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Whirlpool Steelhead 70.3 Triathlon - Duathlon


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Benton Harbor, Michigan
United States
CAPRI Events
82F / 28C
Sunny
Total Time = 5h 14m 35s
Overall Rank = 1036/1889
Age Group = M25-29
Age Group Rank = 131/194
Pre-race routine:

Wake up. Eat waffles with PB&Honey. Drive to race course. Set up transition (for the first time).
Event warmup:

Walk 1.2 miles to swim start. Hear race director cancel swim. Walk 1.2 miles back to transition to set up for the second time. Be ready for a run-bike-run transition setup, which I have never done or practiced. Walk to actual race start where the 1st run will start.
Run
  • 16m 44s
  • 2.1 miles
  • 07m 58s  min/mile
Comments:

Never done a run before a bike so I just used it as a warm-up
What would you do differently?:

Don't really know. Don't like duathlons so hopefully I will never have to do this type of run again.
Transition 1
  • 01m 52s
Comments:

Strange since it was a run to bike transition instead of a swim to bike, so I had to take the running shoes off and put on the bike shoes with socks. (I don't like to ride with socks)
What would you do differently?:

Swim beforehand instead of running. See run comments above.
Bike
  • 2h 40m 1s
  • 56 miles
  • 21.00 mile/hr
Comments:

Really liked the bike course and it was the perfect amount of rollers. If they could get fresh pavement on all of these roads, this bike would be a dream come true.
What would you do differently?:

I am guessing I pushed a little too hard on the bike due to my slow down on the run, but I didn't really feel like I was pushing that hard. I think I may have pushed it passing people and didn't realize it. Kind of hard not to though when I started in wave 16 out of 17. Felt good overall though.
Transition 2
  • 02m 9s
Comments:

Didn't do a flying dismount since it was too crowded. Also left shoes on because I was scared that if I took them off, I would run a hole into my socks and have to deal with that for 13.1. Overall, pretty decent.
What would you do differently?:

Tried a flying dismount, but I was pretty pleased to just not fall over after that long in aero. (about 98% of the time)
Run
  • 2h 13m 52s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 10m 13s  min/mile
Comments:

Got tired, but was able to keep moving through the course. Only walked the water stops and the one stupid hill outside the Whirlpool campus. When the knee started tweaking, it was difficult to run the way I like on the downhills, but not too bad. Just need to keep up the training.
What would you do differently?:

Make sure to finish all of my nutrition on the bike. I think that limited me from the get-go on the run. My bottle got sticky from the drips and stuck in my rear cage, so I couldn't get nutrition for the last 10 miles or so on the bike without falling over.
Post race
Warm down:

Sit in cool down tent. Go lay in the shade in the sand and then cheer the remaining people in. (not a whole lot of people left on the course to cheer since I started way back in wave 16)

What limited your ability to perform faster:

First time at this distance and didn't know what to expect. May have pushed too hard on the bike, but I am not sure.

Event comments:

Quite disorganized at race check-in. No bike racks to hold your bikes and you couldn't rack them until you checked in. The parking was quite crowded and made it difficult to warm-up. Race day had shuttles TO the race, but no shuttles AFTER the race when you were tired so we got to cool down by walking 1/2 mile back to the car with all the equipment. The race itself was very good with a lot of great volunteers, but with the number of "little things" that were out of sorts, I will probably not sign up for this race for at least a couple years.




Last updated: 2008-05-02 12:00 AM
Running
00:16:44 | 02.1 miles | 07m 58s  min/mile
Age Group: 165/194
Overall: 194/1889
Performance: Average
HR strap fell around my stomach after the first few steps, so no HR data for the race.
Course: Sort of out and back. Start away from transition and go back to transition. Good warm-up for the bike.
Keeping cool Good Drinking
T1
Time: 01:52
Overall: Average
Run with bike? Average
Jump on bike? Average
Getting up to speed and into shoes: Average
Biking
02:40:01 | 56 miles | 21.00 mile/hr
Age Group: 117/194
Overall: 0/1889
Performance: Good
Wind: Strong with gusts
Course: Nice rolling course with awful road conditions. Really liked the course outside of the road conditions. There was one stretch at about mile 40 something that was freshly paved and it was like a cold Coca-Cola on a hot August day because it was exactly what the Dr. ordered. :) Headwind was STRONG at points, but it must have turned at some point to push us since it was somewhat of an out and back.
Road: Rough Dry Cadence:
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Good Hills: Good
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 02:09
Overall: Average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Average
Shoe and helmet removal Average
Running
02:13:52 | 13.1 miles | 10m 13s  min/mile
Age Group: 144/194
Overall: 0/1889
Performance: Average
No HR data due to HR strap issue (above).
Course: Very close to a double loop through some flat to rolling roads with only a couple hills. Pretty nice and fairly shaded.
Keeping cool Below average Drinking Not enough
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? No
Events on-time? No
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 3

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2008-08-03 11:01 PM

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Regular
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2525
Subject: Whirlpool Steelhead 70.3 Triathlon


2008-08-04 8:09 AM
in reply to: #1579288

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Pro
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Vestavia Hills
Subject: RE: Whirlpool Steelhead 70.3 Triathlon

Yeah ... there were definitely more than one bug in the execution of the race.  I do not begrudge them cancelling the swim, I just think it is kind of ghetto to have to walk to the swim start.  Chattanooga can handle transporting people by bus, why not a WTC sanctioned 70.3 race?

That said, good job out there on the race course and rolling with the changes throughout the day.  Always nice to see friends on the race course, transition and afterwards.

 

2008-08-04 11:45 AM
in reply to: #1579288

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Master
2125
200010025
Subject: RE: Whirlpool Steelhead 70.3 Triathlon
Excellent job finishing your first HIM despite the du format.  Too bad your strongest event was taken away but still, 5:14 given the format for your first time is a great effort.  As $1.79 said to me after GCHIM, you will drop 20 minutes off that time next time for sure. 
2008-08-05 1:42 PM
in reply to: #1579288

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Master
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Woodstock
Subject: RE: Whirlpool Steelhead 70.3 Triathlon
Great job on your first half. Sorry it wasn't a true tri, but you still did an awesome job on the long course.  It was fun hanging out with you and Heather and the rest of the gang. Looking forward to the next "destination" race (a little closer next time though please)
2008-08-06 10:12 AM
in reply to: #1579288

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Expert
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Marietta, GA
Subject: RE: Whirlpool Steelhead 70.3 Triathlon
You did an AWESOME job, especially being that this was your first "half". Sorry the swim got cancelled, but at least you're still a good runner too.
2008-08-06 2:29 PM
in reply to: #1579288

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Master
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Atlanta, GA
Subject: RE: Whirlpool Steelhead 70.3 Triathlon
Super job Kirk!  It's pretty sad that we didn't get to swim, but despite that you did great.  Just think, next time you're gonna kick lots of butt and it'll make this race seem just plain weird.  It was super fun to stay in the house with everyone- that type of race needs to be a yearly requirement!


2008-08-06 2:55 PM
in reply to: #1585927

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Master
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Woodstock, GA
Subject: RE: Whirlpool Steelhead 70.3 Triathlon
I did not realize that this was your first half.  That makes canceling the swim even worse.  You did a great job anyway.
2008-08-06 9:14 PM
in reply to: #1579288

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Veteran
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Subject: RE: Whirlpool Steelhead 70.3 Triathlon
Great job! It does get better the more you do that distance. (not!)



Edited by KraigM 2008-08-06 9:15 PM
2008-08-15 12:46 PM
in reply to: #1579288

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Regular
137
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Fort Collins, CO
Subject: RE: Whirlpool Steelhead 70.3 Triathlon
Hey great job on your first HIM even though itwas turned into a du.  I had a race do the same thing a few years ago in Milwaukee and it really throws you off, but it sounds like you handled it well and stuck it out.  congrats on your finish and hopefully they can iron things out and make this race flawless in the coming years
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