General Discussion Race Reports! » Island Lake of Novi Triathlon Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply

Island Lake of Novi Triathlon - TriathlonSprint


View Member's Race Log View other race reports
Novi, Michigan
United States
Ford Athletic Swim & Triathlon Club
70F / 21C
Sunny
Total Time = 1h 23m 7s
Overall Rank = 73/236
Age Group = F25-29
Age Group Rank = 4/8
Pre-race routine:

Had 12-16 oz of green tea and a thing of clif shot bloks 3 hours prior to race. My theory was that my eating/drinking too much too soon before races was causing me side stitches during the race, so I tried to keep it minimal, and well before race start.
Event warmup:

Got some swimming, running, and biking in.
I was quite worried that my hip issue would act up during the race. So I tried to stay active, tried to get a good amount of dynamic flexibility exercises in.
Swim
  • 16m 8s
  • 880 yards
  • 01m 50s / 100 yards
Comments:

My "strategy" quickly became swim towards the people! :D Whenever I looked up to see where I was going, I saw no buoys, so instead I just swam in the direction of the people. If I saw people ahead of me, I assumed I was going in the right direction! Literally I hardly ever saw any of the buoys until I was practically right next to them. (This was more because of the type of goggles that I have.) I was generally feeling good. Once I made the final turn back to the beach, I got a bit too comfortable. I was getting into a rhythm and I stopped sighting. Then when I did look up, well, there were no people in front of me- I was slowly veering in the wrong direction! It felt like it took me forever to get back amongst people. Then the swim ended.

I was actually slightly surprised at how quickly the swim seemed to go by. Before I knew it, I was reaching the next buoys, and then well, the swim was over!
What would you do differently?:

Even if I'm feeling good and in a rhythm, I must check in front of me to make sure I'm going in the right direction! Also, I didn't like that I started in the middle of the pack. For the first third or so, I was having to navigate through people to find space to pass people. I have liked it when I start to the outside so I can avoid people from the beginning.
Transition 1
  • 03m 8s
Comments:

When I was out in the water thinking about what I needed to do in T1, I realized I didn't completely set up my area. I had kind of just placed items generally thinking I would get back to it later to place it as I want it, but then I just forgot. Well mainly this was just my helmet not being where I wanted it, but still.

Otherwise, I just felt SLOW! The run to my spot seemed like it was forever. Not used to long transition runs. I probably could have run faster. Then I had a little trouble getting off my wetsuit...

But mainly, it was just I need to move faster, get to my spot quicker!
What would you do differently?:

Really, I need to practice taking off a wet wetsuit quickly... but considering I haven't really been doing open water swims, I don't really see that happening... Also, I would just set up my stuff as I want it when I am first setting up, instead of saying, "I'll do it later."

Otherwise, the long run to the transition spot- run faster to it!
Bike
  • 38m 45s
  • 11.5 miles
  • 17.81 mile/hr
Comments:

I think this was generally pretty good. I think I benefited from being in an early swim wave. Very few people on the bike course in the first loop which at that time felt great as I could just ride along. On the second loop there were a few more people but still generally not a problem.
Also to note, in the days leading up to the race, I felt like my legs weren't fully recovered from the Tour de France personal challenge after biking 21 days in 23 days, something I wasn't used to, which ended about a week before this race. So considering that, I think I should feel good about this ride...
What would you do differently?:

I would have followed the girls who passed me with just a mile or two left. Don't know what I was thinking.
Transition 2
  • 01m 17s
Comments:

Nothing really too noteworthy. Just need to move quicker.
What would you do differently?:

Go faster!
Run
  • 23m 51s
  • 3.2 miles
  • 07m 27s  min/mile
Comments:

I started off feeling pretty good. (Or at least as good as you can in this situation...) When I looked down at my watch at the mile 1 marker, I had 7:09. I don't really know what happened after that. It's not like I was feeling ultra fatigued or anything. Generally, I think I got too comfortable. My breathing was labored, but really wasn't all that labored... in retrospect I just feel I should have gone a little harder.
Also to note, side stitches were not a problem today! (Hooray!) But, considering I feel I didn't go as hard as I would have liked, I am not sure if it's because of my food/drink choices in the morning, or because I just "stayed within my fitness" or whatever...
Oh, and hip did NOT act up throughout the race. Seriously, SO relieved!!! I was SO worried!!! But, we'll see how it reacts in the days to come...
What would you do differently?:

Don't lose focus in the middle portion. Keep it going in particular during the middle portion. Finish strong.
TRY HARDER! I really feel like I did not push it. I finished feeling like I could have gone harder.
Post race
Warm down:

The ART specialist I see for my hip issue was providing the post-race massage, so being able to see him immediately post-race was kind of awesome!
Ate the post race food which included a sandwich, fruit (grapes and banana), and granola bar.
I tried to stretch a lot.
Biked a mile or so back to the parking lot.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Mental. Need to push. I know I could have gone harder, especially on the run, and probably on the bike and in transitions as well. The swim was fine, aside from not swimming straight. Because I felt like I finished with something left in the tank, initially I couldn't help but feel disappointed... But in the end, I think this race was a good learning experience.

Event comments:

This was a nice event! There were tons of volunteers out there.
They are making this race into a memorial for a triathlete named Jon Logan who died recently due to cancer. They will be renaming the race on his behalf for next year. He apparently was very involved in the triathlon community and he helped start up this race.




Last updated: 2012-07-29 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:16:08 | 880 yards | 01m 50s / 100yards
Age Group: 5/8
Overall: 92/236
Performance: Average
Suit: full wetsuit
Course: Triangular counterclockwise loop at the lake. 2 big buoys (to make the turn) with 2 smaller ones in between each.
Start type: Plus:
Water temp: 77F / 25C Current:
200M Perf. Remainder:
Breathing: Drafting:
Waves: Navigation:
Rounding:
T1
Time: 03:08
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike:
Jump on bike:
Getting up to speed:
Biking
00:38:45 | 11.5 miles | 17.81 mile/hr
Age Group: 5/8
Overall: 143/236
Performance: Average
Wind:
Course: Pretty flat and smooth. Two loop course through the subdivision. It was nice and green. There were a few turnarounds (and turns in general) which required coming to quite a slowdown (for me anyway.)
Road:   Cadence:
Turns: Cornering:
Gear changes: Hills:
Race pace: Drinks:
T2
Time: 01:17
Overall: Average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike
Racking bike
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
00:23:51 | 03.2 miles | 07m 27s  min/mile
Age Group: 3/8
Overall: 33/236
Performance: Average
Course: Mostly along flat paved path. Except for a small portion which was on a trail, maybe 400m. (longer than I expected!) One loop around the lake.
Keeping cool Drinking
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5]
Physical exertion [1-5]
Good race?
Evaluation
Course challenge
Organized?
Events on-time?
Lots of volunteers?
Plenty of drinks?
Post race activities:
Race evaluation [1-5]

{postbutton}
2012-08-01 10:40 AM

User image

Expert
1249
100010010025
MI
Subject: Island Lake of Novi Triathlon


2012-08-01 11:38 AM
in reply to: #4341047

User image

Expert
1439
100010010010010025
Tallahassee
Subject: RE: Island Lake of Novi Triathlon

GREAT race and report...it was funny when you said you were watching peole while swimming and assuming you were going in the right directiion...

Gosh you nailed the run!!!!!

2012-08-01 12:05 PM
in reply to: #4341047

User image

NH
Subject: RE: Island Lake of Novi Triathlon
Great race and great to hear your nutritional/stomach issues were at bay.  The swim strategy usually works fine, and it did in this case.  I think you paced very well as you definitely nailed the run.  It's ok to feel like you had a little something left.  Junkie were well represented here.
2012-08-01 12:13 PM
in reply to: #4341047

User image

Expert
2380
2000100100100252525
Mastic Beach, NY
Subject: RE: Island Lake of Novi Triathlon
Samantha congrats on a great race. I think you did really well with the swim, bike and run legs. I think you learned something about yourself which you can take away from this race and use for the next one. The fact that you felt like you had something left over means you can push a little harder the next time out. Also you probably would have done better if you could have sighted better during the swim but still a great race. Man I wish I could run a 7 minute mile!
2012-08-02 4:40 AM
in reply to: #4341047

User image

Master
3486
20001000100100100100252525
Fort Wayne
Subject: RE: Island Lake of Novi Triathlon

Very nice race!  After my last race and the swimming blunder I am going to adopt your method of sighting for the swim.  (Actually, I couldn't even see people through my goggles during that swim.)  It sounds like you had a very well thought out race planned and you executed it pretty well.  Sure you may have been able to get a little faster on the run to try to burn yourself up a little more but I think we all can do that.

The only thing I saw that you could work on is something you recognized yourself, transitions.  Spend a little bit of time the week before a race working on these aspects of racing.  I don't think you really need to carve large blocks of time out for this, just small chunks to get your mind in gear close to race day.

BTW,  you complained about your run?  I think you should slow down some, your time isn't far from mine for a 5k split. Wink

2012-08-02 5:47 AM
in reply to: #4341047

User image

Subject: RE: Island Lake of Novi Triathlon
Golly Gee, Samantha - you're quite the speedy runner! You're speedy altogether! I'm so glad you didn't have any hip issues. I'm not sure how close you were to the podium takers in your AG, but like Dirk said, if you practice transitions you could shave a few minutes off and maybe get some bling. Overall an impressive triathlon - congratulations!


2012-08-02 10:44 AM
in reply to: #4341047

User image

Extreme Veteran
424
100100100100
Urbana, MD
Subject: RE: Island Lake of Novi Triathlon
Great race!! That's a speedy run and I'm glad you got the stitch worked out!
General Discussion-> Race Reports!
{postbutton}
General Discussion Race Reports! » Island Lake of Novi Triathlon Rss Feed