Swim Bike Run

1

Best Race...EVER! (Read 209 times)


Gotta TRI

    Hey Gang,

    I'm back. (Probably didn't notice I was gone ) I kind of fell off the Triathlon wagon since my last race bak in June. I can't explain it but just could not get my head in the game so to speak. My training fell way off and I ended up cancelling alot of the races I had lined up. At any rate, I raced today and had my personal best race ever. The Timberman Sprint (.33 swim 15 bike 3 run ) Having not been on my bike since June 6th I decided to take it out and pre trip the course this Thursday and actually turned a pretty good time, followed by a shortened run on the course that also went well.

    So, 3am alarm goes off this am and got right to my oatmeal w/ soy protein powder and some hammer gel and some coffee. Headed out the door at 4am with second cup of joe. Was parked at the venue by 4:45am. Clear skies and very humid this am. Bodymarked and set up in Transition by 5:30. Hung in the lot with freinds for a bit and headed in to suit up for swim at 6:30. Started in the 3rd wave for the swim and really wanted to pull this part off well. Kicked it with a 9:31! Totally psyched coming out of the water. Admitedly, dragged my feet a bit in T1. Took some time to get my bike shoes on and such but still ok with a 3:15 T1. Out on the bike course it started raining. Phsycologically this hurt. It's part of the reason my training waned. I've never trained in the rain on the bike. Running sure, bike not so much. What else could I do? That's right, HTFU. I put everything I had into that ride today. My sunglasses were fogged up and wet, couldn't see well, but I was cranking away. Towards the end as it was darker, I did finally take them off and stuffed them in my back pocket. Got my feet out of the shoes about a half mile out which works best for me, lets my feet air dry a tad before slipping on my Zoots in T2. So, off the bike in 49:38, a time I'm very pleased with and follow that with a 1:23 T2. Off on the run and I'm feeling it. Legs are heavy, and I'm a little winded, feels like I'm running too fast. I try to reel myself back in and settle into a rythym. This works, and before I know it I see the turn around. It's all down hill from here---literally! Start picking up the pace and by the last half mile I'm fairly flying.  I cross the line with a 23:28 a PB for that distance and a total time of 1:27:14.

    In a field of 1,111 I finish 255. 193/558 gender totaland 34/94 age group. Extremely happy with this one folks! I may even enter the Pumpkinman 70.3 in Maine now as well. Regardless, glad to be back and posting. 

    2010 Dec. California International Marathon 2011 Jan. Disney Marathon
      Andy,


      Congratulations, that sounds like an awesome race. I'm very impressed with the swim time and would love to get under 10 minutes for any sprint swim distance. Bike and run times were very good also.


      And also, have you done the Pumpkinman 70.3 before? Any comments about it? Good/Bad? I am thinking about doing it next year as my first half iron distance (I've only done 2 sprints so I'm pretty new to the sport). 


      Gotta TRI

        Hey,

        No, I haven't run this one yet, but have heard it's a really good race. If I do it this year I'll let you know.

         

        FYI.  Rumor has it ( emphasis on Rumor ) that Timberman may be adding full iron distance. Will have to keep tabs on that one! 

        2010 Dec. California International Marathon 2011 Jan. Disney Marathon
          Sounds like a great race Andy.  Good job.  No way would I want to be on a bike in the rain.  The bike scares me enough on dry pavement.
          Ginny 'Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there' Will Rogers