USAT National Championships - TriathlonOlympic


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Tuscaloosa, Alabama
United States
82F / 28C
Sunny
Total Time = 2h 27m 12s
Overall Rank = 340/953
Age Group = M30-34
Age Group Rank = 37/76
Pre-race routine:

Ate a power bar and banana and drank cup of coffee. standard pre race routine.
Event warmup:

nothing special. light stretching.
Swim
  • 38m 51s
  • 1640 yards
  • 02m 22s / 100 yards
Comments:

wow. swim was interesting to say the least. Brutal. Watching the first few waves was eye opening. there were some athletes literally swimming in place--I was one of them. just not even moving at all.

when it was my turn to get in the water, I noticed the current immediately. If you didn't hang onto the dock, you would be carried away.

anyway, my plan was to take the swim easy, and not fight this too much. I knew my time was going to be slower, but when I looked at my watch and say 38:xx, all I could do was smile. It was odd. I wasn't mad, disappointed, nothing like that at all. I looked up, saw my wife, and smiled. Great picture, I'll try and post it below. I was expecting to come out between 24-26 minutes, so coming out at 38 was so shocking all I could do was laugh and smile.
What would you do differently?:

Research swimming up stream I guess. not sure if technique changes or what, but the current effected everyone. The best time was 1:23/100, and there were some amazing athletes here.
Transition 1
  • 01m 40s
Comments:

OK T1. I was literally still thinking about the swim, and went into, "have some fun mode. Took my time, got my shoes on and got to the dismount line as quick as I could. trouble started and I couldn't clip in. nothing major, lost maybe 2-3 seconds here.
What would you do differently?:

clip in.
Bike
  • 1h 03m 14s
  • 24.85 miles
  • 23.58 mile/hr
Comments:

hats of to Tuscaloosa. They shut down the parkway, which is a very major section of road on the Alabama campus.

My plan was to build into the bike and hammer away. I nailed it on my bike, and negative split the course.

something weird happened on the bike, my fingers started to cramp up, never happened to me. Could have been the heat, not sure what. I just drank more and took in a gel. I thought my body was gonna start cramping up, it never did though.

I really enjoyed the bike ride. I passed a few in my AG, didn't get passed by anyone in my AG I don't think. Handful of 40-44 and 35-39 passed me, which was expected.


What would you do differently?:

not much really, maybe push the last quarter of the ride, but I nailed my goal for this.
Transition 2
  • 01m 9s
Comments:

good T2, nothing special, nothing bad.
Run
  • 42m 21s
  • 6.21 miles
  • 06m 49s  min/mile
Comments:

my plan was to build in the bike and not bust my nut so I could run. It worked well. I felt a little tight coming off the bike, but by .5 mile in, I was warmed up.

My coach asked me last week if I was ready. My response was hell yes, and my plan was to not push anything too much and let the pain find me. Don't go out there running someone elses race and seek out the pain. The pain will come, and when it does, push through it. I always leave a little on the bike so I can have a strong run.

It worked well. It was a very hilly course and it was hot/humid. I felt good at mile 2-3, so I started to push harder. By mile 4-5, the pain started to come and it was what I expected. I had thought and planned 7:25/miles was right on target for me. So I ran 7:20-:22s and if I beat 7:25, it would be a huge victory for me.

I was at my goal at that 4-5 mile range, and I could let the pain win, and finish 7:25-7:30, and meet my expectations, or I could endure it and exceed them. Fall into the pain and push through it.

Its funny while you're out there, not in contention for anything but a t-shirt. Your fighting so much more than the pain. Its so easy to quit on yourself. For just one second. At this point all your running for is you and your family. There's no spot on Team USA waiting for you, no camera's, no interviews. Your pushing through the pain to beat a goal you set out for yourself. Period. The whole time you want to let up just a little, and there's little harm in doing it. You lose nothing. 7:27/mile and 7:21/mile, there's little difference.

But this is why we race. When faced with this decision; endure or slow down just an inch. Its this decision I love to meet head on.




What would you do differently?:

nothing.
Post race
Warm down:

Sat under the water misters and big a$$ A/C fan. that was great. tried to eat some MO's, but that wants going down. walked around and just took it all in. I loved this race.

I thought to myself, I'm coming back next year for sure. I still feel that way as I type this.


What limited your ability to perform faster:

the swim current, but we all swam in the same river, so not a big deal. the race just favored swimmers today.

Event comments:

where to start. This was top notch. USAT backpacks, tech Ts and hats at registration. a set of drinking glasses at the finish, water bottles. very organized. it was awesome.

I was so happy to be a part of this. I was smiling the whole day.




Profile Album


Last updated: 2009-06-07 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:38:51 | 1640 yards | 02m 22s / 100yards
Age Group: 43/76
Overall: 477/953
Performance: Average
Suit: none
Course: swam with the current for about 2-300 yards, rest of the swim was against the current.
Start type: Wade Plus: Waves
Water temp: 85F / 29C Current: High
200M Perf. Good Remainder: Average
Breathing: Good Drafting: Below average
Waves: Good Navigation: Good
Rounding: Good
T1
Time: 01:40
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
No
Wetsuit stuck? No Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike:
Getting up to speed: Bad
Biking
01:03:14 | 24.85 miles | 23.58 mile/hr
Age Group: 22/76
Overall: 232/953
Performance: Good
Wind: Little
Course: 2 loop course with 3 180 turnaround each loop. fairly flat.
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence: 97
Turns: Good Cornering: Average
Gear changes: Good Hills: Average
Race pace: Hard Drinks: Not enough
T2
Time: 01:09
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes Good
Jumping off bike Good
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Good
Shoe and helmet removal Good
Running
00:42:21 | 06.21 miles | 06m 49s  min/mile
Age Group: 305/76
Overall: 41/953
Performance: Good
Course: hilly course and hot. also, short by at least .25 mile.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 5
Physical exertion [1-5] 5
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: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 5