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Columbia Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic


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Ellicott City, Maryland
United States
The Columbia Triathlon Association Inc.
68F / 20C
Precipitation
Total Time = 2h 40m 28s
Overall Rank = 338/1524
Age Group = M 30-35
Age Group Rank = 41/147
Pre-race routine:

Got up at 4:45, brewed my coffee, and drove to Columbia. Setup transition, aired up the tires, and then hit the porta potties. Had a gel prior to the swim, and then put on the wetsuit. Stayed very nervous the whole time.
Event warmup:

Mild stretching. I tried to do a lap or so in the water prior to the swim start.
Swim
  • 29m 30s
  • 1640 yards
  • 01m 48s / 100 yards
Comments:

OK, first off, I question whether they measured the swim correctly, because I feel like I had a TERRIBLE swim, and BT is saying I swam at a 1:48? I know a wetsuit helps, but I barely SPRINT laps at a 1:48. If the course was not mis measured, I must be wasting a LOT of time at the turn arounds in the pool.

I feel like I swam several miles this morning (I know it wasn't but it sure feels that way). This was my first open water swim, and it showed. I had heard it was better to start to the right, so I did that. Unfortunately I was also drifting right. When I finally looked up to really sight, I was 10 to 15 ft from the shore, and a kayaker was headed straight toward me. Great, so I make a bee line back into the crowd. This pattern repeated 3 or 4 more times, with me zig-zagging across the lake. I had a couple of bumps and collisions with other guys, but nothing too bad. A younger female in the wave behind me caught me about half way through, and I know others were finishing at the same time as me.

Again, I really felt like I had a horrid swim the whole day, so I was VERY surprised when I saw my time. I must have really been hauling butt (for me) when I was actually swimming.
What would you do differently?:

Swim in a straight line, and obviously sight a LOT more. I need major practice sighting, and open water swimming.
Transition 1
  • 04m 51s
Comments:

Ug, I had a horrible T1. And I'm hating hating that this is getting mixed in with the bike split in the official results, because I had a good bike split (for me). I was a little dizzy and disoriented after coming out of the water, so that slowed me down a lot. Then I got to my bike, and put my shoes on, then started to put my helmet and other stuff on. Then I realized that I STILL HAD MY WETSUIT ON. Oops. So off come the shoes. And my socks. And then they fell in the mud. Then my shirt got twisted inside out, because I dropped in while picking up my sock. Need I go on?
What would you do differently?:

Obviously take my wetsuit off before putting my shoes on.
Bike
  • 1h 20m 28s
  • 25.48 miles
  • 19.00 mile/hr
Comments:

I started out a little slower than I had to, partially from being a little discombobulated from the swim, and partially because I was a little freaked out by the wet roads. I got over both very quickly, and started pushing harder. I passed A LOT of people on the ride. I felt like I was constantly shouting "left!". But I had a great time cycling in the competitive environment. All the hill work I do here in Fred-neck county was really paying off, as I was often passing on the uphills. My bike is still having some issues shifting, but only from the small cog to the large cog in the front. It slowed me down for a min or two on two separate occasions.
What would you do differently?:

Not much. I had a very good ride for me.
Transition 2
  • 01m 26s
Comments:

I pulled my cycling gloves off while riding slowly behind an FJ cruiser trying to get back in the park. When I got to the dismount line, I slowly stopped, and got off. A guy beside me, who I had been close to for the final few miles, tried a much fancier "flying dismount" move. It looked like it hurt when his foot hit the wet cement and he skidded down. I ran my bike to its rack, pulled off the helmet, and through on my hat. I changed shoes quickly, and grabbed my (still running) Garmin off the bike and grabbed my race belt. I put both of those on while heading out of the transition area. 33rd place in my Age group, 241 total.
What would you do differently?:

Not much. There's not much I can complain about.
Run
  • 44m 22s
  • 6.21 miles
  • 07m 08s  min/mile
Comments:

Running is my strong suit, so I had really wanted to have gas left in the tank to have a good run. Overall, I did, though I did under-estimate the hills slightly. I was hoping for a 7:00 min/mile pace, so I was a little off (mainly because I had to walk for 2-3 min to lower my HR on one of the massive up-hills). I may suck as swimming, but it is somewhat gratifying to pass people on the run. I drank just enough water and Gatroade to stay hydrated. The hills on this course were ridiculous, and I run on hills on a fairly regular basis.
What would you do differently?:

I would have run or walked the course ahead of time, so that I could have paced myself a little better on the hills. I had heard it was hilly, but didn't know it was going to be helacious. I was hating myself for having to walk for 2.5 min, and if I had known the course I think I could have paced it out better.
Post race
Warm down:

Walked around for a while, the jogged to the transition area to get some long sleeves and a camera. Then I waited for B to finish. After she crossed, we met up with some fellow BT'ers, then some co-workers. We grabbed a few bites and watched the age group awards, then went to transition to clean up our mess. Afterwords we went to the Ellicot City Brew Pub for some well earned brews.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Being a crappy swimmer, and having a slow as molasses T1. Otherwise, I think this was a great first effort for me, and I feel like I had a good race.

Event comments:

This was my first tri, so I don't have a huge basis of comparison. But, it compared favorably to many of the races I've done. The post race festivities were a little dull, but I think that was mainly the cold and the rain sending people home.




Last updated: 2008-09-22 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:29:30 | 1640 yards | 01m 48s / 100yards
Age Group: 89/147
Overall: 789/1524
Performance: Below average
Suit: Full
Course: A pseudo-rectangle in a still lake. Visible buoys guiding the course.
Start type: Deep Water Plus:
Water temp: 68F / 20C Current: Low
200M Perf. Below average Remainder: Below average
Breathing: Average Drafting: Bad
Waves: Navigation: Bad
Rounding: Average
T1
Time: 04:51
Performance: Bad
Cap removal: Below average Helmet on/
Suit off:
No
Wetsuit stuck? No Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Average
Biking
01:20:28 | 25.48 miles | 19.00 mile/hr
Age Group: 58/147
Overall: 450/1524
Performance: Good
Avg HR = 164, Max HR = 178. Avg speed for first 5 miles = 18, Miles 5-10 = 17, Miles 10-15 = 18, Miles 15=20 = 20, Miles 20 to finish = 20
Wind: Little
Course: Rolling hills through Columbia, MD. A challenging course, but not too bad.
Road: Smooth Wet Cadence:
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Average Hills: Good
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 01:26
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes Good
Jumping off bike
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Good
Shoe and helmet removal Good
Running
00:44:22 | 06.21 miles | 07m 08s  min/mile
Age Group: 21/147
Overall: 151/1524
Performance: Good
Avg HR = 167, Max HR = 178. Mile 1 = 6:53, Mile 2 = 7:03, Mile 3 = 7:25, Mile 4 = 7:46, Mile 5 = 6:58, Mile 6 = 7:05, Mile 6.2 = 6:05
Course: A windy course through a park and a nearby neighborhood. Hills that would make a Sherpa cry.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
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? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Below average
Race evaluation [1-5] 5

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2009-05-17 9:48 PM

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Master
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Fulton, MD
Subject: Columbia Triathlon


2009-05-18 4:28 AM
in reply to: #2156783

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Expert
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Glen Burnie, Maryland
Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon
Josh,

Awesome job on your first triathlon, You kicked butt.

It was great to meet you and Becky this weekend.
2009-05-18 7:50 AM
in reply to: #2156783

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Master
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1000500
Reston, VA
Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon

holy moses!  for any tri this is a great result, but your first??!!!  awesome.  it cracked me up reading about your t1.  i think you should have just said, "screw it" and rode with your wetsuit on.   THAT would be funny.  great job!!

2009-05-18 8:14 AM
in reply to: #2156783

Pro
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yep,
Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon

Nice work on the first tri!  Wetsuit comment in T-1 is priceless.

2009-05-18 12:08 PM
in reply to: #2156783

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Member
18

Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon
Replied to yours but wasn't sure if it would show up --- so here it is again!






Appreciate it --- real nice effort as well - think I read this was your 1st Tri??  Heck of a job on the run - definitely a tough one!  Noticed you are from New Market - have you lived in the area long?  Used to teach out at New Market and lived in Frederick my whole life!

Jason
2009-05-18 12:23 PM
in reply to: #2156783

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Master
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Reston, VA
Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon
Great race out there - that is smoking for your first tri!


2009-05-18 7:53 PM
in reply to: #2156783

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Veteran
174
1002525
Severna Park, MD
Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon
Wow...nice job!!...especially considering it was your first.  Next year you break 2:30 (you heard it here first)

On another note....somewhere there is a picture of me, in my first tri, trying to put on a shirt over my helmet....DOH!!

Congrats on a great race!!
2009-05-18 11:03 PM
in reply to: #2156783

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Master
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Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon

Great job, and nice meeting ya.  You will always remeber your first T1, so it was totally worth it

2009-05-19 6:22 AM
in reply to: #2156783

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Master
3546
2000100050025
Millersville, MD
Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon
Kudos to you and B for your firsts!  And George - I wanna see that pic!
2009-05-19 7:57 AM
in reply to: #2156783

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Veteran
186
100252525
Pasadena, Maryland
Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon
Awesome first race. Those hills sure seemed to help you, impressive. Happy to see a good runner say those hills were tough makes me feel better. Best of luck at Eagleman.
2009-05-19 9:56 AM
in reply to: #2156783

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Veteran
155
1002525
Virginia
Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon
Great race!  and congrats on finishing your first tri!


2009-05-20 12:12 PM
in reply to: #2156783

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Master
1678
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Olney, MD
Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon

Congrats on finishing your first tri!  Awesome job out there   See you at Eagleman!

2009-05-20 12:39 PM
in reply to: #2163475

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Cycling Guru
15134
50005000500010025
Fulton, MD
Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon
You finished with a really solid time on a tough course, and a great run to boot!  Congrats on all that!!

Wetsuit issues??  Classic!!!
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