Goosepond Island Half Distance Triathlon - Triathlon


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Scottsboro, Alabama
United States
Goosepond Island Half Distance Triathlon
70F / 21C
Sunny
Total Time = 7h 30m
Overall Rank = 16/111
Age Group = 35-39
Age Group Rank = 3/9
Pre-race routine:

Got into town, checked into hotel, went to get number at race site, drove the bike course and dinner with the Peachtree City Tri Club at the Docks right outside the transistion area. GOOD EATING! Went back to the hotel. Got up at the hotel in Scottsboro, had some homemade banana bread and a banana to go with the first cup of coffee for the day. Packed my things up, filled bottles (lots of bottles!), took everything out to the truck and headed to the site.
Event warmup:

Set up transition, got a cool glass mug for getting there early, waited until about 30 minutes before the start and swam out past the first bouy. Worked on sighting that would be needed for the race. Swam back through the grass
Swim
  • 41m 15s
  • 2112 yards
  • 01m 57s / 100 yards
Comments:

Good swim except for the sun issues. I actually closed my eyes every time I turned to the side with the sun.
What would you do differently?:

Darker Goggles?
Transition 1
  • 01m 24s
Comments:

Accomplished my first flying mount! Yay! And on the first attempt! Rode off a bit before I put the feet into the shoes so I wouldn't run into people.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing
Bike
  • 2h 45m 20s
  • 56 miles
  • 20.32 mile/hr
Comments:

Rode this faster than I expected but I think right for the conditions. Never felt the burn in my legs, stopped with two feet on the ground at the aid station and at the next turn when the full bottle I had just picked up flew off the bike. I put it in the pocket of the tri suit from then on. Only a few hills so I only got out of the big ring a few times and if I was just doing a ride I would not have then but I was trying to save to save my legs. Gel every 30 minutes starting ten minutes into the ride. Almost got hit by a truck on the four lane highway about a mile from the colony that crossed the highway and didn't see me until it was almost too late.
What would you do differently?:

Put extra water in suit at the aid station.
Transition 2
  • 01m 47s
Comments:

I made the decision to wear my Culumus's with socks for this run since it was a half marathon. Cost me some time tying them up. Good decision in the long run. Wool socks saved my feet. Probably should have bought some speed laces. Only would have save 30 seconds or less.
What would you do differently?:

Speed laces
Run
  • 2h 14m 10s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 10m 14s  min/mile
Comments:

This was the hardest and most brutal run I've ever done. It wasn't the course but the humidity and the heat. I was aiming for 1:50 coming in but gave that goal up when I finished the first lap in right at an hour. No mile markers anywhere on the course so for a guy like me with a watch that only tells me time and not GPS data it was hard to gauge pace. Last lap was a slog the whole time. Basically ran from aid station to aid station and then walked through each trying to get enough water, gatorade, and ice. Took three gels on the run more for the electrolytes than the calories. I'm disappointed with my time but based on my ranking consistency I'd say everyone dealt with it the same way.
What would you do differently?:

Acclimatize to the heat better before a race. I do most of my training before dawn so I almost never run in that type of heat. Need to focus on hot running before a hot race.
Post race
Warm down:

Walk, drink, eat as much cajun red beans and rice as I could stomach before thinking I was going to burp fire.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Heat and lack of experience

Event comments:

If you are looking for bells and whistles, this is not your race. This is very inexpensive for the distance, laid back in its management, but treats the athletes well. I'm glad I did the race as my first half. I wish it was in October again so it would be cooler but the race director can't control the weather. Age group award of a mesh equipment bag was great and the overall swag was really good, especially for the price.




Last updated: 2014-09-02 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:41:15 | 2112 yards | 01m 57s / 100yards
Age Group: 3/9
Overall: 15/111
Performance: Good
Suit: Orca 226 Tri top and shorts
Course: Two triangle loops counter clockwise. Right into the sun after the first leg of the triangle. I wear dark tinted goggles and still had a hard time sighting out there due to the sunrise right in my eyes. Lots of lake grass/weeds growing in the last 100 yards or so so at times it seemed more like a climb than a swim.
Start type: Wade Plus: Waves
Water temp: 82F / 28C Current: Low
200M Perf. Good Remainder: Average
Breathing: Good Drafting: Below average
Waves: Navigation: Average
Rounding: Good
T1
Time: 01:24
Performance: Good
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
Yes
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: Yes
Getting up to speed: Average
Biking
02:45:20 | 56 miles | 20.32 mile/hr
Age Group: 3/9
Overall: 13/111
Performance: Good
Wind: Little with gusts
Course: Flat as a pancake for that area of Alabama. Started in the resort, through downtown Scottsboro, then out onto the country roads leading to the hills/mountains surrounding the town. Two turnarounds in the middle of the road which took a big hill out of the course map that was distributed before the race. Aid station just after the second turnaround. Some roads were in great condition, some were one step above gravel and rattled my teeth! (the road just after/before the Tupelo Pike) Needed a bit better markings going through town near the court house as there were a couple of stop signs I blew through with no one guarding them. Coming back through near the end of the race the officer on duty directed me back the way I came which was against a one way street. I'm not sure if that was right but there were no markings telling me otherwise.
Road: Rough Dry Cadence:
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Good Hills: Good
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 01:47
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes Good
Jumping off bike Good
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Good
Shoe and helmet removal Below average
Running
02:14:10 | 13.1 miles | 10m 14s  min/mile
Age Group: 3/9
Overall: 16/111
Performance: Below average
Course: Rolling hills and only about 30% shaded by the end. Hot. Had to be at least 85 by noon that day and humid. Two loop course through the camping area (shade!), an apartment complex (SUN!), and down a four lane highway (SUN!), leading back to the marina (SUN!) Aid Stations about every ten minutes apart.
Keeping cool Average Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %3
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: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4