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Danskin Triathlon Series - Austin - TriathlonSprint


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Austin, Texas
United States
The Xxtra Mile LLC.
84F / 29C
Sunny
Total Time = 1h 32m 36s
Overall Rank = 67/821
Age Group = 30-34
Age Group Rank = 10/76
Pre-race routine:

After the parking mess last year, I wanted to try and get there earlier. I woke up around 4:15 and couldn't go back to sleep so went ahead and got ready. Had some toast and hit the door. Made it to Decker at 5:15 (transition opens at 5:30, but they were letting people in). Got a great parking spot and went to set up. A number of my Chasco Y tri girls were already there, so hung out with them. Got to give Hilde a good luck hug and then went to get marked. Looked like there were some parking issues again, but luckily it only delayed the start by about 10 minutes. I was in heat 7, so I was in the water by 7:30 which was perfect weather wise.

Okay, I had multiple goals for this race. The first was to take 10 minutes off my time from last year and the second was to come in under 1:35 (I was planning 20 swim, 40 bike, 30 run, 5 transition)
Event warmup:

none
Swim
  • 21m 8s
  • 880 yards
  • 02m 23s / 100 yards
Comments:

Well I was in wave 7 of 10 and it was crowded by the time I got in the water. I started a bit back and far to the left. I felt nervous the first 100, but then I calmed down and was able to keep my breathing fine the whole course. I got caught up in a lot of people around each of the two turns and was in a mess of people for the last segment heading back to shore. My swim felt good, other than the traffic. But, when I got out of the water and checked my watch I certainly had a wave of disappointment wash over me. I've worked so hard on my swimming over the last year and time-wise had very little to show for it. Last year at my first tri at Danskin I freaked out in the water and got out of the water feeling frazzled and completely out of breath. This year I felt good in the water, but was a little frazzled that I was already running behind my goal time.
What would you do differently?:

Last years swim: 22:11, time improvement 1:03 (ouch). I have thought a lot about this swim and can't really figure out what happened, other than I just swam slower than I have been. I've looked at the times from the rest of my tri group and know how I swim compared to them and my time was certainly slower (vs. short course or any other excuses!). The conditions were almost the same - crowded course and super calm water. Oh well, guess I know what I'll be working on in the off season!
Transition 1
  • 02m 9s
Comments:

Knowing I had some time to make up to reach my goal, I hauled butt through T1. Out of the swim you have a nice big hill to run up and I just tried to pound it. Had a great bike spot.


What would you do differently?:

Last year 3:18, time improvement 1:09 (oh yes, I improved more on T1 than my swim - made it sting even more).
Bike
  • 38m 23s
  • 12 miles
  • 18.76 mile/hr
Comments:

Clearly biking is my strength, but I still don't feel like a "biker". I had a fabulous bike ride. I knew I was still down on time going into it, so I just hit it as hard as I could. I didn't get passed once (the highlight of my race)! Yes, I know that having a slower swim time certainly helps you not get passed on the bike. :) This was my first race using my aero bars and I loved them! I was so scared to use them a few months ago, but they really have made me a more confident biker. I had a lot of fun on this segment and felt strong.
What would you do differently?:

Last years time 42:06, time improvement 3:43.
Transition 2
  • 01m 10s
Comments:

Dashed into T2 got off my shoes and running shoes on. Was ready to grab my hat/number and water and start running. Took my first step and thought, "oh I'm tired I can't run through T2". Started walking to put on my belt and hat then told myself I had to start to run.


What would you do differently?:

Last years time 1:32, time improvement :22.
Run
  • 29m 46s
  • 3.1 miles
  • 09m 36s  min/mile
Comments:

I checked my watch for the first time since coming out of the swim and knew I had caught up to my goal time and as long as I hung out around 10m/m I would be fine. I was feeling awful as soon as the run started. I think I pushed a little too hard on the bike, but I don't think I would have changed that. I got to see a number of girls from my group (as part of the run loops past another part) and that was really encouraging. It took all I had to not start walking, but I was determined I was going to run this thing. One of my coaches met me half way up the big hill at the end and ran up with me, such a nice support. Then my second coach met me near the finish line and really tried to push me at the end. I honestly had nothing left to push with, but tried to humor her. My feelings on the run are mixed. I was super proud that I hadn't walked and survived it. But, I really felt bad during the run and couldn't enjoy it. The best part of my run was certainly the end, where my 7 y/o daughter grabbed my hand and ran down to the finish with me!
What would you do differently?:

Last years time 37:26, time improvement 7:40.
Post race
Warm down:

Hung out with my wonderful husband and daughter who both cheered me along throughout the way. I thought a lot about my daughter on the run and how much I value inspiring her as a woman. I met up with my tri group and we had a nice party to celebrate everyone. Racing and training with this amazing group of women was such a positive experience in my life. They helped push and encourage me each step along the way, I only wish I had trained with them last year!

Hung out for a few hours and got to watch Hilde get her 1st place AG award!! Being able to do this race with Hilde was certainly a highlight. Last year I was so nervous about my first tri and I sent her a PM after having read an old Danskin race report of hers. From that moment on she has supported and encouraged me. Hilde has taught me so much and has been an amazing BT mentor. Getting to finally meet her was amazing. :)

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Last years time 1:46:36, time improvement exactly 14 minutes!!! I had some rough parts in this race, but I was happy with my time last year and to take 14 minutes off of it really makes me appreciate the work I've done over the last year.

Event comments:

I love that Danskin is an all women. It is a great energy and a wonderful place for women to do there first tri. But, each year the numbers have been getting smaller and I think there is a reason for that. The lack of volunteers was significant. At each water stop there were only 2-3 people handing out water (and it is a crowded course). They did away with the expo this year and you had to pick up your race packet and rack your bike at Decker the day before (option to do it morning off too). Post-race was certainly lacking. This is an expensive race, but not any extras in this department. You got your goodie bag after the race - which was a bag, your shirt, and then some packaged snacks (cookies/crackers), bananas (no other fruit). No drinks or other food. There were some food and drinks you could pay for, but it was fairly sad post-race set-up. Last year there was chocolate milk, ice cream, oranges, and water bottles when you finished - all missing this year. I was also disappointed that they didn't put up mile markers on the run, as they have in the past. The bike had one mile marker at mile 6. I still be back for future races because I love training with my Danskin Y group, but if they don't start improving things more then I think the numbers will keep shrinking with all the other great race options in the area.




Last updated: 2012-01-17 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:21:08 | 880 yards | 02m 23s / 100yards
Age Group: 0/76
Overall: 273/821
Performance:
Suit:
Course: Triangle - Straight out about 100ish yard, sharp right for a long segment, another right angling back to shore for the last 150ish.
Start type: Wade Plus:
Water temp: 80F / 27C Current:
200M Perf. Remainder:
Breathing: Good Drafting:
Waves: Navigation:
Rounding:
T1
Time: 02:09
Performance:
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed:
Biking
00:38:23 | 12 miles | 18.76 mile/hr
Age Group: 0/76
Overall: 34/821
Performance: Good
Wind: None
Course: It is marked as a 12 mile course, but is closer to 11.4. Lots of hills, including a few big ones. Rough road.
Road:   Cadence:
Turns: Cornering:
Gear changes: Hills:
Race pace: Drinks:
T2
Time: 01:10
Overall:
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike
Racking bike
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
00:29:46 | 03.1 miles | 09m 36s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/76
Overall: 123/821
Performance:
Course: Yucky course with mulch thrown over dirt/grass. Uneven surface with one incline and one bigger hill towards the end (big hill isn't super long). What can I say, it is an ugly run course! There were no mile marker on the course this year - made it hard to pace myself and made it harder mentally to run.
Keeping cool Average Drinking
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5]
Physical exertion [1-5]
Good race?
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time?
Lots of volunteers? No
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Below average
Race evaluation [1-5] 3

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2012-06-10 9:02 AM

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Subject: Danskin Triathlon Series - Austin


2012-06-10 12:12 PM
in reply to: #4253804

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Subject: RE: Danskin Triathlon Series - Austin
You had an AWESOME race!!!  First off on the swim... .notoriously measured wrong, so hard to get it exactly right.  Also fighting through waves of slower swimmers will slow you down, as well as the bottleneck around the turn buoys.  I find it's really hard to pace yourself in the swim not having lane lines and the black line on the bottom... plus your tri suit will create some drag that you don't have swimming in a swimsuit (I've noticed a BIG improvement in my OWS going to a one-piece tri suit).  Awesome transitions!  Easy way to pick up extra time... I looked at some of the results, I think some women sat down, put up their feet and had a snack they took so long in transition!  Great bike leg!!  Keep working those hills, that's where lots of ladies suck, and you can easily pass them without getting too out of breath if you are hill acclimated.  I agree with you on the run... I don't run on trails and that mulch crap was AWFUL!  You HAD to look down in front of your feet all the time so you didn't misstep, and it was soft and hard to run on.  Good for you for not giving into the walk... ha ha, I probably would have beat you if I hadn't!  I've discovered that my run is the same whether I take it easy on the bike or hammer it, so figure I might as well get as much speed as I can on the bike and take time off my total.  So cool that you had your tri group to race with... having done my very first tri ALL ALONE, no one came with me and I hadn't yet made any tri friends, vs. racing with friends and my daughter and grandson as cheerleaders, it makes all the difference!  14 minutes off your time from last year!!  Take a few minutes off the swim and you will break that 1 hour 30 minute barrier next year, and as consistent and awesome as your training is, I think you are within reach of the podium!!  I am so happy that we finally got to meet, you are such a great triathlete and your training motivates ME!!  STUPENDOUS race!!!
2012-06-10 2:04 PM
in reply to: #4253804

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KY
Subject: RE: Danskin Triathlon Series - Austin
Louise, congrats on an awesome race!  Don't feel bad about your swim.  SOunds like you rocked it!  You did knock off over a minute, and most importantly you were way more comfortable in the water, which is what matters more anyway (I believe).  And there's no way these OWS courses are the exact same measurements year-to-year anyway.  Fantastic job on the bike- very impressive!  Fantastic race in general!  You should be proud:-)  And I'm jealous that you got to meet Hilde, lol!
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