Chelan Man Triathlon - Long Course

Chelan Man - 1.2 mile swim, 58 mile bike, 13.1 mile run
July 16, 2010

Pre- Race

I woke up in the morning and was excited for the race. I had a good race plan and was excited for the swim as my swim has been feeling really good lately. This also was going to be a good test for my bike after two cortisone shots and a new bike fit. It also was going to be my first longer race on my tri bike.

Swim: 41:59 8/17 AG.. Goal was 38, but never swam in conditions like that.

I was a bit worried about the chop and the line was blown way off so I wasn't going to follow it on the way out. I did a practice swim and told myself to stay calm in the chop and stay relaxed. I started a bit wide left, but made sure I had swimmers to the left of me. I started out good, I then spotted a few times and swallowed a bunch of water. I panicked a bit and lost my cool. I stopped swimming to burp up water. I then did sidestroke to keep my head out of the water to calm myself down. It didn't work I struggled to get to the turnaround. I wasted a lot of energy as well. At the turnaround I calmed down a bit and got in a good rhythm. I swam well here and followed the line. With about 400-500 yds to go my arms were really tired and I kept form but felt slow. I did a bit of sidestroke again. I then felt my calf starting to cramp and soon after my hamstring. I stopped two times to stretch it out since I could stand in the shallow water. I came out of the water and I felt like it was a 50 minute swim, I guess when I was swimming I was doing well. I really wish I could have kept my cool and not stopped at all. Oh well, I'm not going to be upset about being 3-4 minutes slow in that chop.

T1 - 1:30
Despite the miserable swim, I stayed focused and had
a great T1.

Bike: 3:17.. 9/17 AG

My goal was 3:10, but it was 2 miles long, so I pretty much hit my goal. The bike course was fantastic, an out and back along the lake with some rolling hills. Then, the last 15 miles or so was two long hill climbs. I did get pretty worn down on the last hill climb. If I do this race again I’m getting a lower gear for the hills. Overall It was a great course and I’m happy with my performance.

T2 - 1:27
I felt really slow on T2, but guess I wasn't. I put on socks, shoes and got out of there quickly.

Run: 2:15, 7/17AG

My goal was 1:45 for the run.

Ok here we go! my bread and butter. I was shooting for a 5:45 race and I figued I would be a bit slow since my bike and swim were tough. I ran out of transition with a song in my head that gives me the right pace. I checked it with my garmin and I was right on a 8:05 pace. First mile felt ok, my legs were battered up, but felt good otherwise. I was thinking I can do this pace, I will just have to fight sore legs. Mile two was a similiar pace, just over 8minutes. On mile 3 I realized I was getting hot and decided to walk through the aid station and get two waters on me. I did and it felt good. I started to run up the slight incline and was doing a 9 minute pace. I then started to feel sick. I looked at my HR. It was high. Too high for the this run. I felt like I failed and walked some. I then started to run again and I couldn't even hold a 9 min pace. I was running next to a lady and we chatted a bit, I could tell she was seasoned racer. I told her I was having trouble with the heat and HR. She said dont' hurt yourself and be careful. At that point all I did was watch my HR and did the best I could at each aid station to cool down. Ice in my hat, rubbed ice on my heart, water over my head. Nothing worked. I was TOAST. I did a walk run the rest of the race and it was tough. I ran with the same lady later in the race and we were both hurting. We both did a run walk and motivated each other to the finish. Each mile was very long. I am very bummed about the run as I know I could have put in a great time. I'm going to review my numbers and try to figure out how to never let this happen again.


Finish: 6:19 6 out of 17 AG

I crossed the finish line slowly. This is the first time I haven’t been able to sprint the last part of a race until this race. I then heard Mike talking to me and I was getting very light headed. Thanks To Greg, Mike and Jill for getting me to the shade and on the ground. After getting in the water I started to feel better. What a miserable race. Not much enjoyment at all.

It was a great course, but the heat just killed me out there.

Five Mile Lake Triathlon

Five Mile Lake - 400m swim, 14 mile bike, 3 mile run
June 19th, 2010

Pre-Race - I was not very well prepared for this race as i didnt get home until 11pm from Cirque du soleil. I made sure I had everything ready for the race sitting by the front door. I even was too lazy to put on a new tire; i had a small cut from Issaquah tri on it. I just brought the tire and figured maybe i'd get in changed in the morning. I don't think I got much sleep. I get a little anxious for races. I woke up at 4:30, ate some yogurt and pop tarts. Greg picked me up and I had a small donut at 6. My stomach was a bit upset, but was ok. I was really hoping the rain would hold up. I had plenty of time and the on-site bike shop was not busy, so i had them put on my new tire. I got my wetsuit on and swam a bit. Water felt great!

Swim – 6:17 4 out of 10 Age Group

I was in the middle in the front, only 2-3 people behind me. My goal was to relax to first buoy and then turn it on a bit. I started the swim and could not find open water. Lots of slower swimmers in my way and I was constantly hitting their legs with my arms. I found it tough to find open water. I felt like I was passing a lot of people between the two buoys. Finally I got out in front of a group and really focused on the swim to the shore. I saw the first group getting out. I felt really good for this section and wished I could have swam that well for the entire race. I got out and ran pretty hard to transition. I felt great. I had a little difficulty getting my wetsuit off my ankles.

T1 - very good, minus 10 extra seconds with wetsuit.

Bike - 41:19 5/10 AG

This was going to be my first race since getting a cortisone shot in my back (cuz of flat at issy) and I was hoping it would really help me out. I was passed by a couple guys going really fast. I was able to pass a couple riders and was feeling ok. I also got a new bike fit to take some pressure off my back. I was pretty comfortable, but my hamstrings were in a bit of pain, but not as bad as before the cortisone. I don't have a lot to say about the bike, I wasn't as fast as i hoped i could go, but I held my own.

T2- I came off the bike right behind two guys. I had a great T2 and it paid off. I was ahead of the other guys who came in right ahead of me.

Run – 19:54 3/10 AG

Ok, time to make up my bike time here. I passed two guys in the first 100 yards with ease. I then passed another at a 1/4 mile in. No one was ahead of me. I had no idea what place I was in for AG. I felt like I must have been behind quite a few after the bike. I then hear these really fast feet behind me. I rarely get passed on the run, who is this guy? At 1/2 mile I get passed, and he is 45. So this guy is fast, he started after me. I tried to follow him but his pace was a little to fast for me as we hit the first climb. My Garmin beeped, first mile 6:32. I was happy with that given the hills. Mile 2 was very painful. Lots of rollers that were wearing me down. Somehow mile 2 ended, 6:45 pace. I can't complain, it was a lot of climbing. Here we go, one mile to go. Finish Strong, as painful as it felt. I wanted a fast finish. I turned it up a bit. I enter the park and was HURTING. I hear someone on my tail. I told myself, you can pass me but I'm going to blow by you the last 50 yards, so good luck. I kept my pace and kept waiting for him to make his move, making last turn and ready to kick it up. He never made a move, so I sprinted the last fifty yards and finished in miserable sprint like pain. I'm not sure on my mile 3 pace, but I finished with a 6:25, so I must of really had a great last mile.

Post Race - walked around in pain, knee and calf. I felt good about my race and talked to Greg who said I did really well. I didn't think much of it. Then Greg runs over and said I was 3rd in my AG. I didn't believe him for a while. I checked it myself and was really happy about it. After looking at my results I didn't kick butt at any particular event, but I put a great race together with great transitions. The two guys in 4th and 5th in my AG beat me by two minutes on the bike but my transitions, swim and run held them both off.

This was the most fun i've had racing i think. Team showed up big, and a well-run, fun race. 3rd place was icing on the cake.

18th overall out of 220, 3rd out of 10 Age Group.