Bikesport Ann Arbor Tri/Du : Official Thread (Page 3)

gir1with1nose - 2009-06-04 10:47 AM Half Moon is virtually waveless.  You will be able to walk out about 100 yards before having to swim.  As for temp, yorkee, just make sure to wear your swimsuit.  The water should be in the low to mid 60s to start.

E-Caps, don't worry about getting lost on the run.  It will be marked and you can just follow others ahead of you.  Unless you're super fast.  Then just follow the markings.

xrodolfox - 2009-06-08 2:14 PM Oh my. This is my fourth race, and I'm this is proof that i'm still a rookie. I ended up with a great learning experience, but not a great race. I was all over the place on the swim. OMG. I was 3rd at one point, but I got lost. Then I went from 12th to 3rd, and then got lost. I ended up 7th, after I passed one guy twice in 2 minutes after getting lost after passing him the first time, then getting lost again, and him beating me out of the water. I've got to work on sighting. Then I was 5 or 6th on the bike. My MIL saw me out in the turn off of North Territorial, and I was apparently right near the lead group. But of course, I got lost... again. I missed the turn off of MI 39, the second to last turn to to park, and kept going all the way out to Hell Michigan and beyond, before I realized that I'd gotten lost. I was livid. LIVID! There was no volunteer when I went by 20 minutes earlier, and since I was in that first group, there was no one in front (for at least 2 minutes, and no one behind (for at least 2 minutes). I dind't see a soul at the turn, and I dind't see any of the flimsy blue markings on the road. I was livid. I wanted to quit so badly. I averaged over 21mph on my bike computer (that includes the stop looking around past Hell to find directions and waiting for a biker to tell me which way to go), but only 15mph on the actual course. But I tried to make up for it on the run. I'm a very weak runner, but I passed people! I did well on the run, and never having run that fast before, I was surprised when I had some energy left at the end, and after the whole race. I think I might be able to go even faster! So after talkign to some friends, I might tright to see if I can get EE to give me free entry into another race so that I can actually do a race correctly, without mess-ups from the volunteers or crew. I just want to have a good race. I'm still a rookie. Here is my race report: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp... />

Oooh...I think me and Coop saw you on the swim!  We saw a guy go really far to the left of the swim exit (far right from our perspective), but in the first group of men that came out.  I was cringing watching it!

And I'm trying to figure out where you got lost on the bike...do you mean from Patterson Lake Rd. (32) to Glenbrook?  Bummer.  If it's any consolation, I totally bypassed a turn in Sylvania last year when there was a cop and volunteers there directing people.  In my eighth year of doing tris.  Luckily, I figured it out after just a little bit and only lost a tiny bit of time.

Oooh...I think me and Coop saw you on the swim!  We saw a guy go really far to the left of the swim exit (far right from our perspective), but in the first group of men that came out.  I was cringing watching it!

And I'm trying to figure out where you got lost on the bike...do you mean from Patterson Lake Rd. (32) to Glenbrook?  Bummer.  If it's any consolation, I totally bypassed a turn in Sylvania last year when there was a cop and volunteers there directing people.  In my eighth year of doing tris.  Luckily, I figured it out after just a little bit and only lost a tiny bit of time.

xrodolfox - 2009-06-08 2:44 PM Yep. that was me on teh swim. I missed the exit and was way to the left (your right) of the two ducks that marked the "exit". I'd passed that guy that crushed me up the hill (Roman something is his name), three times in the water. Ugh. I should've crushed him! But, me, I'm a friggin' rookie. This is the second time I've gotten lost on the bike section due to volunteer errors. I think that the assumption is that if you are in the front group, you know what is up. Well, I don't. I *need* someone there to help me with directions because I don't know squat. I can't think when I bike. I just go. So this is the SECOND time I've gone off course in four races. both times, the losses were for several miles. What's worse, is that I'd done the course correctly the week before, but I second guessed myself on the race because I'd seen so many volunteers in every other turn that not seeing one in the patterson lake road to glenbrook turn made me think I'd done it wrong in training. It would've been great to see some of the BT folks there. I wish I'd see you all!

ericcooper - 2009-06-08 3:06 PM

Dude, even though you went off course you have nothing to be ashamed of.  You swam a hell of a lot further than me with your zig zagging and you still blew me away - I'm not sure I'll ever get to pace like yours.  And you made up a hell of a lot of time on the run.  Rookie be damned - you've got times anyone would be proud of!

xrodolfox - 2009-06-08 3:53 PM Thanks!But I'm not racing against the clock or for a time. I'm racing to do my best. And that race wasn't my best. My best was constantly high-jacked by 1) my inexperience and 2) outside factors (no volunteer on the turn). I think I did pretty well considering how low my spirits were when i was all alone past Hell on route 32, and when I had to bike up the hill back, but I kicked it back on for the run. So I'm proud about not giving up. But pride about not giving up, or being satisfied with my times are different. I didn't do my best, and even if I'd won and not given it my best, I'd be disapointed; just as if I was 364 out of 364 but I'd done my best, I'd be beaming proud. I just want to do my best, and even though I tried, it wasn't it.

slowpoke77 - 2009-06-08 3:58 PM

I was bummed about some mistakes I made during Hawk Island...and you know what I was told? There has not been a triathlete in history that runs a perfect race. Something always goes wrong or something could always have gone better...even with the guy that wins the race. So just relax, have fun! You wanna know how bad I got lost on the swim at Hawk Island? I was swimming PERPENDICULAR to the other swimmers, swimming away from the entire course! LOL

Ann Arbor went a LOT better for me...I tried to sight like every 7 strokes! Still meandered a bit...but MUCH better than the folly that was Hawk Island. lol If it makes you feel any better, I fell hard on the run in Ann Arbor! Caught my foot in a root going down a hill...rolled the ankle...and went down like a sack of potatoes!!! Luckily, no major damage, and I was able to gingerly run the rest of the race!

You swim time is flat out awesome....as good as just about anyone. I'll NEVER get that fast on the swim! You rock!

slick - 2009-06-08 5:16 PM Xrodolfox doesn't need cheering up but I do . I DNF'd due to a blown tire in transition after I got back from a swim that was 3 min 15 sec better than I have ever done there. I am rethinking my stance about not bringing repair supplies even if it would take me forever. Another high point is I ran with the fast guys and they pushed me a minute and a half faster then I had done at anytime previously on that course. That being said, with the exception of the roads I love that race - great competition and a pretty tough short course.

slick - 2009-06-08 5:16 PM Xrodolfox doesn't need cheering up but I do . I DNF'd due to a blown tire in transition after I got back from a swim that was 3 min 15 sec better than I have ever done there. I am rethinking my stance about not bringing repair supplies even if it would take me forever. Another high point is I ran with the fast guys and they pushed me a minute and a half faster then I had done at anytime previously on that course. That being said, with the exception of the roads I love that race - great competition and a pretty tough short course.

slick - 2009-06-08 5:16 PM Xrodolfox doesn't need cheering up but I do . I DNF'd due to a blown tire in transition after I got back from a swim that was 3 min 15 sec better than I have ever done there. I am rethinking my stance about not bringing repair supplies even if it would take me forever. Another high point is I ran with the fast guys and they pushed me a minute and a half faster then I had done at anytime previously on that course. That being said, with the exception of the roads I love that race - great competition and a pretty tough short course.