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Black Bear Triathlon - TriathlonSprint


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Beltsville, Pennsylvania
United States
CGI Racing
Overcast
Total Time = 2h 54m 26s
Overall Rank = 268/277
Age Group = F 40-44
Age Group Rank = 15/15
Pre-race routine:

I've edited my race report to indicate official times and placements (watch time was only off by 3 seconds overall, which is cool). Almost DFL - I've got to stop looking at official results. They just bring me down. :-(

Little sleep the night before. "Bed" (couch) at 11:00 at the friend of a friend's, where there were too many distractions and noises. Up at 5:00. Bkfst: grapefruit juice, tea, 2 pcs wheat toast w/peanut butter. Banana about an hr before race.
Event warmup:

None. Got to race site too late to really get in any warmup. Stretched a little.
Swim
  • 21m 54s
  • 820 yards
  • 02m 40s / 100 yards
Comments:

Started in the back of the pack, as usual and was not feeling positive this morning, unfortunately. The swim has always been a big mental obstacle for me. Physically, it's the 2nd strongest of the 3 sports for me, though. Basically just took too many breast stroke breaks, especially if someone swam into me. Breathing in the wetsuit was surprisingly OK (after my hyperventilation episode a few days earlier). My time should have been about 3 minutes faster.
What would you do differently?:

I don't know how to overcome my dread of the swim other than to just keep doing practice open water swims and practice having people swim into me while I keep going. Other than that, get therapy? :-)
Transition 1
  • 07m 18s
Comments:

3:31 Remove wetsuit & run/walk to T1
3:41 Actual time in transition area

Since this was my first wetsuit tri, I really took my time. It was a long haul from the swim exit to transition (about 1/4 mile) and I knew I had a hilly bike ahead of me, so decided to just take my time with it and get my heart rate down and mentally prepared for the bike.
What would you do differently?:

For this year, nothing. For future years, probably jog to T1 and speed it up a little once there.
Bike
  • 1h 35m 6s
  • 17.7 miles
  • 11.17 mile/hr
Comments:

The bike is my strongest sport, and I really had fun with it today. For some reason, regardless of how ugly the bike is, I just approach it so differently from the swim. So, it was hilly. 'Nuff said. Can't emphasize it enough. lol. Lots of slingshot hills, so made really good and frequent use of the aerobars. CANNOT believe I had to walk parts of 2 of the hills, but I had plenty of company. A friend who also did this race and finished way ahead of me said she saw lots of walkers too. Crazy bike, but I'll climb any hill around for the chance to speed downhill in the aeroboars. What a rush! :-)
What would you do differently?:

Attach a motor to my bike for the really steep hills? lol
Transition 2
  • 01m 49s
Comments:

Uneventful and average T2. Was gonna change my socks and didn't - good choice. Very crowded T2 because by the time I got there, most racers were finished with the race and were congregating in T2 before the awards ceremony.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing.
Run
  • 48m 19s
  • 3.3 miles
  • 14m 38s  min/mile
Comments:

This was a really gorgeous run course, and on a great surface. I'm not fan of running on hard surfaces, so was looking forward to a trail run, and it did not disappoint. It was flat to moderately hilly, and coming off the bikes, my legs felt the best they ever have for a brick! My time doesn't reflect that, though. I took several very quick walk breaks, but I guess I was running slower than I thought, looking at my time. Yikes!
What would you do differently?:

Running is my weakest sport, so just "keep running Forrest."
Post race
Warm down:

BioFreeze is awesome! Had some water and food afterwards, should probably have stretched, but didn't. Put BioFreeze on my knees for the first time and agree that it's great stuff. Additionally, iced my knees an hour or so later to further reduce inflammation. Writing this up about 9 hrs post-race, knees feel pretty good.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Letting my mental demons take over a little too much on the swim and just generally not being a fast racer. I'm never going to be super speedy, so I'm thrilled to just finish these things!




Last updated: 2007-05-07 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:21:54 | 820 yards | 02m 40s / 100yards
Age Group: 0/15
Overall: 0/277
Performance: Below average
Suit: Sleeveless wetsuit
Course: Beautiful Lake Beltzville. Very calm water with a moderate current. Great water.
Start type: Wade Plus:
Water temp: 72F / 22C Current: Low
200M Perf. Below average Remainder: Average
Breathing: Average Drafting:
Waves: Navigation:
Rounding:
T1
Time: 07:18
Performance: Below average
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
No
Wetsuit stuck? No Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Good
Biking
01:35:06 | 17.7 miles | 11.17 mile/hr
Age Group: 0/15
Overall: 0/277
Performance: Average
Wind: None
Course: Seriously ridiculously hilly course. Had to actually get off bike and walk parts of 2 of the hills. I wasn't the only one. Seriously, go to www.cgiracing.com and find the elevation profile for this race, but even that doesn't adequately display how difficult this course is.
Road: Rough Dry Cadence:
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Good Hills: Average
Race pace: Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 01:49
Overall:
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike Average
Racking bike Average
Shoe and helmet removal Good
Running
00:48:19 | 03.3 miles | 14m 38s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/15
Overall: 0/277
Performance: Below average
Course: Packed gravel trail mostly through woods.
Keeping cool Average Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 3
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Too hard
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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2007-06-03 12:20 PM

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Expert
808
500100100100
Columbia, MD
Subject: Black Bear Triathlon


2007-06-03 6:46 PM
in reply to: #827200

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Regular
173
1002525
MD
Subject: RE: Black Bear Triathlon
Nice job on the race! I did the half and would agree 100% with the "seriously ridiculously hilly" comment. Well done!

2007-06-03 7:41 PM
in reply to: #827481

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Expert
808
500100100100
Columbia, MD
Subject: RE: Black Bear Triathlon

fenway - 2007-06-03 7:46 PM Nice job on the race! I did the half and would agree 100% with the "seriously ridiculously hilly" comment. Well done!

Chip, you are to be congratulated for finishing a half iron on that course.  I previewed your race report and had to laugh at the comment about the LP vet saying this course was harder.  You should come back to PA and train on this course between now and 7/22 so that the LP course seems tame by comparison.

2007-06-03 7:54 PM
in reply to: #827200

Regular
73
2525
Lehigh Valley, Pa.
Subject: RE: Black Bear Triathlon
Way to go. I did the Sprint also. I can't imagine 56 miles on that course, I too thought it was brutal. Race report to follow. BTW, there were walkers on the hills in the First waves also!!!
2007-06-03 8:14 PM
in reply to: #827200

New user
10

Subject: RE: Black Bear Triathlon
Does anyone else think that run was longer than a 5k. Maybe a 3.5 miler I would love to hear from someone with at GPS
2007-06-03 8:22 PM
in reply to: #827596

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Expert
808
500100100100
Columbia, MD
Subject: RE: Black Bear Triathlon

mhemberg - 2007-06-03 9:14 PM Does anyone else think that run was longer than a 5k. Maybe a 3.5 miler I would love to hear from someone with at GPS

According to the race organizers, it was 3.3 miles.  They made it a tad longer so we could get a view from the damn dam.



Edited by MelissaE 2007-06-03 8:48 PM


2007-06-03 8:39 PM
in reply to: #827200

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Veteran
513
500
Chicago (Old Town)
Subject: RE: Black Bear Triathlon
Great job on a tough course!!!

I was working the bike mount/dismount and saw a lot of people have a really rough time on the bike. Looks like you killed it, piece of cake!!! Way to go out there!!!

2007-06-03 11:04 PM
in reply to: #827200

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Champion
8766
5000200010005001001002525
Evergreen, Colorado
Subject: RE: Black Bear Triathlon
Congratulations!!!  It sounds like you had a GREAT time!!!
2007-06-04 6:37 AM
in reply to: #827200

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Master
3546
2000100050025
Millersville, MD
Subject: RE: Black Bear Triathlon
Great job and great report.  If you need someone to simulate trying to drown you on an OWS, I'm sure there's a few locals up for the task.  Seriously - way to just keep swimming when it got tough.  I would enjoy WATCHING everyone get off their bikes on the hills... not so sure I'd be as enthusiastic if I was riding the course and had too do it as well, however.  That elevation profile is wicked.
2007-06-04 1:47 PM
in reply to: #827200

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Veteran
156
1002525
Subject: RE: Black Bear Triathlon
Wooohoo - way to go with this race!!!!  Saw your post on the Ryka thread.  Sounds like Columbia will be a piece of cake after this oneCool 
2007-06-05 8:02 AM
in reply to: #827200

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Master
1668
10005001002525
Cinnaminson, NJ
Subject: RE: Black Bear Triathlon
great job


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