Superfrog Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman


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Coronado, California
United States
Total Time = 4h 59m 38s
Overall Rank = 32/134
Age Group = 18-29
Age Group Rank = 7/35
Pre-race routine:

An 18-hour drive straight through from Denver to San Diego. I stayed with my good friend's sister, ate real sushi for the first time, had fun and drinks and met an amazing girl.
Event warmup:

A quick dip in the water, which was cold. No worries though, I'll soon be here in this same water but instead of the first leg of a triathlon, it'll be for surf passage, surf torture, rock portage and getting wet and sandy, over and over again. And I'm going to love it.
Swim
  • 27m 34s
  • 1829 meters
  • 01m 31s / 100 meters
Comments:

For the first time in a triathlon the swim ended up being the toughest part for me. The surf wasn't as high or rough as I had seen the day before, but it was still pretty decent. It's not often that my races have been running starts into the surf, but I had done a couple and wasn't too worried. Gun went off and I ran through the surf, diving through waves as necessary, somehow keeping a straight line to the first buoy. The surf didn't throw me around like I thought it would, but I did swallow a bit of salt water, which I gagged up about 4 times, thankfuly I didn't full on puke. Hit the first buot with maybe 2 others ahead of me and right on the shoulder of one other swimmer. We were dead even heading along the beach to the next buoy and I kept asking if he thought he could hold on, I don't think he did. Made the turn into shore and did my best to body surf into the beach when I hit waves. Got out and ran down the beach to the start point to begin my second loop. I wasn't as aggressive hitting the surf this time but it didn't seem to be any sort of downfall and the surf didn't seem as bad as it had 13 minutes ago. I rounded the first buoy again but this time I went a little off course and was further out to sea than I had wanted. Once I regained sight of the buoy I swam straight for it, rounded it and into shore. Ran up the beach and into T1.
What would you do differently?:

Not too much. The time is "eh" but for a beach start with a run and some good surf I'll take it.
Transition 1
  • 02m 18s
Comments:

I had an awful time getting my wetsuit off. That's all I'm going to say about that. Lots of cursing and I felt like I was in there for 5 minutes.
What would you do differently?:

The obvious. Get my wetsuit off quicker.
Bike
  • 2h 32m 52s
  • 56 miles
  • 21.98 mile/hr
Comments:

If it weren't for the headwinds this wold have been a HIM PR bike split for me. I was 4th out of the water in the 1st wave, which meant I was the 4th person out on the bike course. It was nice to be out there alone just pushing myself. Starting out I felt good, pushed it through all 4 loops and felt good at the end. Had to pee twice but I wasn't about to stop, so twice while I was catching a tailwind, I stood up and let it flow. Came into T2 in 7th place.
What would you do differently?:

Not too much, maybe put out just a little bit more?
Transition 2
  • 01m 36s
Comments:

A bit better but it could have been faster.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing much.
Run
  • 1h 55m 18s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 08m 48s  min/mile
Comments:

This is where I suprised myself the most. Not once did I feel any pain. Not once did I have to slow up or walk. Not once did I complain. In fact, this was the best half-mary run I have ever had, and that includes training. The sand starting out kinda sucked but once I got down closer to the hard pack I was fine. Sure there were a couple of missteps. But again I was one of the first on the run course. I only remember getting passed a couple of times. Once by the female leader and others by relay members or military division racers. I just kinda made a song out of my breathing pattern. On the second loop I decided to kick it into gear a little and pushed the pace a bit faster and I never felt like I was going too hard or ready to blow up. The last 3 miles I started in with some Navy SEAL cadence calls and that just set the pace for my leg turnover and breath control. I actually had a good final kick left and hammered through the finish.
What would you do differently?:

Not a damn thing.
Post race
Warm down:

2 beers at the beer tent post race, a short nap, a huge burger from Carls Jr, then about 6 or so Guinness and the company of a beautiful young lady named Justine, who I regret having to leave behind, but will hopefully see again soon.

I couldn't believe how non-sore I was post-race or even the next day. That could mean one of two things. 1) I just had a good day. 2) I didn't put out hard enough. If you know me then you know that the answer is 1. I ALWAYS put out, hard, the whole time. It seems like training at altitude works wonders and the combination of Guinness and a pretty girl makes recovery instantaneous.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Nothng, everything about this race went just as I had wanted it, except maybe T1.

Event comments:

I loved every second of this whole experience. Not just the race, but also being in San Diego and Coronado. I can't wait to get here for BUD/s (and hopefully a little someone will still be around).




Last updated: 2008-02-20 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:27:34 | 1829 meters | 01m 31s / 100meters
Age Group: 4/35
Overall: 0/134
Performance: Average
Suit: Ironman Stealth full
Course: 2 loop rectangle with a short run across the beach to start the second loop.
Start type: Run Plus: Waves
Water temp: 60F / 16C Current: Medium
200M Perf. Average Remainder: Average
Breathing: Average Drafting: Good
Waves: Average Navigation: Average
Rounding: Good
T1
Time: 02:18
Performance: Bad
Cap removal: Bad Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Yes Run with bike:
Jump on bike:
Getting up to speed:
Biking
02:32:52 | 56 miles | 21.98 mile/hr
Age Group: 7/35
Overall: 0/134
Performance: Good
Wind: Some
Course: 4 x 14 mile loops up and down Highway 75, 7 miles with headwind, 7 miles with tailwind.
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence:
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Good Hills: Good
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 01:36
Overall: Average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike
Racking bike
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
01:55:18 | 13.1 miles | 08m 48s  min/mile
Age Group: 18/35
Overall: 0/134
Performance: Good
Course: 2 loop course, some of it on the soft beach sand, most on hard pack sand and then another section of paved road and trail.
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] 4