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More last minute, first-timer questions
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 2009-09-18 10:56 AM |
 17 |  Subject: More last minute, first-timer questionsFirst Tri tomorrow morning (sprint). I know they have # stickers for the bike (to physically place on the bike frame) and helmet also I think. Do I need to wear the bib for the bike as well, or just for the run? Should I take off the kick-stand on the bike? (not a big deal really but I wondered) This may sound stupid (but, hey, I'm a noooob), @ T2, do I go put the bike back in the same place I got it and then take off running? I'm biking running in the same shoes / clothes, don't need anything from my setup area. Don't reckon I can just toss the bike and helmet in the woods and go, huh? lol, J.K. It's a sprint distance. I've never used any of the carb-gel-things. I am doing a minor adjustment to my carb 'load' today, nothing major. Should I worry about any carb replacement? Or just go with a G2 (sports drink) or similar on the bike? I am going to use a side-stroke with scissor-kick for this first event (just a comfort thing until I work more on my crawl) I should do the 400yd in about 9 - 10 minutes. The times from last year are in the 7 - 12 minute range. In the first wave, i should be around 35 out of 50 or so. I know etiquette says that I should get near the back of the pack and and pick an outside line. No problem there, but how will this effect my time? Do they start the wave together or individually? In other words; if it takes me, I don't know, 30 seconds to let the wave get going, am I starting 30 seconds behind already? Regarding my pace. I know very well what I do in training (time-wise), but this is my first race. I'm not sure how hard to go and when. I believe I train at around 85% or so. I want to make sure I don't leave anything out there tomorrow, but at the same time I don't want to go too hard early and then not finish strong. Any rules-of-thumb on how to pace a sprint distance? I think the bike may take the most out of me, depending on the course (where I train is very hilly and it's tough - I don't think the race bike course is as hilly as I'm used to). Thanks for the advice! |
| 2009-09-18 11:07 AM in reply to: #2413727 |
Resident Curmudgeon 25290    The Road Back Gold member | Subject: RE: More last minute, first-timer questions SunBum - 2009-09-18 10:56 AM First Tri tomorrow morning (sprint). I know they have # stickers for the bike (to physically place on the bike frame) and helmet also I think. Do I need to wear the bib for the bike as well, or just for the run? Most races I do require it just for the run. Check your pre-race instructions. Should I take off the kick-stand on the bike? (not a big deal really but I wondered) Doesn't matter, but you won't need it and it adds (an tiny bit of) weight. If you use it outside of races, I'd leave it alone. This may sound stupid (but, hey, I'm a noooob), @ T2, do I go put the bike back in the same place I got it and then take off running? I'm biking running in the same shoes / clothes, don't need anything from my setup area. Don't reckon I can just toss the bike and helmet in the woods and go, huh? lol, J.K. Yep, same place you had it originally. Otherwise it could be abandonement of equipment tand a penalty. It's a sprint distance. I've never used any of the carb-gel-things. I am doing a minor adjustment to my carb 'load' today, nothing major. Should I worry about any carb replacement? Or just go with a G2 (sports drink) or similar on the bike? Nothing is needed for a sprint, plus you don't want race day to be the first time you try something like that. G2 or similar is fine. I am going to use a side-stroke with scissor-kick for this first event (just a comfort thing until I work more on my crawl) I should do the 400yd in about 9 - 10 minutes. The times from last year are in the 7 - 12 minute range. In the first wave, i should be around 35 out of 50 or so. I know etiquette says that I should get near the back of the pack and and pick an outside line. No problem there, but how will this effect my time? Do they start the wave together or individually? In other words; if it takes me, I don't know, 30 seconds to let the wave get going, am I starting 30 seconds behind already? Again, check your pre-race instructions for the type of start. Regardless, it is what it is, if you're slow there's not a lot you can do about it. Regarding my pace. I know very well what I do in training (time-wise), but this is my first race. I'm not sure how hard to go and when. I believe I train at around 85% or so. I want to make sure I don't leave anything out there tomorrow, but at the same time I don't want to go too hard early and then not finish strong. Any rules-of-thumb on how to pace a sprint distance? I think the bike may take the most out of me, depending on the course (where I train is very hilly and it's tough - I don't think the race bike course is as hilly as I'm used to). Pacing takes a bit of experience to get right. Most sprints I'm OK with going 100% the whole way, or at least 100% for the time I'm out there. YMMV Thanks for the advice! |
| 2009-09-18 12:13 PM in reply to: #2413727 |
Champion 7558  Albuquerque, New Mexico | Subject: RE: More last minute, first-timer questions Fun and exciting times! If you're unsure of the stickers/numbers placement, ask when you pick them up. Different races require different things (WTC required bib numbers on the bike as well as run) so don't be afraid to ask. I've seen bike numbers put a lot of places. The one I most like is around the rear-brake cable (so it isn't gunking up the frame). Some races are very specific though and want numbers on the seatpost or top tube. Kickstand is up to you. You should put your bike back in the same spot it was to begin, but your transition neighbors might have shifted things around a little. Just be sure you leave enough room for someone after you to put their bike back in their spot. Don't worry about giving up 20 or 30 seconds on the swim because you start at the outside or near the back. (Since you'll be using a scissor kick, thank you for being considerate). You may find it's faster to wait 20 seconds before you start than to get in and mix it up with everyone else in the wave where you get tired and pushed around. The only thing you should do is stay out of the front (and especially front-inside/center) if you know you're not a top swimmer. Go as hard as you think you can and still finish. It's OK to walk on the run (if you've gone too hard) and it's OK to go home thinking you could have worked harder. "Hard" vs. "fun" is a tradeoff everyone makes. I try to go just hard enough that I can barely thank the volunteers and spectators. I ought to be able to grunt or wheeze out a "Thank You" to everyone who helped make the race possible for me. |
| 2009-09-18 12:29 PM in reply to: #2413895 |
Champion 14571 the alamo city, Texas | Subject: RE: More last minute, first-timer questions McFuzz - 2009-09-18 1:13 PM I try to go just hard enough that I can barely thank the volunteers and spectators. I ought to be able to grunt or wheeze out a "Thank You" to everyone who helped make the race possible for me. I think that is the perfect effort level for a race. Love this! |
| 2009-09-18 12:40 PM in reply to: #2413932 |
Champion 5376 PA | Subject: RE: More last minute, first-timer questions meherczeg - 2009-09-18 1:29 PM McFuzz - 2009-09-18 1:13 PM I try to go just hard enough that I can barely thank the volunteers and spectators. I ought to be able to grunt or wheeze out a "Thank You" to everyone who helped make the race possible for me. I think that is the perfect effort level for a race. Love this! I agree. One thing I regret about my first race is that when I finished, I felt like I could run another lap. That basically told me that I was waaay too worried about pace. I left entirely too much in the bag. I look forward to doing an upcoming sprint because now that I know I can do an OLY and have energy left to spare, there is no reason why I shouldn't let it all hang out. I had fun with all the volunteers but at my pace, I almost had conversations with them. Going up the first steep hill at Pinchot I yelled at them to get these skinny kids to quite drafting me. (I was obviously the biggest and slowest guy so they laughed) The guy at one of the turns yelled out that a car was coming so I asked, "is it big enough to catch a lift?" On the run through the woods I got up a burst of speed and sprinted past one of the volunteers and yelled that I was being chased by my ex wife. I figure the volunteers are helping and bored so I couldn't just ignore them. |
| 2009-09-18 12:43 PM in reply to: #2413727 |
Regular 75 Dorchester | Subject: RE: More last minute, first-timer questions You only have one "first" event. Just have fun. Anything that does not go perfect will be a great story for you to tell us on Monday. |
| 2009-09-18 2:49 PM in reply to: #2413727 |
| 2 | Subject: RE: More last minute, first-timer questions I did my first one this year as well. First of all -- have fun! My friend gave me my first GU packet (vanilla bean flavored) to take during T2. I loved it. It tasted like cake, and it gave me a boost (even if it was just psychological). Since that race, I've read that your body responds to just the taste of glucose in your mouth, and gives you a burst of energy. Don't know if it's true, but it worked for me. Sleep tonight for sure. Envision yourself doing smooth transitions. Make sure you have a few moments in the hours after your race to slow down, smile and pat yourself on the back. What an accomplishment! |
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