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The Lowell Mill City Triathlon - TriathlonSprint


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Lowell, Massachusetts
United States
85F / 29C
Sunny
Total Time = 1h 44m 16s
Overall Rank = 66/110
Age Group = 40-44
Age Group Rank = 4/6
Pre-race routine:

up at 5:30. Cheerios/banana/coffee for breakfast. DH didn't like the way I attached the bike rack to the car, so had to redo it. Left house at 7 for race beginning at 8. Luckily it's only 25 minutes away.
Event warmup:

None really, Ran into Denise (DK) who was racked behind my rack. After setting up transition area, I found the bathroom. Then I hung out in the water trying to relax.
Swim
  • 18m 56s
  • 580 yards
  • 03m 16s / 100 yards
Comments:

Well, I know swimming is my "weak link". Even though I felt kind of relaxed, the race adrenaline got the better of me. I normally breathe every three strokes, but I needed to breathe every other stroke in this race, which made me swim even more crooked than normal. I had to keep checking the bouys to ensure I didn't swim into racers returning. The current was interesting...I felt it was pushing me to the shore. On the return, I swam a bit off course and almost found myself into some sort of eddy...

Given how sucky I thought my swim was, I'm pleased to see it ranked at #68, instead of 98... I guess other people had sucky swims too.

BTW, this is an urban river and it kind of freaked me out... really murky and smelled "off"
What would you do differently?:

I haven't done many OWS this summer -- need to do more.
Transition 1
  • 00m
Comments:

My T1 times are included with my bike time. I had a horrific time getting that d&^%# wet suit off. ERRRRR. To think I was only 19 seconds from being in 3rd place! I raced purposely without a watch, so I really don't know how long it was but it felt like an eternity. On the positive side, I took someone's advice from BT on rolling my socks up ahead of time, and putting them on like a condomn -- worked like a charm!
What would you do differently?:

Try cooking spray? More practice?
Bike
  • 45m 17s
  • 13 miles
  • 17.22 mile/hr
Comments:

The bike was fun. Nice course. As this was a small race, I couldn't see the person in front of me. At some points I wondered if I was still on the course. Luckily all turns were marked ahead of time and were staffed by volunteers. I passed several people and was only passed by one guy (who I passed later on the run). I rode hard, but felt good about it. On the flat sections I kept the speed @ 20 mph.
What would you do differently?:

nada
Transition 2
  • 00m
Comments:

T2 incldued in run time. The bike racks were crowded and needed to take a minute to find a spot. This is the first race I ran with Yankz on my running shoes. Worked great!
Run
  • 40m 4s
  • 4 miles
  • 10m 01s  min/mile
Comments:

It was so hot. At that point it must of been at least 90 degrees. I kept it slow and steady. I kept a side-stitch at bay. I passed more people than passed me.
What would you do differently?:

nada
Post race
Warm down:

are you kidding?

What limited your ability to perform faster:

the heat, and swim ability. Overall I'm pleased with my performance.

Event comments:

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this race. It was small, with lots of great volunteers (including the police auxilliary). Specators were along the entire route cheering us on. I felt bad for those doing the Oly. They started after us and had to suffer in the heat even more.




Last updated: 2006-07-13 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:18:56 | 580 yards | 03m 16s / 100yards
Age Group: 0/6
Overall: 68/110
Performance: Below average
Suit: sleeveless
Course: Up along shore of Merrimack River, against the current. Turn around at bouy and return.
Start type: Wade Plus: Waves
Water temp: 74F / 23C Current: Medium
200M Perf. Below average Remainder: Below average
Breathing: Below average Drafting:
Waves: Navigation: Below average
Rounding: Average
T1
Time: 00:00
Performance: Below average
Cap removal: Below average Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Yes Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike:
Getting up to speed:
Biking
00:45:17 | 13 miles | 17.22 mile/hr
Age Group: 0/6
Overall: 62/110
Performance: Good
Wind: Little
Course: Nice loop along river and into some neighborhoods.
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence:
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Good Hills: Good
Race pace: Hard Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 00:00
Overall: Average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike Average
Racking bike Below average
Shoe and helmet removal Average
Running
00:40:04 | 04 miles | 10m 01s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/6
Overall: 68/110
Performance: Average
Course: Death march under blazing sun on hot asphalt (no shade) Out and back on Pawtucket Blvd.
Keeping cool Below average Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 3
Physical exertion [1-5] 3
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] 3

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2006-07-18 8:48 AM

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Expert
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Subject: The Lowell Mill City Triathlon


2006-07-18 9:31 AM
in reply to: #485839

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Pro
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Subject: RE: The Lowell Mill City Triathlon

Fun race, and nice to see you there. 

I'm just 1 spot before you in the overall rankning, some 13 sec difference.  Funny is that I also know the person who ranked #64.  She belongs to the same tri club and IOW swam with her once.

You are so fast on the run, under that heat!

2006-07-18 8:19 PM
in reply to: #485839

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Master
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Subject: RE: The Lowell Mill City Triathlon
Good for you, Joanne! Had a good time and did well-yeah the Merrimac,,,yum....!think my swim mantra would have been do NOT drink the water..do NOT drink the water....LOL....Your bike was fast and run too..Nice job!!!
2006-07-19 6:44 PM
in reply to: #485839

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Frugal Gear Geek
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having fun with the kids
Subject: RE: The Lowell Mill City Triathlon
glad you got out and played. So how is it you did not notice the heat?
2006-07-20 3:32 AM
in reply to: #485839

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Resident Matriarch
N 43° 32.927 W 071° 24.431
Subject: RE: The Lowell Mill City Triathlon

you are muchbraver than I.  I'mnot sure I'd be in a hurry to swim in the Merrimac in Lowell!  Sounds like you had a great race 

Funny about DH and the bike rack tho.  Mine does the same thing and it drives me NUTS!

 

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