Tri for Real - Race Report

September 19, 2010.  This would be my 7th triathlon of the year.  I was excited for the race, but admittedly was glad that this was going to be the last time of the year I'd have to get up at 5:00 a.m. (or earlier) ! ! !  In addition to getting up early, the forecast was for rain to start Saturday night and continue through Sunday.  Ugh.  I've done tri's in the rain once or twice before and it ain't fun.
Plenty dark at 5:00.  But no rain.  Got to Shadow Cliffs and got one of the prime spots.  As it got a bit lighter, the skies were actually looking pretty good.  Somewhat overcast, but no rain.  Yeah ! !!

The Tri for Real is a 700 yard swim, 16 mile bike, and 4 mile run.  In the Tri for Fun series, the benchmark is to try to break 1 hour.  But in the Tri for Real, the benchmark is to break 1:30, which I've done a couple times.

I was to be in Wave #1, along with my fellow Forward Motion Race Club members, and men 29 and under.  The gun sounds and we're off.  I was able to do more drafting in this swim than during any swim I can remember.  That was nice.  Minimal contact.  I was hoping to finish in under 12:00.  I recognized Jan's voice yelling as I exited the water but couldn't see her as I ran by her.

Swim time:  12:26.

T1:  1:13.

Bike:  This is a 2-loop course, flat with some rollers.  I was going to "work it" and was hoping to average over 20 mph.  Last year, I got a flat and was looking for some redemption.  It was fairly windy out there.  No real problems.  Stayed focused and picked off a few riders here and there during loop #1.  The second loop can be very dangerous since all the slower athletes have now started loop #1 of their ride and you have to be careful when trying to pass them.

Bike time:  46:18.  Av Speed = 21.5 ! ! !  Av Watts = 203 ! ! !

T2:  26 seconds.

Run:  At this point, I didn't know what my swim time was, but figured I was definitely flirting with going sub-1:30.  My legs felt pretty good right from the start and I was keeping a good pace and picking off a couple runners in front of me.
7:23
7:22
7:26
7:06.

Run time: 30:09.  (7:17 per/mi. pace)

Total time:  1:30:54.   8th place in Age Group (out of 39).

Although I was hoping to go sub-1:30, I think the swim may have been a skosh long, so I don't feel bad.
It was a good end to a good season !

The Big Kahuna - 2010 ! ! !

September 13, 2010.  I seem to recall that the forecast for Santa Cruz was that it was going to be just perfect.  Hmmm.  Well, it was awefully foggy when I got there at just after 5:00 a.m.  That's ok, as I'm used to the fog burning off.

First things first.  Get set up in transition.  I was pretty psyched as I got a spot right next to the bike exit on the second rack, about mid-way back.  Some people were on racks about 40-50 yards back so I'm in much better shape.  Then, this guy who had the absolutely best spot --outside spot on the first rack next to the exit-- asks me if I want to switch since he feels guilty taking it. Uh, yeah.  Good omen for the day.

Unlike most triathlons, the swim exit is several block away from the transition area.  Having done this race 5 times, I am prepared and leave some water shoes to slip on at the edge of the sand to allow me to run faster to transition.  I make my way to the swim start.

Except for the Tri for Fun races, ALL triathlons start on time.  Period.  Uh -- well, I guess they had some problems getting the buoys in place, perhaps having to do with the 2 sailbots being anchored directly in our path.  After 20-30 minutes, they announce we'll be swimming in between the boats. I make a mental note not to get strangeled by the roaps holding the anchors in place.

The swim.

That water is COLD ! ! !  I swear I got an ice cream "brain freeze" as I was warming up (?).  Fortunately, the water I allowed into my wetsuit warmed up before the actual swim start.  It didn't seem so bad once I reentered the water when the race started.  Another good omen.  The swim was fairly non-contact.  My goal was to finish the 1.2 miles swim in sub-40:00 (2004 = 37:52; 2005 = 39:53; 2007 = 35:26; and 2008 = 38:30)

Time:  37:42 ! ! !  Yeah, baby.  (40th in age group, out of 54)

T1:  Given how far the transition area is, it normally takes a couple minutes just to get there.  My T1 times have ranged from 3:42 - 5:01.

Time:  3:54.  (4th place)

 

Bike:

Even though it was still overcast, I wasn't cold.  So I decided to forego putting on arm warmers.  I figured it would feel nice once the sun comes out.  Uh, what sun.  Went the entire ride and still no sun.  Unbelievable.  But at least it wasn't cold.  So that was ok.

Goal was to definitely break 3:00 and, preferably, finish in the 2:40's.  I just stayed focused the entire time.  Passed tons of people and hardly anyone passed me.  Reached the turnaround at 1:23; Av speed = 20.2 mph ! ! !  Yeah !

Unfortunately, I soon realized that I had a bit of a tailwind on the way north on Highway 1 which soon became a bit of a headwind coming back.  Ugh.

Still - not bad though.  

So here's some kharma. Everyone knows --"no drafting". And here's this guy who passes me and is blatantly drafting. I think I'll be able to reel him in and say something. Just as I'm getting close to him (no, not drafting), I hear psssssss. He gets a flat. Hee hee.

Time: 2:52. Av = 19.5. Not bad for 56 miles. (24th place)

T2: 1:00.8 seconds ! ! !  3rd place (in my AG, about 12th overall).  Smokin'.  And that includes putting the bike away, taking off the helmet, putting on socks and shoes, grabbing my hat and fuel belt.

Run:

Ok, by now I realize I still have a chance to break my PR of 5:19.  I just need to put the hammer down for a mere 13.1 miles.  Surely the sun will be coming out at some point which might make it tough in the heat.  Uh, nope.  No sun.

As soon as I leave transition, there's a little hill and Tom Gardin is waiting for me on his bike at the top.  Tom's riding next to me and he's chatting away and asking me all kinds of questions.  I didn't want to seem rude, but I figured he'd get the message from my gasping for air and only muttering 1-word answers that I'm, you know, in the middle of a "race".  Those IT guys; go figure.

My goal was to average 8:23 per/mi. or better, which would give me a 1:49 half marathon time.
So Tom stays with me for about 4 miles and I am just flying.  Clicking off each mile at 8:04, 7:59, 7:52, 8:16, 8:29, 8:16. 

The toughest part of the run course is near the turnaround (miles 6-7) because you're on a narrow dirt trail.  But I reach the turnaround and am feeling just great.  In the groove.


Click off another 8:22 mile and have only half a mile left on the dirt trail when, all-of-a-sudden, I catch my shoe on a rock and go flying.  One of those things where you know what you've done, seem to have plenty of time to contemplate the fact that you're flying, you know that you're going down and that it's going to hurt when you do.  And then, "thud".  No rolling.  No great slide like going into second base.  Just crash and stop.  A few triathletes stop to see if I'm ok and to offer assistance.  I'm kind of dazed and confused (more than normal).  Hands bloody.  Knees and legs bloody.  I start walking and taking inventory.  All parts seem functional.  Within 250 yards is a water stop and I have them dump water on my hands and legs to clean things off.  Then I take off.  Hey man, this is a race.  And I'm a &%$()!* Ironman.  No reason I can't cry and run at the same time.
Remember that great pace --uh, gone.  9:18, 9:12, 8:42, 9:22, 9:45, and 9:24.  I was diggin' down deep, let me tell you.  Those were some tough miles.
(I'm reminded of the times running on the ridge when I've told others "your legs may be getting tired so make sure you pick your feet up so you don't trip.  Doh.)

Time: 1:57.  (23rd place)  I was averaging 8:11 per/mi. before the fall (which would've given me a 1:47 half. . . and would've given me a PR by over 2:00)  Not bad to break 2:00, all things considered.  


Final time:  5:32.   21st in age group.


Went straight to the med tent and had them clean up the wounds and bandage me up.  Basically felt fine.
Got some most-excellent food, and plenty of it ! ! !  Pretty much been eating ever since.