General Discussion Race Reports! » Black Bear Triathlon - Olympic Course Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply

Black Bear Triathlon - Olympic Course - TriathlonOlympic


View Member's Race Log View other race reports
Lehighton, Pennsylvania
United States
CGI Racing
70F / 21C
Sunny
Total Time = 2h 38m 52s
Overall Rank = 71/269
Age Group = M40-44
Age Group Rank = 13/33
Event warmup:

I swam a couple hundred yards in the warm up area, then did arm circles to keep my shoulder loose until my wave started.
Swim
  • 21m 37s
  • 1640 yards
  • 01m 19s / 100 yards
Comments:

This was a good swim. I was able to draft well off several people.

My navigation could have been a little better. At one point, I realized I was swimming at a slight angle, but was able to correct right away.

When I came out of the water, and looked at my watch, I was surprised to see a 21:xx swim time. It felt good, but it didn't feel crazy fast. Wow!
What would you do differently?:

Nothing. This is the fastest time I've ever posted in an Oly.
Transition 1
  • 01m 58s
Comments:

13th in AG and 56th overall.
Bike
  • 1h 22m 49s
  • 24 miles
  • 17.39 mile/hr
Comments:

My legs felt heavy early in the ride. It took about 30 minutes before I felt good. I think it's probably because I didn't train enough this past week.

I dropped my chain once during the first few miles (still need to fix that!), and was very careful with shifting the rest of the ride. I didn't have any more problems with it.

I rode my own race, moderately hard, holding back enough to save some legs for the run. My original goal for this race was a sub-50 run, and I knew my training wasn't where I'd wanted it the last month and a half between the back problems I'd been having and the sinus infection that I had finally been able to shake only a week earlier. It felt good to get out, and just go, but I still wanted to be able to move on the run!

The only hydration & fuel I took in were 1 bottle of Gatorade and some water that were combined in my aero bottle. This turned out to be a good amount, because the weather was a little cool - Only around 70-75 degrees.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing. I think this was a good pace for me on this course at my current fitness level.
Transition 2
  • 00m 43s
Comments:

This transition went well. I was 7th fastest in my AG, and 31st overall.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing.
Run
  • 51m 45s
  • 6.2 miles
  • 08m 21s  min/mile
Comments:

I knew it was going to be a challenge to break 50 minutes, but I was going to give it my best shot!

I'd grabbed my FR305 in T2, and used it to push myself to hold a pace as close to 8:00/mi as possible. I had to keep forcing myself to slow down during the first mile, turning it in 7:40. After that, things got hard.

I took 1 cup of water at an aid station about a mile into the first loop, but that was it. No other hydration or fuel during the run.

I finished the first loop in about 25:30, but I was really hurting at this point, struggling to maintain a pace a little slower than 8:00. My lower back hurt where I'd had problems on and off for the last month and a half, but it was bearable. I wondered how I was going to hold on to this pace?

Hang in there! Only 25 minutes to go! I can endure anything for that long, right? Keep going! It will stop hurting at the finish.

I focused on smooth, quick strides, landing under my hips, and leaning forward slightly from the ankles. Let gravity help!

Only 1.5 miles to go! This is all I've got! Nothing else to give!

I knew by now that it wouldn't be under 50, but it would still be a good time!

There's the finish line! God, that finish chute looks so long!

Finally there!!! Where's my watch? Oh, yeah, I stuffed it in my tri top pocket when I put on the Garmin. That can't be right, can it? Under 2:40? Woohoo! It is right! A new Oly PR, on a tough course!
What would you do differently?:

Nothing. This was a great run for me. It's a PR at this distance by a few minutes.
Post race
Warm down:

Walked around, ate food at the Team in Training tent, and cheered on the other finishers as they came down the chute.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Nothing. I had a great race! This was one of those races that even the little things that went wrong didn't seem to slow me down.

Event comments:

This is a good event, and I like that the organizers go out of their way to warn beginners of the dangers of open water swimming.

The event is well organized, and everything runs on time.

If I have any criticism, it's just that the expo really isn't one. For the way the rest of the event is run, it would be nice to have more than 1 vendor.




Last updated: 2012-01-08 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:21:37 | 1640 yards | 01m 19s / 100yards
Age Group: 6/33
Overall: 38/269
Performance: Good
Suit: Full
Course: Clockwise lake swim. I originally thought it may have been a little short because of how fast my time was, but based on my rank, now I think it couldn't have been short by much. The only thing I can account the fast time to is drafting, good navigation, focusing on technique, and that my warmup was better than usual, so I didn't tighten up. I haven't been swimming very much at all, so I can't attribute it to fitness.
Start type: Deep Water Plus: Waves
Water temp: 72F / 22C Current: Low
200M Perf. Good Remainder: Good
Breathing: Good Drafting: Good
Waves: Navigation: Average
Rounding: Average
T1
Time: 01:58
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Average Helmet on/
Suit off:
No
Wetsuit stuck? No Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: Yes
Getting up to speed: Average
Biking
01:22:49 | 24 miles | 17.39 mile/hr
Age Group: 14/33
Overall: 78/269
Performance: Good
Wind: Little
Course: This is a hilly course with some technical turns, and some rough surfaces.
Road: Rough Dry Cadence: 90+
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Below average Hills: Average
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 00:43
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Good
Shoe and helmet removal Good
Running
00:51:45 | 06.2 miles | 08m 21s  min/mile
Age Group: 11/33
Overall: 112/269
Performance: Good
Course: Rolling dirt path along the lake. It was a 2 loop course with the turnaround on the dam breast.
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: Below average
Race evaluation [1-5] 3

{postbutton}
2012-06-09 7:13 PM

User image

Pro
6011
50001000
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
Subject: Black Bear Triathlon - Olympic Course


2012-06-09 8:16 PM
in reply to: #4253418

Member
587
500252525
Subject: RE: Black Bear Triathlon - Olympic Course
Congrats on the PR. Good race & enjoyed reading your report. Hope you are back on the mend now after getting sick. Hope to see you around.
General Discussion-> Race Reports!
{postbutton}
General Discussion Race Reports! » Black Bear Triathlon - Olympic Course Rss Feed