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SavageMan International Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic


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Swanton, Maryland
United States
Tri-To-Win
56F / 13C
Sunny
Total Time = 4h 03m 54s
Overall Rank = /
Age Group = 30-34
Age Group Rank = 14/16
Pre-race routine:

We had the luxury of staying in a house within walking distance of the transition area. What a treat. We had bike inspection the day before and racked our bikes then. Doug was a sweety and bought me brand new PINK tires for the race. They were a huge hit. I got lots of comments on them. Woke up at 6:15, ate breakfast, then walked to the T area. We got body marked, set up our gear, and then walked back to the house to go to the bathroom, hang out with the family, put on our wetsuits. Then we could wait the hour before our race started in the comfort of the house and not stand around freezing outside.
Event warmup:

None - but maybe next time it would be a good thing to do a pre-race swim to get use to the water temperature. I ate a GU about 10 minutes before my wave entered the water.
Swim
  • 41m 11s
  • 1650 yards
  • 02m 30s / 100 yards
Comments:

The water temperature was warmer than the air, but by the time my wave started the sun was coming out and the fog was burning off. That sun did such great things for my mood. I had to pee really bad at this point and there was no way I was taking off that wetsuit, so needless to say I was anxious for my wave to begin. The water temperature was very cold on my hands and feet. I dipped my face to check my goggles and it was like dunking your face in an ice bath. But I was amazed at how clear the water was. I've never swam in such a clear lake. It stayed that way for the entire race.
The group spread out awaiting out start. I LOVE WETSUITS!! There was no treading water, you just float! I actually had a hard time wading in past a certain depth because my feet wouldn't stay down. I did the funniest looking vertical doggy paddle. And I took the liberty of finding a spot in the back to "warm myself up." Now I was ready.
I stayed with the pack for the first 1/4 of the race and then people started to pull ahead. I didn't get any slower, they just got faster. I kept the same stroke tempo and rate of exercision the entire time. I checked my watch at the turn around point, 18 minutes, 2 minutes faster than I expected so I was pleased. During the return lap I started to pass the people doing the backstroke and a few stragglers from the previous wave. But I just kept my swimming the same and I felt great. My wetsuit was rubbing on my neck and I have a burn there now, oh well. Small price to pay to the SavageMan God! I checked my watch when I stood up and it was a 38 minute swim. The timing mat recorded 41, but my goal was 40 so I'm right on target.
What would you do differently?:

I need to start working on my speed. I have been focusing on endurance and was pacing myself to have plenty of juice left for the rest of the race. However I think I need to increase my stroke cadence. But during a race is not the time to fool with those things. That is an off season project for next year.
Transition 1
  • 07m 10s
Comments:

Walked up the hill to the transition zone. The one nice thing about being the last group out of the water is how empty the transition area is. (focus on the positive right?) I knew I wasn't going to rush this. I was wet, it was cold, and I had a long, tough bike ride ahead of me. The wetsuit came off fine. I dried my hair a little and then put on a handkerchief (sp) under my bike helmet. I opted for a long sleeve shirt and a wind breaker, full fingered gloves and toe booties. It was the perfect combination. I ate a GU at T1 because I knew what the hill was like right out of the starting blocks.
Now I know I was part of the last group, but there were RACERS just HANGING OUT in transition. They were taking pictures of each other, walking around talking.... I heard one of them say she guessed it was time to take the wetsuit off and get started. Incredible. I know you have a different mentality for longer races, but I wasn't purposely wasting time. Crazy.
What would you do differently?:

Not too much with those conditions. I felt set and ready to tackle to bike.
Bike
  • 1h 41m 44s
  • 25 miles
  • 14.74 mile/hr
Comments:

At the pre-race meeting, the course designer explained this course was meant to test your climbing abilities, not your descending skills. And was he serious. The very first turn out of T1 had a sign at the bottom, CAT 4 climb, 9% grade, 0.25 miles. I drove the course the night before and was really intimidated. I didn't think I could do all of this. Not only were there tons of climbs, but they all started from close to a complete stop. Once you climbed a hill there was a series of 90 to 120 degree switchback turns all the way down. Everytime you reached the top of a climb there was a volunteer there telling you to slow down, steep descent with sharp turns. This was the first time I've ever fully engaged my front and back breaks and STILL accelerated down hill. Then once you reached the bottom you would turn the corner and start right back up another hill.

Knowing all of this I decided I would just take it one climb at a time and do my best. I refused to walk that first hill up Toothpick right out of T1. So I HTFU and made it up. It was one of my favorite kinds to, (ugh) up a stretch, turn, up, turn, up, turn, then a double bump at the end. But I made it! Gggggrrrrrrr!!! Then wouldn't you know it, I hit a bump and by bike computer fell off. There was no way I was stopping to get it. It was probably a good thing because it kept me from focusing on my speed. So from there I kept my flat speed down and focused on climbing. I even passed a few people! I love being light and I love my bike!!!

When I got to Frank Brennan I immediately dismounted. There was a volunteer at the top of the climb leading up to this climb saying "steepest climb of the race." CAT 1, 0.70miles, 10% grade. I decided I wasn't even going to attempt it. I wanted to have something left in the legs for the run and to be honest, I was afraid of falling off my bike when I going so slow I wouldn't be able to unclip. Me and 5 of my fellow racers started walking. Every 10 feet there were signs of encouragement, lots of viagra jokes about getting up, and spray painted signs on the road about singing tunes and loving hills. Even walking it took my 7 minutes. When I had almost reached the top I heard a pair of riders climbing the hill. I turned and shouted encouragement, saying I was at the top, just make it to me. The profanity coming out of their mouths was very amusing, but they did it. Awesome.

So at that point I remounted and went along. Of course there was another series of hills. I passed the two riders that had just climbed the CAT 1 and I felt really guilty doing it. Even then I know I never exceeded 4 mph getting up that hill. I passed the water station and the road finally started to flatten out. It took me a while to fully open up because I was gun shy about gaining speed. Every time before when I would speed up there would be a Caution sign saying sharp turn, slow down. But it wasn't too bad. When I made the turn onto State Park Road I knew that was the final 2 miles to transition. The course was shared by riders and runners at this point. There were a few more nasty climbs on that stretch and I was pretty tired. Plus I knew I was going to have to run those same hills as well. More ugh! But hey, I did good on the bike and I did it in 1:41 minutes.
What would you do differently?:

Push a little harder on the flats, now that I know the course better.
Transition 2
  • 02m 34s
Comments:

I did such a bone head maneuver here. I took off my right shoe no problem. But for some reason I didn't unfasten my left one and just tried to pull it off. Of course it didn't move and my hand slipped and I slammed my right wrist into the metal clip on the bottom of my shoe. What a bruise!!!
Other wise I changed shirts - good move - slipped on shoes, grabbed hat, race belt, GU, and was off.
What would you do differently?:

UNDO SHOES IDIOT!!!!
Run
  • 1h 31m 17s
  • 6.21 miles
  • 14m 42s  min/mile
Comments:

I decided to use the camp ground bathrooms when I first left T2. Now I felt much better. I was able to do a run/walk combo for the first mile and a half. Then we hit the camp grounds. Lots of climbing but not too long. Then out on State Park Road again for the rollers. At mile 3 I felt pretty good and I had the realization, "Hey Tracy, you're going to finish this thing!" That felt really good. I held a decent pace for another mile, then started to question where the turn around was. Mile 4, not there, mile 5, not there. Finally I asked a runner coming back the opposite way where the turn around was. He hesitated and said you have to go up a hill first. Now I was thinking State Park Road had one more hill. WRONG!!!! I got to the end of the road where the bikers were joining and there were cops there directing racers. I saw where they wanted me to go and I didn't want to go there. I asked a young cop, "do I have to go up that?" "Yup" he replied, "1/4 mile up the hill." I said how about if you run it and I'll wait for you here, but he didn't take me up on it. This was a washed out dirt road straight up the side of the mountain to a fire watch tower. No running for me. But I was amazed at how many racers were FLYING down that thing. I was sure one of them was going to wipe out or break an ankle. Once I finally reached the top I was hurting. I tried to jog down it - did so so. Got my picture taken when I came off the mountain - I can only imagine what that's going to look like. Then I tried to run the remaining mile back, but I couldn't get rid of a nasty cramp in my diaphragm. So lots more run/walk until the turn to the finish line. Then I sucked it up and ran the final 300 yards in. I heard them call my name but I don't think I managed a smile. If you know me that is saying something to my condition because I am always smiling. But I ran accross the finish line!!! The volunteers stopped me to remove my timing chip (forgot all about that thing) handed me my medal, and then I saw Doug. I walked straight into his arms and started to cry. I think it was a combination of all the stress of anticipation, the difficulty of the day, the pain in my diaphragm, and the emotion of completing. BUT I DID IT!!!
What would you do differently?:

Keep working my running to get stronger. I wonder if I drank too much water? I took a cup at every aide station and maybe that was not a good idea. Who knows?
Post race
Warm down:

I laid down on the grassy hill and it felt so good to stop moving. After a while the pain stopped and I was good.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Diaphragm cramping, weak runner

Event comments:

The race was organized very well. Excellent volunteers, beautifully swept course. The best of the best certainly came out for this race. I don't say that to imply I am one of them, more that it was impressive to watch them perform so well on such a difficult course. And hey, I hung with them!!


Profile Album


Last updated: 2008-08-08 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:41:11 | 1650 yards | 02m 30s / 100yards
Age Group: 16/16
Overall: 0/
Performance: Average
Suit: F2R Sockeye -full
Course: Counter clockwise loop along the shore. The Half turned at the yellow markers, the Internationals were at the orange. They had channel markers lining the course with blinking lights. The buoys were to stay to your right and there was a red light for the way out and a blue light on the return. We waded in from the boat dock and started from deep water.
Start type: Deep Water Plus: Waves
Water temp: 68F / 20C Current: Low
200M Perf. Good Remainder: Good
Breathing: Good Drafting:
Waves: Navigation: Good
Rounding: Good
T1
Time: 07:10
Performance: Good
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
No
Wetsuit stuck? No Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Good
Biking
01:41:44 | 25 miles | 14.74 mile/hr
Age Group: 14/16
Overall: 0/
Performance: Good
Wind: Little
Course: HILLY!!! no, MOUNTAINOUS!!!
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence:
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Good Hills: Good
Race pace: Hard Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 02:34
Overall: Average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike Average
Racking bike Below average
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
01:31:17 | 06.21 miles | 14m 42s  min/mile
Age Group: 14/16
Overall: 0/
Performance: Below average
Course: A loop with climbs at front and back and rollers in the center. For half of the course the road was shared with returning bikers.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Too much
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 5
Physical exertion [1-5] 5
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Too hard
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? No
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

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2008-09-24 8:58 AM

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Master
2436
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Apex, north carolina
Subject: SavageMan International Triathlon


2008-09-24 9:11 AM
in reply to: #1692716

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Champion
9060
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Charlottesville, Virginia
Subject: RE: SavageMan International Triathlon

Great job Tracy, what a first olympic!

Those hills sound like alot of fun, can't wait to see the pictures.

2008-09-24 9:28 AM
in reply to: #1692716

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Expert
1074
10002525
Madison, MS
Subject: RE: SavageMan International Triathlon
Awesome! That's one hell of a race...it's not called "SavageMan" for nothing, apparently!
2008-09-24 9:34 AM
in reply to: #1692716

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Expert
856
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Pittsburgh
Subject: RE: SavageMan International Triathlon

Awesome Tracey!  Congratulations!

You were very smart how you raced that - quite an event for your first Olympic! 

I don't think they envisioned pink wheels when they thought up this race Laughing 



Edited by willie05 2008-09-24 9:35 AM
2008-09-24 10:38 AM
in reply to: #1692716

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Pro
4100
20002000100
Wherever the trail takes me, WA.
Subject: RE: SavageMan International Triathlon
YOU ARE AWESOME! WAY TO GO!!!
2008-09-24 10:40 AM
in reply to: #1692716

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Expert
1231
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B'ham
Subject: RE: SavageMan International Triathlon
Way to go Tracy!  That course sounds tough and you did it well.


2008-09-24 3:38 PM
in reply to: #1692716

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Master
1952
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Guelph, Ontario
Subject: RE: SavageMan International Triathlon
Don't kid youself Tracy. You are one of the best of the best to have conquered that place. Congratulate yourself, feel great and then move onto the 10 miler :-)
2008-09-24 4:04 PM
in reply to: #1692716

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Master
1831
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Keller Tx
Subject: RE: SavageMan International Triathlon

unbelieveable!  I've seen the youtube videos of the westport wall.  Doesn't look so fun.

Great job!

2008-09-24 6:48 PM
in reply to: #1692716

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Master
1741
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Chapel Hill, NC
Subject: RE: SavageMan International Triathlon
Great race report - you da wo-man for conquering that course. I want to do it next year!!! Love the pink tires, too!
2008-09-26 11:06 PM
in reply to: #1692716

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Veteran
131
10025
Austin, Texas
Subject: RE: SavageMan International Triathlon
Congrats on the race Tracy!  I am very proud of you...
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