login
Camp Whitcomb / Mason Triathlon
-
No new posts
Camp Whitcomb / Mason Triathlon - TriathlonSprint
View Member's Race Log View other race reports
 Swim
Comments: The horn went off and in we went, wading into the silty muck, sinking in deeper with each step. Finally the water was up to chest level and it was time to start stroking. Because of the narrow layout (marked off by ropes) at the start and the fact that this is a simple out-and-back, this is a very crowded swim with lots of bumping. There is no wide outside position to avoid it-- you just go in and duke it out. I probably gave more than I got, but I never tried to make contact with anyone. Still, I got a little bottled up and had to zig-zag through field. Even so, I felt like I was off to a strong swim-- I caught up to the wave ahead of us before even rounding the turnaround buoy. Because of all the clutter, it's hard to settle into a rhythmic, long stroke. And with visibility at zero, there simply is no drafting. You can't see your own hands, much less anyone else's feet in front of you. Also, while they list this course at 1/3 mile, it always feels longer-- a sentiment backed up by the results. Even on a bad day, I'd swim at most 1:55/100 in a wetsuit and my split time was significantly higher than that. Even if, as I suspect, they add our T1 time into the swim split, the times still seem long. Oh well, the course is the same for all racers, right? As I exited the water, I spotted just a few Green Caps ahead of me and I felt like I turned in a good swim. It wouldn't be until later that I learned I needed to be just one second faster... What would you do differently?: Not much. My navigation was dead-on and I felt like I swam strong. I did gash my foot on something in the muck when I stood up to get out. Throughout the run later on , I thought I was running on an open blister, but it was really this open cut.  Transition 1
Comments: They didn't split out the T1 time separately. In the final results, they said they combined it with the bike split, but looking at the times it's clear they lumped it into the swim split. Even so, my swim time is too long if the distance was accurate, which is why I don't think it was. I also looked at my past results at this race and this swim time ALWAYS seems much longer, so I think the buoy line they use for the course is long. What would you do differently?: Nothing. I got to my place fine and got the wetsuit off quickly. I would estimate my T1 was around 1:45. I did take the time to put on my Garmin. It wasn't until later that I learned I needed to be a few seconds faster in doing it...  Bike
Comments: At this race, it's all about the bike. At 22 miles in length, the course is much longer than a typical Sprint event. It's also much hillier-- all up and down, with very little in between. If you nail this bike, you'll likely nail the race. If you have a bad bike, you'll have a bad race. But you also have to careful not to push too hard, because the first 1/3 of the run course is a trail run on terrain even hillier than the bike course. If you blow your legs on the bike, you'll definitely regret it on the run (as I've learned from experience.) You hit the first hill before even leaving the Camp grounds, and I could tell right away my legs were lacking a little of the usual juice. Due to work and other commitments, I couldn't get in much of the hill work I needed to do following Racine and I knew I would pay the price today. Even worse, once I hit the open roads, I detected a bit of unexpected breeze-- not gusts or anything, but enough to sap just that much more juice from the legs. I also saw my computer wasn't working, so I had no idea how fast I was going. I would just have to do the race by feel. Hitting Highway K, I began making my way up the almost mile-long long, slight incline, passing rider after rider as I went. At this point, I had only been passed by two other cyclists who were obviously strong riders on very high-end bikes. This has me feeling pretty good about how things were going. Then we made the right turn on Emerald and it was onto the twisty, hilly roads immediately beneath Holy Hill. Along this section, you've got to pay attention because there are tons of potholes waiting to swallow you up if you don't. Despite some narrow misses, I cruised through this part, reaching the steep inclines leading back to Highway K. These climbs are absolute quad-killers and as I spun my way up each one, I could tell my legs just weren't responding as well as usual. Still, even though a few good riders would pass me on the climbs, I would almost always re-pass them on the subsequent descents. By the time we completed the other hilly section out at the farthest point on the course and hit Highway K again for the fast descent back toward T2, I counted less than 10 riders that passed me. That had me feeling pretty good about my bike. And Charles Benson? He was still nowhere to be found. Sweet, I thought to myself as I pulled back into the Camp and dismounted, now I just needed to turn in a solid run and victory would be mine. It wasn't until later I learned I needed to be 21 seconds faster... Chuck: 1:08:26 What would you do differently?: I'd definitely do more hill work leading up to race day. But with my recent schedule, that just wasn't going to happen. Transition 2
Comments: Really, this was a solid transition. I got my feet out of my shoes with no problems on the bike and found my spot quickly. However, before leaving, I took the time to take a few swigs of infinIT because I don't like taking anything to drink out on the run course during a Sprint. Of course, it wasn't until later that I learned I needed to be one second faster... What would you do differently?: Be one second faster.  Run
Comments: Despite easing up on my pace for the final mile of the bike, I was definitely feeling it in the legs coming out of transition. In fact, I remember thinking I felt pretty good from a cardio/heartrate standpoint, but that my legs seemed kind of shot. Not a good thing when you're staring down a trail run with more ups and downs than a Catholic mass. So I eased up my pace a bit and hoped for the best. I was immediately passed by two jackrabbits who could really run and who I couldn't hang with on the best of days. But I also passed several runners on this opening trail run portion. I also had my Garmin going at this point and saw I was well off my pace from last year. I was hoping that was because I had pounded on the bike and had turned in a much faster split. Soon, I hit the paved portion leading off the Campgrounds and into the subdivision. As usual, I was picking off runners here and there but I never felt strong and, as I saw from my Garmin, that was reflected in my pace. But I was also cheered by the fact that no one had passed me. In fact, from this point-- the 1-mile mark of the run leg-- through the finish, only two runners would pass me. That's really unusual and probably contributed to my false sense that I was having a good race. Of course, I wouldn't know that until later. ;) That's when it happened. Just like in Racine, when I had least expected it, that's when I saw HIM. Right at the corner leading into the subdivision, coming out as I as heading in, there was Anchorman Antelope bounding along on those freakish stilt-like legs, looking (much as I hate to admit) strong. Our eyes met. I nodded toward him, he toward me. But did he detect in my steely-eyed squint the true depth of my disdain? I couldn't be sure. Nor did I have any inclination to give up my secret rival status. Instead I simply swallowed the salty "Charles BENSON!" about to escape my mouth and forged on toward the turnaround. I also did a quick mental calculation. It was then I knew that even if Charles had somehow been in the first wave to go off that morning-- three waves ahead of mine-- I probably couldn't make up enough time during the run to beat him. Instead, the rest of my run would merely be a bitter run of shame, for today I was merely a footnote in Charles' "Top Story at 10." Still, I reached down to muster what I could, unwilling to concede a single second of the best time I could bring in on this day. As I watched the precious second tick away on my Garmin, I knew full well this would neither be a very good run split for me nor a very good race. But I gave it what I could and chased down some runners ahead of me that I thought I had no chance of catching, finishing with a decent kick. Even on a day when I was obviously not at the top of my game, I at least wanted to enjoy the satisfaction of giving my all and turning in the best race I could. It wasn't until a little later that I learned I needed to be 33 seconds faster... What would you do differently?: I don't know. I may have gone out a little cautiously at first because my legs were a little shot from the bike but I still think I ran about as well as my body would allow on this given day. I think the fact that I was unable to run for 6 days prior to the race probably did me no favors and I just came out flat. However, I probably still could have tripped Charles on his way back in. Nobody was really around and I could have made it all look like some terrible accident. I mean, people fall down all the time, right? Post race
Warm down: I crossed the line and immediately went to see Terri and the kids, who had come (as nearly always) to cheer me on. I was also able to catch up with jszat, lara13, cindyk, triDDS and jeanne... oh yes, and one Charles Benson-- even if he didn't quite realize it. Thanks to Terri, I was also able to capture that moment forever-- I'll post the photo soon! :) What limited your ability to perform faster: You know what? I've thought about this race just long enough to know I don't want to think about it anymore. Some days it just ain't meant to be. This was just one of those days. Part of my disappointing performance was probably the stress of work recently-- and the subsequent missed workouts. Part of it was probably this weird flu I've been dealing with lately, which has made me feel slightly nauseous for weeks (of course, that could also be stress-related.) And part of it could be just wanting to call it a season after my very satisfying result at Racine, my 'A' race for this season. Of course, the biggest thing working against me was that Charles and I simply alternate beating each other, and it was his turn to win. One thing was tough to swallow, however. Upon checking the results, I saw that Charles had not only beaten by 33 seconds total, he had beaten me IN EVERY FACET OF THE RACE: 1 second on the swim/T1, 21 seconds on the bike, 1 second in T2 and 3 seconds on the run. That's tough to take. But, if last year is any indication, Charles will be at the Lakefront Discovery 15K in October. And it will be after all, my turn to win. :) Event comments: Despite my disappointing performance, I've grown to really love all the quirky things that make this race unique-- the silty swim, the two transitions, the hilly bike and the three-part run. This is one race I'll try to do every year. I hope Charles feels the same way. :) Last updated: 2008-07-23 12:00 AM
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
{postbutton}
 2008-08-12 9:25 PM |
Champion  6056    Menomonee Falls, WI |  Subject: Camp Whitcomb / Mason Triathlon |
| 2008-08-13 7:58 AM in reply to: #1599219 |
Elite 3656   West Allis, Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Camp Whitcomb / Mason Triathlon DA*N THAT CHARLES BENSON!!!!! way to gut thru all the sheat from the week and still race hard scoobster!!! thats how you donkey the f*ck up!!! EEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWW |
| 2008-08-13 8:45 AM in reply to: #1599219 |
Member 347 | Subject: RE: Camp Whitcomb / Mason Triathlon Hey keep your chin up! It always good to have a one sided rivalry.  Honestly, great RR report, well written and I laughed, I cried, etc. 2009 will be the year of redemption! |
| 2008-08-13 8:54 AM in reply to: #1599219 |
Master 1529 Living in the past | Subject: RE: Camp Whitcomb / Mason Triathlon |
| 2008-08-13 10:50 AM in reply to: #1599219 |
Master 1980 Waukesha, WI | Subject: RE: Camp Whitcomb / Mason Triathlon But the question remains...did you get some new tri shorts? Or were you wearing the shorts from SOR? That could have been the cause. And yes, people do fall down all the time, ask Ajotto. Great race report. You are an amazing writer and an even more amazing triathlete. Keep up the great work. |
| 2008-08-13 1:29 PM in reply to: #1600247 |
Veteran 173 | Subject: RE: Camp Whitcomb / Mason Triathlon These RRs have forced me to find out exactly who this Charles Benson is. Um, yuck. Thanks for another entertaining RR! |
| 2008-08-13 10:28 PM in reply to: #1599219 |
Elite 2468 Racine, WI | Subject: RE: Camp Whitcomb / Mason Triathlon You are right that is a fun race that I'd love to do again too I still haven't figured out who CB is either..... |
| 2008-08-14 3:58 PM in reply to: #1599219 |
Expert 1148 NW Suburbs, Illinois | Subject: RE: Camp Whitcomb / Mason Triathlon Hey, nice race! Crazy, that chucky only beat you by 33s and managed to get you in all slots. Very, crazy. Maybe we need to sweep his legs? I have a battle with my own Chuck Benson on Sunday. Should be fun. |
| 2008-08-14 4:56 PM in reply to: #1599219 |
| Iron Donkey 38643 , Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Camp Whitcomb / Mason Triathlon |
| 2008-08-14 6:15 PM in reply to: #1599219 |
Member 17 | Subject: RE: Camp Whitcomb / Mason Triathlon CharlesBenson 1:48:10 And I did my hair and brushed my teeth in both T1 and T2. |
| General Discussion-> Race Reports! |
{postbutton}
|
|
|
View profile
Add to friends
Go to training log
Go to race log
Send a message
View album
CONNECT WITH FACEBOOK
United States
77F / 25C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 86/346
Age Group = M 40-44
Age Group Rank = 15/31
(Picks up guitar, adjusts harmonica around neck, takes a sip of whiskey-- from a water bottle, of course. Settles into a classic blues riff... )
Now I got this here guitar (Bah-dah-dah-dah-dah)
Gonna sing you a song (Bah-dah-dah-dah-dah)
I'll tell you what went right
And what went oh-so wrong.
It's the story of a race
I didn't think had gone so bad.
Then out on the run course
I found that I'd been HAD!
Now I've got those Chuck Benson Blues
Yeah, burning from my head right down to my shoes
I thought I'd be making headlines
But today I find I'm yesterday's news.
(Harmonica solo, then tears fill goggles and finally I just slump over, unable to continue.)
Ah, where to begin? At the beginning, of course, which is really probably right where we left off at SoR. After taking a couple of days to recover, I thought I got right back to training with my sights set on this race, knowing it would likely be my last tri of the season.
But unlike the lead-up to Racine, when it seemed the Tri Gods were smiling upon me, these last few weeks it has seemed like the fickle hand of Fate was now showing me the middle finger. First, there was the weird intestinal flu that made me feel like I had to throw up for like 10 consecutive days. Then there was work, turning up the hours and stress, and forcing me to forgo workout after workout.
Still, as race week finally arrived, I felt pretty good and was hoping all the training I had done throughout the season would be enough to carry me through for one last tri.
And then there was the lingering question of whether my archnemesis, one Charles Benson-- he of the perfectly coifed hair and oh-so pearly white grin-- would even have the guts to show up to toe the line with me at this race as he had in years past. Or, as he had in Racine, would he simply stand on the sidelines and watch real athletes in action, content to merely observe the story rather than take part, as he and his broadcast brethren are so inclined to do?
On Saturday night, while watching the 5pm news, I got my answer. While exchanging some not-so-witty repartee with meteorologist Scott Steele (a porn name if there ever was one), Chuck just happened to drop in the comment "wow, so things look good for my triathlon tomorrow".
I knew then... it was ON.
Camp Whitcomb is a little different race and I've come to appreciate its little quirks. It's longer than a Sprint, but not quite an Oly. The swim is extremely weedy, the bike hard and hilly, the run partly on a trail and partly on pavement. And there's not one, but TWO transition areas.
It also starts a little later-- my wave, I learned on Saturday, would not be going off until 8:09. That always makes me feel like I'm arriving late, even when I'm on time. Anyway, I arrived and immediately set up my T2 area with my running stuff, then got bodymarked and picked up my chip and headed down to T1, near the lake.
Because the waves are mixed and numbers assigned according to when you signed up, there's no
telling who you'll be next to. On one side I had a guy who was 70 years old, who was a top finisher in his AG, on the other a guy in my AG who was doing his second race and had never done this one before. Both great guys. We got to yakking about all the weird quirks with this race, and the "insider" stuff that's good to know and before I knew it it was race time. DA@N! I hadn't even gotten in the water yet!
So, instead of getting in my usual warm-up swim, I was going to have to start this race cold. I also decided to do one other thing differently-- skip the pre-race gel. I suspected that gels were the culprit for causing the bloated feeling I always developed in previous races, so for this race I was going to go on infinIT and nothing else. So I took a final swig, then joined the other Green Cappers as we prepared to plunge into the murky, mucky, bog-like waters of Lake Keesus.
And as I did, I remembered there was one other thing I hadn't done before the race-- spot the stork-legged one himself, Charles Benson. Where could he be? In a wave ahead of me? Behind me? I would have my answer in due time...