I almost decided to skip this
race this year. I’ve had very limited training the last 3 weeks. My left hip
was just not getting better. Finally between a couple massages during this last
week and just giving it a ton of rest, it felt like it was possible. I’ll admit
there were a couple other factors. We have friends that live near the race site
(15-30min) and it’s not often we catch up with them other places. I would have been
sad to miss those visits. Also because the race was a 5150 Qualifier, there
were more pros attending the race. I wouldn’t see much of them but Genine had
fun watching the race.
The Swim: I’m always feeling
ready to put in a solid swim. This event puts some big gaps between swim waves.
8 minutes. Which I think is the right thing to do. I appreciate that they do
this. I would love it if they would divide up our age group start tho. Our
40-44M group was 232 people. I put
myself up at the line in hopes of catching a fast pod and potentially missing
some of the mayhem. At the final 60 seconds to start, I found myself behind 5
people. What can you do…
We start. Sun is directly in
our line of sight, so if you are hoping to see buoys, it’s not going to happen
unless you are in the front. That’s not an issue tho. Just follow the crowd. Up
to the first turn it was incredibly frustrating. Constant contact, which I don’t
mind. No easy way to negotiate around the swimmers that sprinted and are
already struggling. I was nearly kicked in the face 4 times by the same guy
that would swim for 3 or 4 strokes. Then go into a breast stroke. WITH THE
KICK!!! Are you kidding me! In this crowd?!?! Obviously I had to get away from
this situation. So I powered over/through and l actually pushed people away
from me to create the space I needed. (I will probably send a note to the race
director asking that if the group is going to be this large, mention that this
type of kick is a dangerous idea. Or even better, split the division in two.
People going for the podium in the AG should indicate that on their application
and the contenders can be in the same wave.)
After the first turn
conditions improved for half the distance to the next buoy. I closed the gap to
a group ahead of me then did a terrible job getting around them. I should have
gone to the outside to make the pass. The 2nd turn sends us away
from the sun so sighting is no longer an issue. Now I felt that I really
started to swim well. I’d pick out someone to close the gap on and it seemed as
if I was on their feet in no time. At which point I would just make the pass
and pick the next cap to chase down. I was really feeling good about my swim at
this point. I didn’t consider the fact that I may have lost so much time at the
start that these people were considerably weaker swimmers than me. It was
during this stretch that I realized that I didn’t start my watch, so I wasn’t
going to know my swim split as I came out of the water.
Turns out it was a 27:32 or
1:51 pace. Slower than last year…
T1: I hear Genine cheering
for me as I run up into transition. I’m feeling good, wetsuit came off easily.
Sunglasses, Helmet, Shoes, Leg Cramps. WHAT?!?!
I hardly use my legs when I swim! My interior quads (or whatever they
are, adductors?) are freaking out right now. So here I am standing at my bike
at a complete standstill, waiting for them to relax. Finally I decide to try to
run up the hill to the bike start. Halfway up the hill, WHAM, they cramp up
again. Now I’m standing on the hill watching people run by me with their bikes.
Eventually they relax and I cross the timing mat for what turns out to be a
3:36 T1 time. Except they still aren’t done. Now I’m standing at the back of
the start on the far side waiting… waiting. I’m guessing another full minute.
As I get started, I look for Genine. I spot her and yell, “we will see how this
goes…” She thinks I’m referring to my hopes of not flatting out. Some other
woman yells out, “You are going to do great!” Race days are awesome.
The Bike: Obviously I’m going
to have to go easy to avoid cramping. I figure I’ll know soon enough whether or
not this is going to get better or worse. It wasn’t long before I came across
people changing flats. I shouted out as I approached asking if they had what
they needed. I figure if there was going to be a race where I should be helpful
this seems to be a good one. They were set. I didn’t need to stop. The next
person I came across was standing roadside with their bike on one of the climbs
looking disappointed. I asked if they needed help. She said she had a broken
cable. It was unlikely I was going to be able to help that situation, so I kept
going. Shortly after that, someone up ahead of me goes off the road slightly,
then crashes back onto the road. I ask if they want some help and they tell me
they are okay.
Eventually, I realize my legs
seem to be cooperating so I start to dial up some intensity. I’m easily 5 miles
in already and probably have been biking harder than I think I am. The road
conditions were fantastic. Staying aero on this course was so easy. One
downhill I put myself into a very aggressive aero position because I had nobody
near me. I had my hands on the bullhorns and practically lay myself on top of
my areo pads. I hit 40mph and closed the gap with the group ahead of me. That
really showed me how important, minimizing frontal resistance is.
There were more than a few
times where I got caught behind people that were blocking. Heck, one time I was
blocked by the official on the motorcycle. (I think he was blocked as well). Not
that big of a deal. It would be awesome to be able to ride that course as a
time trial tho’.
I finished the bike in
1:19:02 or 19mph. This was better than I expected to be honest. Although
judging by my HR monitor, I was pushing pretty hard.
T2: 1:42 I didn’t rush
through this. I was trying to decide whether or not I should run.
The Run: It’s only 10K. That’s
what I left transition thinking. Try to get into a zone and knock it down. The
first mile 8:20. 2nd mile 8:00. 3rd mile never saw the
marker. I’ll admit to walking part of a couple of the steeper hills. My right
quad was feeling it. I watched people from my age group run by. It was sad. I
just couldn’t bring myself to stay on the gas. In hindsight, I wish I would of. I doubt I
would be any more sore as a result of having pushed it the rest of the way. I
suppose the good news is, as I reached the final mile or so of the run where it’s
basically flat, I got to thinking about how next year I will be ready for this
run. (Have I said that before?)
53:46 or 8:41 min/mile. I was
just under 8 min/mile last year. So this was a significant drop off compared to
last year.
Other than the leg cramps, (which
for the life of me, I do not understand how that happens after a swim) I really
enjoyed the race. Catching up with our friends in the area was even better. It
all goes by too quickly. It was a great weekend.
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