May 31st, 2008
This was my first ever triathlon in 2007 and was ready to see how much I could improve on last years time. A week or two before the race I wasn't too confident due to some nagging pain on the bike and run. I felt I was not going to be able to race very well. A couple of days before the race I did some open water swimming and felt really good about it. I then realized even if I had some pain on the bike and run it shouldn't slow me down too much as the pain usually is from longer distances. I then became very confident about myself and set my ultimate goal for finishing in under 1hr 20min. (9:30 swim, 46min bike, 21min run)
I didn't get much sleep and woke up at 4:40am. I ate a bagel and a banana. I went early and got the end bike position on the rack. I did some stretching, short run, and even got in the water for a bit before start. I was feeling pretty good and for the first time was not nervous for the swim. It was great to be on a team and talk to everyone about the race.
Swim: 08:15.7
I decided to start right behind Greg and try and draft him for the first 100 or so yards until he pulled away. Greg was a bit ambitious and got in the water on the outside in the front. I looked behind me and saw a bunch of guys who were probably going to swim right over me. Start! We were off and it was a madhouse! I started swimming right away, couldn't see a thing in the water. I popped my head up and saw quite a few passed me by running in the water. This was fine as they at least weren't swimming over me. I couldn't see a thing with all the splashing. I didn't get hit in the face, and seemed to stay clear of everyone. I did have a couple arm hits on my legs, but it didn't bother me much and I moved out of the way. Greg was nowhere to be seen. I made the turn at the first buoy and got in the open. I think I went a bit wide and got to the right too far, but made the adjustment. I spotted a few times and saw swimmers on both sides of me. I then got in a great swim groove and didn't spot much at all as I could see a couple of swimmers on either side of me. I can't believe how quickly I got to the last turn. I then swam toward shore telling myself, "don't stand up early!" I spotted a couple of times as I think I passed the people around me. I then saw the bottom and kept swimming. Once I saw I was pretty close to shore I stood up. Wow! That felt amazing. Not tired at all, and that was the first swim I did freestyle then entire time and nothing bothered me in the water. Time to ride!
T1: 01:37.1
I got some pointers from Greg as he went to the transition clinic. Keep it simple and dump stuff you don't need at the tent. This helped, no bag anymore. I ran to my bike trying to stay calm. I tore my wetsuit off without a problem and quickly threw on my socks and tri shoes. I made two mistakes in preparation. I didn't turn on my Garmin ahead of time and put my lenses in backwards which you can't notice until you try them on. So no glasses for the ride and had to wait the first mile or so for my Garmin to acquire sattelites. No big deal though, didn't' let it bother me.
I didn't get much sleep and woke up at 4:40am. I ate a bagel and a banana. I went early and got the end bike position on the rack. I did some stretching, short run, and even got in the water for a bit before start. I was feeling pretty good and for the first time was not nervous for the swim. It was great to be on a team and talk to everyone about the race.
Swim: 08:15.7
I decided to start right behind Greg and try and draft him for the first 100 or so yards until he pulled away. Greg was a bit ambitious and got in the water on the outside in the front. I looked behind me and saw a bunch of guys who were probably going to swim right over me. Start! We were off and it was a madhouse! I started swimming right away, couldn't see a thing in the water. I popped my head up and saw quite a few passed me by running in the water. This was fine as they at least weren't swimming over me. I couldn't see a thing with all the splashing. I didn't get hit in the face, and seemed to stay clear of everyone. I did have a couple arm hits on my legs, but it didn't bother me much and I moved out of the way. Greg was nowhere to be seen. I made the turn at the first buoy and got in the open. I think I went a bit wide and got to the right too far, but made the adjustment. I spotted a few times and saw swimmers on both sides of me. I then got in a great swim groove and didn't spot much at all as I could see a couple of swimmers on either side of me. I can't believe how quickly I got to the last turn. I then swam toward shore telling myself, "don't stand up early!" I spotted a couple of times as I think I passed the people around me. I then saw the bottom and kept swimming. Once I saw I was pretty close to shore I stood up. Wow! That felt amazing. Not tired at all, and that was the first swim I did freestyle then entire time and nothing bothered me in the water. Time to ride!
T1: 01:37.1
I got some pointers from Greg as he went to the transition clinic. Keep it simple and dump stuff you don't need at the tent. This helped, no bag anymore. I ran to my bike trying to stay calm. I tore my wetsuit off without a problem and quickly threw on my socks and tri shoes. I made two mistakes in preparation. I didn't turn on my Garmin ahead of time and put my lenses in backwards which you can't notice until you try them on. So no glasses for the ride and had to wait the first mile or so for my Garmin to acquire sattelites. No big deal though, didn't' let it bother me.
Bike: 46:08.8
Max HR: 176
Avg HR: 168
Here we go on the bike, my weakest event. I was going to follow everything I learned from Jill on our recon training. I didn't pass anyone for the first section and was keeping an eye on my HR monitor. Once we got out on the false flat I held back, but I did pass a few slower riders. I kept a nice pace and was saving my legs. I did not once watch my mph on the ride. I just watched my HR and for the most part raced on leg feel. I climbed the first hill and felt fine, holding back a bit on the beginning, then cranked a bit near the top and crested with some speed and took off down the hill. I felt I did the first section very well and had lots of energy left. I hit the turnaround and couldn't believe I was already there. I passed some riders, but was getting passed by a few, all looked like very strong riders and had tri bikes. On the way back I started the climb. My adductors started to hurt a bit, this has been a nagging pain for me, but I still kept a decent speed going up the hill. I made a small mistake of going a little too hard too early here. No worries, I cranked it up and started the decent. I knew I should have saved it for the crest of the hill, but oh well, I'm at least feeling fairly good. I pretty much rode the rest of the race attempting to hammer something out near the end, but my legs didn't quite have it in me. I certainly could have shaved a couple of minutes off my time by going harder at the end, but didn't want to kill myself before the run. I was happy with my bike and thought I rode well for my current abilities. I know I will improve a lot in the next year.
T2: 01:01.6
Nothing special here, I fumbled a bit with the garmin, but did this while jogging through transition. Its a bit of a pain to put the wrist velcro thing on and transfer it, but I really wanted to know my HR and distance for the run.
Run: 21:01.9
Here we go on the bike, my weakest event. I was going to follow everything I learned from Jill on our recon training. I didn't pass anyone for the first section and was keeping an eye on my HR monitor. Once we got out on the false flat I held back, but I did pass a few slower riders. I kept a nice pace and was saving my legs. I did not once watch my mph on the ride. I just watched my HR and for the most part raced on leg feel. I climbed the first hill and felt fine, holding back a bit on the beginning, then cranked a bit near the top and crested with some speed and took off down the hill. I felt I did the first section very well and had lots of energy left. I hit the turnaround and couldn't believe I was already there. I passed some riders, but was getting passed by a few, all looked like very strong riders and had tri bikes. On the way back I started the climb. My adductors started to hurt a bit, this has been a nagging pain for me, but I still kept a decent speed going up the hill. I made a small mistake of going a little too hard too early here. No worries, I cranked it up and started the decent. I knew I should have saved it for the crest of the hill, but oh well, I'm at least feeling fairly good. I pretty much rode the rest of the race attempting to hammer something out near the end, but my legs didn't quite have it in me. I certainly could have shaved a couple of minutes off my time by going harder at the end, but didn't want to kill myself before the run. I was happy with my bike and thought I rode well for my current abilities. I know I will improve a lot in the next year.
T2: 01:01.6
Nothing special here, I fumbled a bit with the garmin, but did this while jogging through transition. Its a bit of a pain to put the wrist velcro thing on and transfer it, but I really wanted to know my HR and distance for the run.
Run: 21:01.9
Max HR: 189
Avg HR: 174
I really thought I could do 7min miles here. That did not happen. I put on my shoes and was thinking 'what is in my shoes?'. Oh wait, nothing, my feet are numb. I got over it quickly and did a 7:35 first mile. I was thinking my legs would feel better soon and could start doing under 7 min miles. Nope. My right calf/Achilles was hurting and I was starting to slow down. I passed quite a few people and then tried not too fall in the mud and sprinklers. Mile 2 was pretty painful and was bummed that calf pain was holding me back. I told myself I'm still doing well and having a great race so tough it out! I then got passed by a guy who looked like a solid runner, but not too elite to blow me away. I foll wed him. He started pulling away but I kept telling myself, 'nobody is going to beat me in a sprint, just stay within 30yds of him' We then caught a guy who started picking it up as we approached him, he looked dead but was mustering some speed for the finish. We then hit the three cones to the left, I had memorized this location to know I'm about to come out of the woods for the final section. Then all of a sudden the runner I was following died out and I passed him, but then to my surprise the other guy was really picking up speed. I stayed back and he actually pulled ahead a bit. I then turned it on a bit just to stay near him. I could tell he was going all out and I was not. I knew I could take him easily in a sprint. Then about 60 yards away I did an all out sprint and then heard my awesome teammates cheering me on. I blew by him and beat him by about four strides. I then felt like passing out, but the pain is all worth it at the end. I love beating people at the finish.
Overall: Finish 01:18:05.1 - AG 34/72
That was the most complete race I've ever put together. I smoked the swim, I've been working so hard on becoming a decent swimmer and I now know I am there. I met my bike goal, and I am looking forward to becoming a better cyclist. I met my run goal, but I should have done about 19 minutes, my back and achilles hurt pretty bad so it wasn't an effort thing. I am working on fixing that with a PT. I also rocked my transitions - getting new tri shoes helped a lot. The race seemed so short and I never was down on myself or miserable at any point. I can't get over how much fun it was and how fun it is to have teammates at the race. I improved by 14 minutes from last year. Bring It! http://www.jft2.com/
I really thought I could do 7min miles here. That did not happen. I put on my shoes and was thinking 'what is in my shoes?'. Oh wait, nothing, my feet are numb. I got over it quickly and did a 7:35 first mile. I was thinking my legs would feel better soon and could start doing under 7 min miles. Nope. My right calf/Achilles was hurting and I was starting to slow down. I passed quite a few people and then tried not too fall in the mud and sprinklers. Mile 2 was pretty painful and was bummed that calf pain was holding me back. I told myself I'm still doing well and having a great race so tough it out! I then got passed by a guy who looked like a solid runner, but not too elite to blow me away. I foll wed him. He started pulling away but I kept telling myself, 'nobody is going to beat me in a sprint, just stay within 30yds of him' We then caught a guy who started picking it up as we approached him, he looked dead but was mustering some speed for the finish. We then hit the three cones to the left, I had memorized this location to know I'm about to come out of the woods for the final section. Then all of a sudden the runner I was following died out and I passed him, but then to my surprise the other guy was really picking up speed. I stayed back and he actually pulled ahead a bit. I then turned it on a bit just to stay near him. I could tell he was going all out and I was not. I knew I could take him easily in a sprint. Then about 60 yards away I did an all out sprint and then heard my awesome teammates cheering me on. I blew by him and beat him by about four strides. I then felt like passing out, but the pain is all worth it at the end. I love beating people at the finish.
Overall: Finish 01:18:05.1 - AG 34/72
That was the most complete race I've ever put together. I smoked the swim, I've been working so hard on becoming a decent swimmer and I now know I am there. I met my bike goal, and I am looking forward to becoming a better cyclist. I met my run goal, but I should have done about 19 minutes, my back and achilles hurt pretty bad so it wasn't an effort thing. I am working on fixing that with a PT. I also rocked my transitions - getting new tri shoes helped a lot. The race seemed so short and I never was down on myself or miserable at any point. I can't get over how much fun it was and how fun it is to have teammates at the race. I improved by 14 minutes from last year. Bring It! http://www.jft2.com/
4 comments:
Great report and race Kevin! You BROUGHT IT! Looking forward to racing with you this summer.
Great job Kevin!!
Great improvement from last year Kevin!
Great race Kevin! It certainly made all the rainy day workouts this winter worth it:). Bring on Lake Stevens!
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