Oak Point Rec Center, Plano, TX
300m pool swim/15m bike /5k run
Overall time: 01:25:21 6th in age group out of 36, 24th overall female out of 200.
Swim: 05:45 1:55/M Transition I: 01:58 Bike: 49:19 18.2MPH Transition 2:00:57 Run: 27:20 8:49/M
For the first time I did a 10 min warm-up run before the race. I really enjoyed it and think I'll do it again. It gave me a second to be alone from the madness and clear my head. Also, I think I've done a dozen sprint triathlons and I still get nervous! It's so silly, but the run was nice to calm the nerves. The race didn't start until 8:45. This was good because I ate breakfast at 6:30 and if a race is really early I don't eat breakfast. However, late start time was bad because this is TX and it was HOT by the time I was running.
Swim went good, uneventful. I didn't have to wait very long because of my seeding but I think that was a big issue for people. I felt strong in the water. The day before I had done my normal Sunday morning open water swim and this time it was cool enough to wear my wetsuit. I think that helped me in the race because wearing that wetsuit makes me feel like I'm having to pull my arms through sand! T1 was also uneventful but I was 2nd fastest T1 in my age group! ; )
The bike was tough. There were two steep steep hills and I felt like I was pushing just beyond my comfort zone the whole time. I was never once just pedaling on easy effort. It was HARD EFFORT the whole time. That was frustrating because I didn't have to work as hard on my race last month and averaged 18.6. I'm always trying to beat my times but there's so many factors that go into effect on race day, you can't win 'em all.
T2 was great...I tied for the fastest time in my age group, that's the second race in a row! Actually for the last two races my T2 time has been 00:57. How weird is that?
Now...the run. BEATING. This was a weird loop run so you ended up being by yourself for the majority of it. So picture...steaming hot sun, wide open concrete roads, by yourself. That was actually not the worst of it either. The last mile was in thick grass. It honestly felt like quick sand and took every last bit of energy I had. I was having to use mantras like "pain is temporary" and yelling with my breath "COME ON, COME ON." I've never had to do that for a Sprint. I was 100% giving it everything I had. The end of the run was of-course up a hill. My entourage was there to see me finish and it was such a welcome sight. It might not have seemed like it though as I immediately ran to the nearest tree to hide in the shade. It was so freaking hot. The good news is I've trained in the heat all summer and my core temperature felt normal and I wasn't dehydrated.
Note to self: Nutrition. Normally I take a Hammer Gel immediately on the bike and then during the last mile of the bike before the run. (If the bike is longer than 12 miles.) This time I mixed two Hammer Gel's in water and put that in my aero water bottle. I drank the whole bottle while I was biking so it worked out perfect. Hydrated and calories all at the same time and didn't have to mess with a gu packet.
I was completely spent after this race but felt really good about my effort. It was so fun to have the race in Plano on a holiday because the whole Plano gang came out to cheer me on and we all went to lunch afterwards. I wasn't super happy with how the race was directed, but they did do one thing right...free beer! I ran across that finish line and saw the crew all with beers in their hands raised in victory! ; ) So much thanks to Patty, Jeff, Joe, Michael, Kathy, Mom, Dad, and Evan for coming out to support me and Joyce and the Garrisons for joining us for a celebration lunch!
No comments:
Post a Comment