Times:
Swim (1/4mi): 4:49 (1st overall by 30sec)
T1: 2:02
Bike: (15mi): 41:39 (55th)
T2: 1:15
Run (5K): 23:05 PR! (88th)
Total: 1:12:49
Overall: 36/276
Sex: 35/173
Age Group: 4/15 (1st three were "elite")
This was my second triathlon, and after the success of the first, I didn't know what to expect. On Friday, I reviewed my times from riding the bike course earlier in the week and set a goal of 1:17:30. I didn't publicize it because I trained through this one, not resting one bit. I didn't know what kind of shape I'd be in on Saturday. I told myself it was OK not to go all out. "Just enjoy the race," I said.
I dragged my sister Beth to be my lone supporter, but she was more than enough. She's a trooper for getting up before dawn and riding the hour to the site in Pardeeville. Easily, she was the loudest one there, and I appreciated every decibel of it. Nelson's parents were there cheering on friends, and also offered encouraging words as I ran by.
The morning was perfect. Sixty-five degrees and calm...little clouds..is this great, or what?
SWIM
It was a point to point and short. It was a knee deep start, and I learned from the last race to be near the end of the wave in front of me to ensure a spot up front in my wave. And there I was first in the water in wave three with every other male from 25 to 39. I figured I'd sprint to the first buoy, make the left turn and ease up a bit until the end. Well, I got to the buoy first, kept sprinting and didn't stop until I hit the boat ramp. I crushed my wave, and ended up splitting the best swim by 30 seconds! Damn that felt good.
T1
There was a long run from the water to the bike, and I almost fell over taking off the wetsuit, but got situated and finished the long run to the mounting point.
BIKE
I biked the course four times in two different workouts over the past two weeks. That allowed me to know that I needed to stay in the little ring up front until after the biggest "hill" about half way, and crank it up back into town in the big ring. But, I apparently wasn't as aggressive enough, many passing outside of yellow and cutting off other, slower riders on tight turns. "Just enjoy the race," I said. Still, it was tough to swallow when anyone in my wave passed me. I tried to stay as close as possible, but sometimes you just have to let the guys with the disc wheels go. On one pass, I did get complimented on my new tires, installed just the night before. "Love the yellow..." Sweet. I passed him on a hill later.
T2
Again, it was a long run back in. I had to throw off others' stuff that ended up on mine, find my shoes, change and then complete long run back out to the course.
RUN
My legs felt really heavy starting out. My shins were tight, and it took about 3/4 of a mile to get the legs used to running. I eventually passed a couple of people, some from the first wave (elites), and finished strong to the screams of Beth, yelling from the moment she saw me come around the corner. You just can't ease up on the finish when you've got someone yelling so hard for you. Total: 1:12:49, most of the time came from the blistering swim and the minute PR on the run.
We hung around for the awards, hoping for some hardware. I didn't get any finishing fourth (by three minutes). But, I did take comfort knowing that the first three places were "elite" competitors.
