Portage Lakes Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic


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Akron, Ohio
United States
HFP Racing
65F / 18C
Overcast
Total Time = 2h 44m 18s
Overall Rank = 106/170
Age Group = 40-44
Age Group Rank = 10/19
Pre-race routine:

This was a local race for me. I got up around 5:15 and started with coffee. Around 6:30 I drank an Ultragen race nutrition drink. At 7:30 (at the park) I drank another one. I opted for an all liquid breakfast. Nerves were getting to me which helped the evacuation process =). The bike was already loaded up in the car as was most of my gear. I double checked to make sure I wasn't missing anything. I was kind'ov fretting because there was a light drizzle. The forecast called for 40% chance of rain. I really didn't want to ride and run in the rain.
Event warmup:

I put my bike together and rode it around in the parking lot a few times to get some blood flowing in my legs. It was chilly but the drizzle stopped (whoo hoo). I met a few people in the transition area and hit the portojons (again and again). I walked down to the beach to check out the set up and to make sure I understood it all. Wow, there are alot of people here (close to 850..their biggest turnout ever). They got the P.A. system fired up and gave some basic instructions .... bike route is painted orange ... run route is painted yellow... borange, rellow, got it. Getting close to 8am. My heat starts at 8:29. I went to the transition area one last time.
Swim
  • 29m 4s
  • 1500 meters
  • 01m 56s / 100 meters
Comments:

Nobody in our age group wanted to go first. I waited until half the guys were across the mat before I took off. The dude in front of me didn't want to swim I think. He stayed on his feet until we got to the first orange buoy. Once I got past him, I was on my way. I stayed to the right of the crowd and concentrated on making sure I was relaxed and didn't go out to fast. I was trying to monitor my breathing and settled into a nice even stroke. I couldn't help it...I could tell I was cruising in high gear. Couldn't slow it down. It was too cold. After I made the turn at the first yellow buoy (I was passing everyone in front of me one at a time) I started to have problems with the arches of my feet and my calves. Cramps! How is that possible? I haven't done anything yet! I focused on keeping my stroke fluid and strong and tried to relax my feet while stretching out my arches..I never stopped swimming. I do believe it was the cold that caused the cramping. Then after coming out, I took my time climbing the mountain to the transition area. I started out jogging up that sucker but decided to walk and get my breath.
What would you do differently?:

I will consider a wetsuit for the future. It's a big investment but I think it would help. I never did get really warm from the swim. I think I should have been more aggressive running up that hill and getting to the transition area. I could have saved some time here.
Transition 1
  • 03m 44s
Comments:

Yikes! In my defense, I must say the transition area was long and I was at the farthest end away from the beach. It's all relative I know. I only had to walk my bike 10 feet to the exit. I have no idea how I chewed up that much time here. I think I was slow =). My wife and son and a bunch of friends were right there next to the transition area screaming encouragement to me and taking pictures. What a hoot.
What would you do differently?:

Pick up the pace a bit =).
Bike
  • 1h 15m 12s
  • 23 miles
  • 18.35 mile/hr
Comments:

I had a great ride. I couldn't help but push. The adrenaline was flowing and after the first loop the sun came out. The weather turned out to be absolutely beautiful for the race. There was an awesome example of commitment and strength on the worst hill. The only wheel chair participant (that I knew of) was half way up the hill with the brakes on. He also had a support guy behind him on a bike with his brakes on keeping him from going backwards. He could only go forward 1/2 foot at time. He had to rest. Very moving to see.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing
Transition 2
  • 01m 32s
Comments:

I didn't push here at all. I didn't think I was in here that long, but again, the transition area was LONG.
What would you do differently?:

Run with the bike.
Run
  • 54m 44s
  • 6.2 miles
  • 08m 50s  min/mile
Comments:

I think I shouldn't have had that 2nd endurance shake. I was hydrated enough but I felt bloated and I felt it more on the run than anywhere else. After 5 miles I actually felt really good and picked up the pace. My last mile was better than any of my first 5.
What would you do differently?:

I could have pushed harder on the run. I didn't think my time was as good as it was so I was slacking a little bit. This was my weakest leg. I think it was partly due to my over ingesting and also my last 3 weeks of not feeling all that well.
Post race
Warm down:

My family and friends were at the finish and I heard my wife yell out you're going to make your goal. It was exhilarating. I walked over to my wife and we hugged (what a good sport..I was gross). It was so exciting for both of us to share together. I got a water bottle exiting the finish and worked on that a bit while we talked and took pictures.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Experience, over ingestion, and aggressiveness (especially on the run).

Event comments:

This was an awesome weekend for me. I had a great race for my first official Olympic Tri. Note: the last picture is my wife and I on our sofa massaging each other's feet =).


Profile Album


Last updated: 2010-04-17 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:29:04 | 1500 meters | 01m 56s / 100meters
Age Group: 4/19
Overall: 60/170
Performance: Good
Not sure about the exact pace. Coming out of the water, I had to climb up a long hill, to the transition area where the mats were. This was all included in the swim time.
Suit: sharkskin shorts
Course: Start on the beach, run over the mat, take a right at the first buoy... counterclockwise course. They placed a bright yellow buoy a long ways away to the right and 2 a long ways away to the left. It was very easy to know where to go. There were multiple orange buoys in the middle. As long as you kept everything to the inside you were good to go.
Start type: Run Plus:
Water temp: 73F / 23C Current: Medium
200M Perf. Good Remainder: Good
Breathing: Good Drafting:
Waves: Navigation: Good
Rounding: Good
T1
Time: 03:44
Performance: Bad
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike: No
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Bad
Biking
01:15:12 | 23 miles | 18.35 mile/hr
Age Group: 14/19
Overall: 104/170
Performance: Good
Wind: Some
Course: Very hilly. There were some monster hills on this course. 2 loops, well marked with traffic blocked off at intersections. At the last turn off to head over to transition #2 my support group made their presence known...what a boost!!!
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence:
Turns: Cornering:
Gear changes: Hills:
Race pace: Hard Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 01:32
Overall: Average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike
Racking bike
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
00:54:44 | 06.2 miles | 08m 50s  min/mile
Age Group: 14/19
Overall: 120/170
Performance: Below average
Course: Through the park, 2 loops, either up hill or down hill with not very steep grades. It didn't seem like there was any area that was flat.
Keeping cool Average Drinking
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? No
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities:
Race evaluation [1-5] 4