TRI Aggieland Sprint Triathlon - Triathlon


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College Station, Texas
United States
Race Texas
80F / 27C
Sunny
Total Time = 1h 12m 29s
Overall Rank = 77/487
Age Group = 35-39
Age Group Rank = 7/33
Pre-race routine:

Road up with my training partner who beat me in this race last year. It was both of our first triathlons ever and I had the most disastrous swim ever. We were meeting two friends of ours who were both participating in their first triathlon. We all went to school there at the same time it was a trip full of memories.

We all got together on Saturday and checked in to the hotel. Went off to go get our race packets and to ride the 6 mile bike course loop. Everything went well other than the fact that it was as hot as could be. We went out for a pre-race dinner of steaks, and then went to the Dixie Chicken for a little extra carb loading. We all left after two beers and retired to our hotel to layout the gear for tomorrow and put our stickers on etc.

Went to bed early and work up the next day at 4:15. I had a bagel with peanut butter and honey and two bananas. Loaded up our gear and headed out for transition. Arrived, pumped up the tires, hit the transition area for body marking and getting our timing chips. Laid out my transition area and helped my two buddies who were new at it and tried to keep them calm.
Event warmup:

They opened up the pool for about thirty minutes for swim warmups, so even though it would be a while before I went off, I hopped in and swam a quick 100 m just to go through my timing again. Hopped out, sat in the stands while the fast swimmers took off in time trial fashion and cheered on my buddy who is pretty fast in the water.

Took a bag of Powerbar, energy chomps and got in line working my way to the start.
Swim
  • 09m 40s
  • 400 meters
  • 02m 25s / 100 meters
Comments:

It was a time trial start and I seeded myself as a 9:00 min. swimmer so it took a while to get to me. My training partner is a faster swimmer than I am so I got to watch him go. In observing the swimmers I couldn't help but think that some folks haven't swam in a while and severly over estimated their capabilities for swimming. I know this is the case because I did it last year.

It came my turn to start I passed over the mat and away I went. I got right into the flow and I was moving well. I got passed by the guy right behind me about 200 meters in. I didn't let it bother me, just gotta swim my swim. I passed a few by the first 400 meters. I got passed again and then I hit the turn at 650 meters. Where a woman was holding onto the wall and as I pushed off she determined this was when she would take off as well. No big deal except she was a back stroker and was hugging the line divider. So as I went to pass she hit me, and pushed me down a little and through me out of my rythem. I recovered and thought nothing of it, I'm sure she didn't mean to do it and she was probably feeling bad. I couldn't get over cause someone was passing me so hopefully it was a one time deal. And then whack she hits me again. Now I'm a little more hacked this time and then pow again she hits me on her stroke. So I decide to start kicking to pick up the pace a little and put her behind me. I clear her about the middle of the pool but not before she hits me two more times. I'd be lieing if I said I didn't cut over a little fast in hopes that one of my kicks would find her reaching arm.

Rest of the swim went really well and out the exit I go and head for T1. The timing mat for T1 was right as you entered the transition area so looking at my time I think I predicted my swim time pretty accurately.
What would you do differently?:

Kick away from the back stroker. I was very satisfied with the swim overall considering this was my shot at redemption from the debacle that was last year's swim.
Transition 1
  • 02m 19s
Comments:

Hit transition dropped the goggles, and cap. slapped on the helmet, sunglasses, and shoes grabbed the bike and ran out to the mount line. They put carpet down this year in the parking lot and that helped a lot.

Yes I have become a bucket guy. Ever since the HITS series when I found out how great a place to sit and change your shoes is. So say what you will, cause I am a bucket convert....lol.
What would you do differently?:

I stopped for just a second to take a breath, my socks rolled on pretty easy. I ran the bike to the mount line and was out and on the road pretty quickly I thought. After look at results though I was much slower than I was hoping for, I was wanting to be about 30 seconds faster.
Bike
  • 33m
  • 12 miles
  • 21.46 mile/hr
Comments:

I do like the bike. It is my strongest discipline. Being a slower swimmer gives me the advantage of having a lot of targets out there to try and chase down. I left my Garmin at home and just rode by what I felt.

The course is great. Pretty flat smooth roads except for a few rough spots, and wide lanes. I passed a lot of people on the course. I was feeling good, just listening to what my legs were telling me, I didn't want to run the risk of overcooking the bike so I tried to stay right below the level where my legs are screaming at me. I took fluids just before every corner, and a gel about halfway through.

I was really happy with my cornering, I was shifting before the corner and came out just right it was good. Something I haven't done the best job of in the past and was focusing on for this race.

The only thing that bothers me is there are still some "Sunday cruisers" who just ride all over the place oblivious to their surroundings. Sometimes even when you call out on your left you have to get into the brakes. Really annoying but I know it comes with the territory, especially in sprint distance races.

Before I knew it I was headed for the dismount line and the bike was over :-(
What would you do differently?:

Nothing, maybe could have pushed a little harder, but I still haven't found the tipping point of overworking on the bike.
Transition 2
  • 01m 16s
Comments:

Again the bucket makes for a nice transition. Almost had a spill at the dismount line, but managed to stay upright. Good move into transition, shoes on, visor on, race belt on and away I went.
What would you do differently?:

unclip both feet before dismount, almost lead to me eating it.
Run
  • 26m 13s
  • 3.1 miles
  • 08m 32s  min/mile
Comments:

Took off and the legs felt pretty good coming off the bike. I was worried because I didn't have my Garmin and was afraid I would blow up over the first half of the run without any real time feedback on my pace or heart rate.

I was paying very close attention to what my body was telling me. Listening to my breathing pattern, how did my legs feel, etc. I think I was pretty quick over the 1st mile. Bypassed the aid station at mile 1 and wish that I hadn't as I was pretty parched by the end of mile 2. I settled into a little slower cruise over mile 2 which featured two climbs. I got passed by a few and tried to hang onto every one of them that passed me, but eventually they all got away. Good news is in doing so I was passing more than I was getting passed.

Over the last half of mile 2 there is a pretty rough little hill to run up. I remember it well from the race last year. It just seemed to go on forever. But what a difference experience can make. I was ready for it this time and it didn't seem nearly as tough. Ran to the aid station at the end of mile 2 and walked just long enough to get some water down which was a smart move as I was getting a little cotton mouthed.

Convinced myself to give it my all over the last mile and to leave everything on the course. I was moving at a pretty good clip and my breathing was starting to become labored as I entered Kyle Field for the second time. Running around the stadium track lifted me up. It really is an awesome spectacle to run inside and by the time I exited I knew it was about a quarter mile to the finish. As I came out of the stadium I saw my training partner who had already finished and he cheered me on to the finish line which gave me a little boost.

Ran under the pedestrian underpass and made the left turn up the hill to the finish. Gave everything I could to sprint up that hill and down the short finish chute. Got water, got medaled, and walked around to meet up with my buddy and cheer on our other two friends.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing really. I felt like I measured and managed my effort pretty well throughout the race. If I felt like I was too comfortable I kicked it up a notch. If I felt a little gassed I backed off a bit. I was really happy with the race as a whole.
Post race
Warm down:

Met up with my training partner and we cheered on the rest of the participants and waited for our friends (triathlon virgins) to pass by. I was great to see all the people testing and pushing themselves.

Once we all finished we took a few pictures, loaded up, went back to the hotel for a shower. Treated ourselves to Death Burgers and Tijuana Fries at the Chicken Oil Co. and then left for home.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Not too much I don't think. I came in with a goal of 1:15:00 (realistic), and a 1:10:00 (optimistic) and quite literally split the difference. I also beat my training partner head to head for the first time by 0:00:19. That is going to haunt him for a while. He has always been able to build a big enough lead on me in the swim and then hold me off over the bike and run sections, but my swim has improved so the gap has narrowed.

Event comments:

I love this race, but then again I am biased. They listened to a lot of suggestions we had last year concerning the transition area and did a lot to address it. Redemption race promotions always has put on a good race and this was no exception.


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Last updated: 2013-05-22 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:09:40 | 400 meters | 02m 25s / 100meters
Age Group: 22/33
Overall: 250/487
Performance: Good
Suit:
Course: 400 meter snake style swim through 8 lanes of a 50 meter Olympic pool.
Start type: Inside Pool Plus: Time Trial
Water temp: 0F / 0C Current:
200M Perf. Average Remainder: Good
Breathing: Good Drafting:
Waves: Navigation:
Rounding:
T1
Time: 02:19
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike:
Getting up to speed:
Biking
00:33:00 | 12 miles | 21.46 mile/hr
Age Group: 4/33
Overall: 42/487
Performance: Good
Wind: Some
Course: 2 loop 6 mile course.
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence:
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Good Hills: Good
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 01:16
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Good
Shoe and helmet removal Good
Running
00:26:13 | 03.1 miles | 08m 32s  min/mile
Age Group: 11/33
Overall: 124/487
Performance: Good
Course: Winding course through the main campus, fairly flat with a few hills, and an uphill finish.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Not enough
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? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities:
Race evaluation [1-5] 5