd finally gotten over the mental "funk" of horrid swim. Really cool to cross finish - great crowd (wife cheering again with a few new friends).
What would you do differently?:

Go faster
Post race
Warm down:

kissed wife, shook hands with new friends, ate pizza, cheered for other finishers. Stopped trying to look like I new what I was doing and just had fun! Began planning for next event!

What limited your ability to perform faster:

I'm getting old and slow. Don't have "tri skills" yet. Limited training base.

Event comments:

Had a blast. Don't have anything to compare to, but this seemed a very well run event. I definitely will do it again next year as I have a few things to prove to myself on this course.




Last updated: 2005-10-06 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:23:20 | 750 yards | 03m 07s / 100yards
Age Group: 39/42
Overall: 0/390
Performance: Bad
Suit: yes
Course: Big loop around small lake
Start type: Wade Plus: Waves
Water temp: 0F / 0C Current: Low
200M Perf. Bad Remainder: Bad
Breathing: Bad Drafting: Bad
Waves: Bad Navigation: Good
Rounding: Good
T1
Time: 04:07
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Average Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Average
Biking
00:38:19 | 12.5 miles | 19.57 mile/hr
Age Group: 18/42
Overall: 0/390
Performance: Good
Wind: None
Course: Moderate hilly. Kind of a "stop and start" feeling as there were lots of turns.
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence:
Turns: Average Cornering: Average
Gear changes: Good Hills: Average
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 02:16
Overall: Average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike Average
Racking bike Average
Shoe and helmet removal Average
Running
00:30:37 | 03.5 miles | 08m 45s  min/mile
Age Group: 16/42
Overall: 0/390
Performance: Good
Course: concrete around a neighborhood
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 3
Physical exertion [1-5] 3
Good race? Ok
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] 5

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2005-10-06 11:31 AM

Member
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Subject: Stonebridge Ranch Triathlon-Short


2005-10-06 12:13 PM
in reply to: #260769

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2005-10-06 12:59 PM
in reply to: #260800

Member
29
25
Subject: RE: Stonebridge Ranch Triathlon-Short
Thanks for the encouragment! Actually doing another sprint 10/16 in Flower Mound. Thankfully, it's a 400 yd pool swim so I'll have some time to practice the open water thing before next season. Planning on taking off rest of Oct & evaluating what I want to do next year. Got a late start this year (just recently caught the bug), but really want to prep for next year and enjoy a full season. Your plans?

Tom
2005-10-06 1:10 PM
in reply to: #260769

Veteran
282
100100252525
Dallas, TX
Subject: RE: Stonebridge Ranch Triathlon-Short

That hyperventilating thing will subside with more events.  I had the same thing until about my 3rd race.  Looks like you made up for it on your bike and swim.  Very impressive for your first race.  Hope to see you around at some races next season.

And as for the pool swim, don't go in thinking that is all roses.  I did one of those this season and prefer the open water swim.  The pool swim felt so cramped and chaotic.  Good luck!

2005-10-06 1:29 PM
in reply to: #260836

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