Official Results: Bib# 82

Swim: 16:01 min [pace 1:29, placing: 35/107 overall, 9/15 age group]

T1: 0:56 min

Bike: 52:15 min [pace 19.5 mph, placing 40/107 overall, 8/15 age group]

T2: 1:15 min

Run: 24:30 min [pace 7:54 min/mile, placing 43/107 overall, 8/15 age group]

FINAL: 1:34:56 [placing 33/107 overall, 8/15 age group]

Pre-Race Prep

First of all, I was not sure how my knee was going to hold out, coming off my race last Sunday. Friday’s run was a confidence builder.

Second, I was going to try several new things for this race. Since the bike leg was only 17 miles, I was going to go sockless. In conjunction with that, I was also going to try both a flying mount and dismount on the bike. For the mount: leave my shoes clipped into the bike cleats, run out of the transition area and do a rolling mount, cycle with my feet on top of the shoes until I built up some speed, then strap into the shoes. For the dismount, it would be the opposite: near the bike finish, pull my feet out of the shoes, cycle on top of the shoes, slow and roll to the dismount line, swing my right leg over the seat and hit the ground running.

In practice the night before, I fell twice on the mount drill, which is good. I worked out what would make me more stable, namely keeping both hand on the shifters while I use my left toes to flip the cycling shoe over. I done this before, but it’s been awhile. The dismount was a piece of cake, and was the same during the race.

I ate a big dinner of spaghetti and meatballs, and stayed up kind of late (like 10pm) for an early morning rise (5am). I really didn’t feel too nervous.

Race Morning

We got up and were out by 5:45am and arrived about 6:45am. I had already picked up my race packet, so I had plenty of time to set up, get marked and pick up my chip. I did forget my tire pump, even though I was careful to try to remember everything. The water temperature the night before was 68 degrees, and I was considering not wearing a wetsuit. Overnight the temperature had dropped to 63 degrees, and I was glad I wore it.

Swim [1000m]

16:01 min [pace 1:29, placing: 35/107 overall, 9/15 age group]

I probably had the best swim of my life. I felt strong and consistent during the whole swim portion. I felt I did better with my buoy sighting this race, and was more consistent in swimming straight.

T1

0:56 min

Wow! Under a minute, with having to strip off my wetsuit! In fact, my T1 time was 11/107 overall. Boom! So, it probably helps to have a smaller race and transition area. Going sockless and clipping my shoes into the bike really sped things up. My flying mount was not so flying, but I got on, remained balanced (i.e. did not fall) and accelerated quickly.

Bike [17 miles]

52:15 min [pace 19.5 mph, placing 40/107 overall, 8/15 age group]

The course was mostly flat with a couple of significant rollers. Since it was only 17 miles, I pretty much went all out the entire ride, and 19.5 mph shows. I don’t know if I have ever had an average that fast. I felt good, had my profile water bottle to stay hydrated and stayed aero. Near the end of the bike leg, I was going back and forth between this guy – I would pass him, he would pass me, I would pass him. He finally passed me and stayed ahead, but it really helped me to push harder.

T2

1:15 min

Ok, this one, although fast, was 77/107 overall. The guy who was first was off the bike and out on the run in 23 seconds. For me, it took some time to get my socks on and to get my Garmin 305 off the bike. For the socks, that is jus the way it goes. I am not running without them. But the Garmin, I could try taking that off on the ride. I did link my hat and racebelt so I could just grab and go. That worked well.

Run [5K]

24:30 min [pace 7:54 min/mile, placing 43/107 overall, 8/15 age group]

My biggest concern for this leg was how my knee was going to hold out. I brought a knee brace and considered putting it on in T2, but it was only the briefest thought. I was in a groove and just ran. The knee did not hurt at all on the bike, nor did it during the run, for which I was grateful. The course was two laps and flat. My goal was to get under 8:00 min/mile, and woo-hoo! I did it!

The Finish

1:34:56 [placing 33/107 overall, 8/15 age group]

Overall, I had a lot of fun. It wasn’t grueling like a half-ironman, and I enjoyed that. I still like going long, but this was cool too. I put everything I had into the race, and felt I was more streamlined as far as transitions. For the finish, Kiara and Aidan were waiting for me and ran with me through the finish line. In the picture below, you can see him smiling with his finger up, presumably saying that I’m number one! Very cute!

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