Congrats on a great race on a challenging sprint course! The campus's rolling hills make the 4 mile run and 10 mile bike a lot harder than they look on paper, and the hill run out of T2 up to the pool can be a killer. Sorry to hear about your ankle...I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the race.

I am with the UCLA Tri Team and was helping run the bike course. I'd love to hear any additional feedback (specific criticisms about the course, markings, signage, volunteers, suggestions for next year, etc.) that you might have, whether about the bike course or any other part of the race. Feel free to PM me and I'll be sure to pass your feedback on to the race director.

By the way...that red Felt S32 looks blazing fast!

Edited by MCH13 2006-04-11 12:39 AM

"Pee causes Bladder Havoc for Triathlete in the UCLA IRON BRUIN TRIATHLON"

I didn't come in last! WHoo Hoo!

Seriously though, this was a very tough triathlon. Tough but not hard. The only torture was something unexpected...

April 9th, 2006 - "The UCLA IRON BRUIN TRIATHLON"
4 mile Run/10 Mile Bike/400 Meter Swim

First... the run...

Four miles.

Did you ever have to pee right after you started a road trip or something? Well... I did. And that road trip was a Triathlon. This would be the enexpected torture that I went through depsite a 4 mile Run/10 Mile Bike/400 Meter Swim... whew.

I peed five minutes before the official start time of 7 AM. The line was long. I waited twenty minutes to get into the porta-potty. And there was a line waiting after me. I ran to the start line which was maybe 150 yards away and waited... and waited... and waited... They delayed the start for twenty minutes and within that time I had to go pee again. But of course, I couldn't. I figured I'd sweat it out. I think it was delayed due to registration back up and probably... bathroom backup.

I needed to pee... bad... and if worse came to worse...

Well... a guy's got to do what a guy's got to do. And that meant peeing during the run. No, not finding a bathroom during the run, I meant peeing during the run - literally.

The race finally started with a little cheer from the first wave of racers (#1-#199). It started as one lap around the UCLA track and then out past the Bruin Bear. I kept up with the pack for the most part and then it became a challenge. An uphill run for about a mile. I was at the seven-ish minute mark at mile 1 which meant I was actually going way too fast, especially up the hill. But if you go up a hill you must come down right? So down we came on Sunset Blvd.

And no... I didn't pee... yet.

I figured when I do pee I'd disguise it by pouring water over myself. You know, just in case I was being followed and someone saw something running down my leg.

Anyway... the downhill...

The bad part was the terrain. It was a trail run and the recent rain made the ground uneven. I twisted my ankle on one area but the pain was manageable and I kept my pace.

And would you believe as I made my way up the hilly terain I see Donna, Jake and Lori come down from the parking lot as they got there late! I waved my arms in the air and they saw me. It was awesome to see them since they didn't make the start of the race. And what a coincidence!

Back to the pee... er... run...

We went up and down the little hills and at the three mile mark I was at 25 minutes flat. That was very encouraging! That was an 8:20 minute mile pace! Considering a challenging uphill, I was totally paced faster then I expected. My goal was a 40 minute run!

But that 25 minute 3 mile run was also a tease because the last mile started off as what everyone I know would grown at and take an elevator instead. It was an uphill run up these uneven stairs. HELLO! Nobody told me about stairs! I was breezing until then. And the stairs took its toll. Which reminds me... DO MORE STAIRS!

I did the last mile in 12 minutes and as I eyed the transition area on the right I also considered a quick stop at the porta-potty on the left.

But no... I figured if I were to do it, the best place would be on my bike where nobody would even notice.

I hit the lap button on my chorno every time I passed the timing chip station so that I could log my times in Transition as well as actual run/bike/swim times.

4 mile run time - 0:37:15

In T1 I took a quick gulp of Gatorade, slipped on my shoes and snapped on my helmet and walked my bike out of T1.

T1 Time - 0:2:27

And on to the bike.

Would you believe this also started up a hill!!!

I got going slowly, easing my gears down to gear two and pedaled my way up the hill. Donna, Jake and Lori were sitting on a brick wall as I made my way up. I had seen them again about 3 1/2 miles into my run so this was my third time to see them. I smiled as I struggled my way to the top of Bruin Walk.

And that's when I was able to speed happily down the narrow walkway. It was fun! I rode past the Bruin Bear and took the same path as the run... yes... up the hill.

Did I pee? Not yet. I decided if I were to go pee it wouldn't be on the bike. That would just be gross wouldn't it? But the pool! That would be the prime location right?

So all my focus was on the bike. And although it was a challenge going up the hills I didn't push it which kept my fatigue and muscles in check.

I almost crashed missing a girl's sign to turn right and skidded my way past the turn. I almost toppled over since I was snapped in but balanced my way back up to the turn without hazard.

I never got onto my big gear all race!!!

I was off the saddle as I made my way past Donna, Jake and Lori the second time and I felt really good on the 2nd lap. I could have really nailed the bike course but was holding back. I had to watch pot-holes, uneven paths, and speed bumps. I kick myself now for not 'going for it' but realized that in the end it helped me finish this triathlon without serious problems - like my first when I cramped so bad I couldn't move!

The third time past Donna, Jake and Lori I was pedaling easily up the hill. The 2nd and 3rd time down Bruin Walk I couldn't bomb the hill because passing was not allowed - and I was behind some slower bikes.

Finally T2! Thoughts of finishing the race came through my head. It was very exciting for me. And I still had to pee!

10 mile bike time: 0:42:51

I could best that by 10 minutes easy I believe!

My legs were extremely stiff as I walked my bike into T2. And in T2 I stretched them out, took a gulp of Gatorade, struggled with getting my running shoes back on and walked out of T2.

T2 Time - 0:3:50

You're probably wondering why I struggled to get my running shoes back on. Well, for some reason the Transition area was more than a hop, skip and a jump away from the pool. It was a half mile UPHILL trek! Talk about a BRICK (a term used when training with a Bike ride followed by a Run - BikeRun=ICK... BRICK) After a Run and Bike, my legs felt like Bricks! I felt my calves begin to cramp up so I stretched them out as I run/walked up the hill. Whew.

1/2 mile run Time up the damn hill - 0:6:54. Not bad considering.

Then to the pool for a quarter mile swim.

And let me tell you...

I HAVE NEVER SEEN A LONGER POOL EVER IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!

I stood at the edge going - that's not 25 meters long. In my head it was supposed to be a 25 meter swim one length of the pool. I was all confused since it was an 8 lane "S" swim. I don't know why but I thought I had to do 8 complete laps of 50 meters a lap like I do at the gym.

Yes, there were 8 lanes and that's where I got confused. It was actually 4 complete laps at 100 meters as this was a 50 meter pool. That's 8 times up and down the length of the pool. I jumped in and swam comfortably along.

When was I going to pee?

Anyway, 30 meters in or so the pool went from shallow to DEEEEEP!!! And I freaked out. And I'm not the only one. I read someone else's post on the race and he kinda freaked out as well. All these months I've been swimming in a five foot deep pool. Suddenly I was swimming like 100 feet above the bottom of the pool! Okay... it wasn't 100 feet but it was deep. It freaked me out so bad that I nearly peed right there.

But I didn't.

I held on to the wall trying to figure out why the length felt so long. I was still confused about the whole thing thinking maybe I was just so tired that it seemed longer than it actually was. I considered peeing but there were people coming so I pushed off and headed back to the other end. I got on my back for about 25 meters and reached the other end!

I did it again... and again... and again... again... and again and then one more time resting about 10-15 seconds at each end of the pool.

Finally!!! A four hundred meter swim accomplished. Four complete 100 laps. A damn quarter mile swim! I climbed out of the pool and heard the final BEEP as I crossed the timing chip area.

I handed the volunteer my ankle timing chip anklet and kissed Donna and Jake.

You know what I did next?

I ate a banana.

You'd think I'd pee right?

Nope... I ate a banana.

THEN... Jake and I went to the bathroom and I had a nice long pee...

AHHHHH!!!!

Final Triathlon Times:
0:37:15 Run (4 miles)
0:02:27 T1
0:42:51 Bike (10 miles)
0:03:50 T2
0:06:54 Run (0.5 miles)
0:16:22 Swim (400 meters)

1:49:38 Final Time

I came in 16 out of 20 in my age group! I beat a 30, 36, 34 and 32 year old! All younger than me so there! And who was the oldest Age Grouper in my Age Group? ME!!! Oh and some other guy who came in 2nd in the AG. Whoo hoo!!!

Having to pee made this Triathlon even more challenging than it already was.

Results: 2006 UCLA IRON BRUIN TRIATHLON RACE RESULTS

Again, as I swam this triathlon I was wondering why I was putting myself through such torture. I could just cancel pending events...

A few hours later I couldn't wait to do it again!

This was a fun-fun-fun yet challenging event!!! I had TONS of fun doing it... although they should change the title of the triathlon with the correct distances to:

"The UCLA IRON BRUIN TRIATHLON"
4 mile Run/10 mile Bike/0.5 mile run/400 meter Swim

Mark this one up as TWO Triathlons for GLENN in 2006 so far! YAHOOOOO!!!!!!!

Thanks for the expanded race report, and for your, umm, control during the swim (welcome to our "ool"...notice that there is no "p" in our "ool"...)! Note to self...try to get more porta-potties for next year.

Congratulations again on your race!