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Pleasant Prairie Triathlon - International - Triathlon


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Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
United States
JMC Partners
Sunny
Total Time = 3h 03m 11s
Overall Rank = 478/661
Age Group = F35-39
Age Group Rank = 47/69
Pre-race routine:

Headed up to PP on Saturday morning with jowisc. We arrived at the expo just as it was opening, got our race numbers and racked our bikes. Since we were early, we got pretty good placement on the racks. Went to the course talk at noon, which is when I got my first scare of the day. The race director nonchalantly mentions, "the water temp is about 79 degrees, so we won't be needing wetsuits tomorrow." What?! I can't do my first OLY swim without a wetsuit?! I don't think I hear one more word that man said. After it was cleared up that we could wear wetsuits if we wanted to "disqualify yourself from age group awards...then that's your decision" I felt better. Not a chance in he** of an age group award, so I was good. Then went to dinner with the PP OLY Challenge crew that evening. It was a great time. Got home and went to bed early, although I didn't get much sleep. I was SO nervous and worked up for this race I'm surprised I even made it to the start line. Sunday morning got up at 4am and headed to the race site. After remote parking, we arrived at transition and got set up. I was set up in plenty of time, but jowisc was having a bit of a rough morning so I got my wetsuit on and went for a little dip without him. It was fun to know so many other people at the race for a change. Spent some pre-race time talking with Laura(startingtotri), Scott(schmize) and John (hangloose), as well as Cindy(cindyk) and Laura(whizzz). Really helped calm the pre-race jitters. Only had about three CLIF Shot Bloks and some water before the start. This could have been a mistake.
Event warmup:

Only about a 100-150 meter swim to get acclimated to the water. This will be a MUST for me every event because it really helps me settle down and I'm much less nervous at the start.
Swim
  • 33m 15s
  • 1640 yards
  • 02m 02s / 100 yards
Comments:

Got a clean start at the beginning of the swim and once I was in the water all of my nerves went away. I did really well on the way out to the first buoy...found a lot of clean water and was feeling really confident. After the first turn, I had a little more trouble finding a clean line, but I really stuck with it. It was terribly hard to sight on this long straightaway because the sun was right in the eyes. I just followed the feet I could find and hoped I was heading in the right direction. Before I knew it, I was on top of the last buoy and heading for the beach! I couldn't even believe it! I was so proud of myself because this was my first OWS race of more than 400M. I never felt even one moment of panic and I honestly have to say the swim ended up being my favorite part! I had a little more trouble sighting on the way back to the beach because we were heading on a weird diagonal, but it wasn't horrible. Got to the beach, looked at my watch and saw that I beat my swim goal by about five minutes! I was shocked! After the race found some nice claw marks on my back. Somebody actually drew blood!
What would you do differently?:

Not much. This was a fantastic swim for me. I just need to do more speedwork in the pool and hopefully my times will continue to get better.
Transition 1
  • 03m 17s
Comments:

Now I knew this transition was a little slow, because I got so excited about my swim that I was completely unfocused on taking off my wetsuit...but I had no idea it was this slow. This is just unacceptable.
What would you do differently?:

Lots. Focus. Maybe not wear socks under my bike shoes?
Bike
  • 1h 24m 22s
  • 24.85 miles
  • 17.67 mile/hr
Comments:

I had a really great time on the bike. This was a beautiful course that was relatively flat. I was really worried the night before about the 10-15mph winds, but they didn't bother me as much as I thought. My game day plan was to take it easy the first 6, hammer the middle 12 and then slow it down to get ready for the run. I pretty much stuck to my plan and it helped keep my heartrate down. One challenge was nutrition. I race in a TYR tri bathing suit that doesn't have pockets to put any food. So I used electrical tape to adhere CLIF bloks to my top tube. It worked okay but it was a little difficult to get them off so I kept putting off eating. As a result, I only had 3 CLIF bloks on the bike and about a half bottle of Gatorade. Not enough.
What would you do differently?:

I definitely need to figure out a new nutrition plan (because I really like racing in my bathing suit). Maybe get a Bento Box. Also really need to get aerobars. Thinking seriously about a newer, lighter bike before next season. In hindsight, I also could have pushed it more. I could have and should have averaged at least 18.5mph.
Transition 2
  • 01m 56s
Comments:

Not a bad transition, but again a little too long. Can't remember what held me up here.
What would you do differently?:

Just move it quicker!!
Run
  • 1h 00m 22s
  • 6.21 miles
  • 09m 43s  min/mile
Comments:

Felt surprisingly good at the start of the run (probably because I didn't push enough on the bike) and hit a 9:15 on my first mile. This scared me that I was going to run out of steam before the end, so I slowed it down a little. I was having so much fun. I saw jowisc at about mile two and we screamed back and forth at each other a bit. That was a huge boost! Also saw John(hangloose), my friend Brad and Laura(startingtotri). Even had a few random conversations out on the course. Maybe I should have concentrated a little less on socializing and more on running faster...but I was having fun! I did start hurting quite a bit at around 4, but pushed it home. I walked through a few of the water stations just so I could drink and ate half a gel at one point (I think just before four). Just before mile six I turned it on and had a great finishing kick at the end.
What would you do differently?:

I definitely could have pushed it harder on the run (although I don't feel like it today!). My heart rate was pretty comfortable and I was just way too worried about blowing up. I finished strong, but still had a little too much left at the end. I probably could have come a little closer to that 3:00 mark.
Post race
Warm down:

Crossed the finish line so happy and feeling great. Reunited with jowisc and our friends Brad and Kate. Also saw some of his co-workers and of course the other BTers. It was great fun. As usual, I started feeling really sick about five minutes after I finished. I tried to take in some Gatorade and other food, but it really didn't help much. Not until I downed a full Gatorade and some salty pretzels on the way home did I really feel better.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

I definitely need to get better at nutrition. The fact that I felt so ill after the race tells me that I didn't keep my blood sugar high enough during the race. I also didn't push as hard as I probably could have because it was my first OLY and I didn't know how hard I could go. I often underestimate my ability because of a lack of confidence and I think this race proved that I can be a good triathlete. I just need to believe in myself and start training like one!

Event comments:

This was a great race and I'm glad I picked it for my first Olympic. I'm already looking forward to next year's PP OLY Challenge!!!




Last updated: 2006-02-26 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:33:15 | 1640 yards | 02m 02s / 100yards
Age Group: 37/69
Overall: 396/661
Performance: Good
Suit: Ironman Blue Seventy Sleeveless
Course: Kind of a triangle that was a little off. There weren't many buoys and the guard platforms lining the course were hard to see (just ask hangloose!).
Start type: Wade Plus: Waves
Water temp: 77F / 25C Current: Low
200M Perf. Good Remainder: Good
Breathing: Good Drafting: Below average
Waves: Navigation: Average
Rounding: Average
T1
Time: 03:17
Performance: Bad
Cap removal: Below average Helmet on/
Suit off:
No
Wetsuit stuck? No Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed:
Biking
01:24:22 | 24.85 miles | 17.67 mile/hr
Age Group: 40/69
Overall: 477/661
Performance: Average
Wind: Some
Course: Nice course with great roads and just little rolling hills.
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence:
Turns: Average Cornering: Average
Gear changes: Good Hills: Average
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Not enough
T2
Time: 01:56
Overall: Below average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike Average
Racking bike Average
Shoe and helmet removal Below average
Running
01:00:22 | 06.21 miles | 09m 43s  min/mile
Age Group: 52/69
Overall: 500/661
Performance: Below average
Course: Back and out and back again. Very flat and no shade (thankfully it was cool!).
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
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: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

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2006-08-21 8:07 PM

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Veteran
160
1002525
Oak Park, IL
Bronze member
Subject: Pleasant Prairie Triathlon - International


2006-08-21 8:28 PM
in reply to: #518108

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Extreme Veteran
499
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Racine WI
Subject: RE: Pleasant Prairie Triathlon - International
Great race, you had excellent splits and did really well on you t times! You did awesome especially for your first Oly! It was a pleasaure meeting you this weekend.
2006-08-21 9:52 PM
in reply to: #518108

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Crystal Lake, IL
Subject: RE: Pleasant Prairie Triathlon - International
First OLY and you did great on the swim!  Congrats.  Even though I don't think I was mentally capable of responding at the the time I did see you on the run and wanted to say hi!    Thanks being part of a great weekend.  You and Jonathan are great people.
2006-08-21 10:30 PM
in reply to: #518108

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Master
1732
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Delafield, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Pleasant Prairie Triathlon - International
great race! amazing for your first oly. I hope to be there next year.
2006-08-21 11:47 PM
in reply to: #518108

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Elite
2468
20001001001001002525
Racine, WI
Subject: RE: Pleasant Prairie Triathlon - International

You did a fantastic job on your first Oly!  WTG!

It was soo much fun to meet and hang out with you this weekend.  Tris get more and more fun every season...I sure hope we see each other at future races!

2006-08-24 6:38 AM
in reply to: #518108

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Master
1478
1000100100100100252525
Southwest Chicago 'burbs
Bronze member
Subject: RE: Pleasant Prairie Triathlon - International
See, I KNEW i should have hung onto you ankles and had you pull me through the swim course.    Very, very nice -- especially for your first Oly!  Had a great time hanging with you - and hopefully we'll meet up again at some local races.


2006-08-24 9:34 AM
in reply to: #518108

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Expert
1148
100010025
NW Suburbs, Illinois
Subject: RE: Pleasant Prairie Triathlon - International
Just a fantastic race. And the great thing is you found a bunch of areas to improve on, so this means you are only going to get faster and better!!!

Bento box works, some other ideas include sticking an unwrapped powerbar to your bike (I don't do it, others do), or I have the gel-bot. Google gel bot and you will see a great product. Its basically a water bottle you can put in one of your bike cages. Its got a chamber in the middle for gels. depending on where you put the spout, you either get gel or water or both. No mess, no littering, no stickiness. Pretty sweet product.

Again, super race and race report!!!
2006-08-24 2:17 PM
in reply to: #518108

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Expert
1357
10001001001002525
Mukwonago, WI
Subject: RE: Pleasant Prairie Triathlon - International

I am just reading your report for the first time now as well. Great, great job! I have no doubt that you will be under 3 hours next year and maybe significantly under. You beat me fair and square and so did the P3 beat the Wieners so we are the ones that have the work to do so all of the P3 better be planning on being back next year.

This sure was a fun race and the Challenge made it that much more so. I do feel a lot of accomplishment in my first race and the great part is that we are only going to improve. Have a great time resting up and I look forward to doing another race with you guys somethime.
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