Beagle269’s BodyBlog

Finish time of 2:37:52, placing 94, swim time 32:48, Bike 1:15:00, Run 49:25

So, this weekend I traveled to Eastern Washington to compete in the Moses Lake olympic distance triathlon.  The drive was good, and we were able to get some rest at my uncle’s house in Ephrata, only 30 minutes away. However, for 2 days prior I was not feeling well.  With some stomach cramps, aching muscles, and cold sweats at night, I was worried about my upcoming race performance. Not to mention the loss of fluids and difficulty hydrating that I was noticing.  But regardless race morning arrived, still not feeling 100%.

We arrived with only an hour to check in, unload our bikes, figure out the course and  stretch, or I mean forget to stretch! =)

With only 10 minutes to start I was finally ready, my gear organized and numbered, I was racing with my friend, and it was his first triathlon ever, so we were both taking in the pure adrenaline and energy of the event.  With little time left I entered the water, so cold, a few yards to loosen up, get used to the water, and get a feel for the race water.

And next thing you know, the race begins, I started about 1/2 back in the pack, in the first heat of male swimmers, and quickly receeded to about 3/4 back in the pack.  But shortly after start, the swimming became a problem.  Taking water in the mouth, and inability to get my rythem going is a huge problem with arms, legs, elbows and knees flailing around you from 100 or so other people!  But after only a difficult quarter mile, the people spread out and I was able to find my rythem, the course was a 2 lap swim around buoys, and end at the shore, on the laps I kept drifting toward the center (trying to aim straight for the next bouy, so it became a problem nearly hitting others who were from a different heat going a different direction.  Finally 2 laps completed, and on the final stretch, I swam strong and hard to the shoreline, where we were emerging at a boat launch, and come to find out, the boat launch was very slippery, I put my feet down once I could touch at waist deep and I couldn’t propel forward because it was too slippery, I had to swim 3 more strokes before I could try and run out of the water. Swim time 33:27 for the one mile swim.
Into T1, I tried to take my wetsuit off as fast as possible,  With much difficulty, I had the suit off, jersey on, socks on, and finally difficulty with my bike shoes, I forgot to unstrap them and have them ready.  ok, finally on and ready to go, grabbed my watch handoff from my father while exiting T1 and onto my bike. Bike start was less than marginal, with difficulty clipping in my pedals for a few strokes, and not the best gear for a start.
I felt good for the most part during the bike, although my heart rate was through the roof during the first 2 or 3 miles from adrenaline and the difficult swim/difficult T1. My hands and feet were feeling numb, possibly from the cold swim, possibly from the peaked heartrate and socks not on perfect.  ohh well, continue on, after a few miles and upon exiting some tree areas there became to be a very heavy head wind.  I’m good at hill climbs, but don’t have aero bars, and this proved a problem. The headwind slowed my pace to what felt like a crawl, (14.5 mph for the first half of the bike average), very slow, and getting passed by 3 people during the bike.  But finally turnaround, and coming back was a snap, (25.8mph average with a peak speed of 39.2mph down a very small hill)  So, very good tailwind made for a very fast 2nd half of bike. (1:15:00 bike 26 miles)
Then into T2, and what do you know, my friend Chad and just getting his wetsuit on, (His sprint tri started a bit after mine) so, while changing my shoes he said some encouraging words, and onto the run.

Onto the run, and on with the bicycle/jello legs, and what do you know, my stomach is cramping, and my feet feel like 2×4’s, they are still numb from the cold water I think, ohh well, lets not worry about it.  My run went great, for the 6.xx miles I passed several people, some who were winded, and others who I felt like I should have beat on the bike.  And soon enough, across the finish line.  Feeling good about my accomplishments.

I feel like I had a great swim, could’ve exited the water better, and could’ve had my T1 better.  Then I felt like my bike portion was much less than perfect. I could’ve biked harder, and could’ve tucked into the wind more, still wonder about my bike fit, maybe it’s not perfect.  T2 was good, and my run was very good except the cold/numb feet. I think I excelled today at my running and overall endurance skills where I had more energy, when others did not.  I feet like I could have went twice the distance (upcoming Lake Stevens distance) but it would have been difficult.  My friend Chad won a free V02 max testing, and I’m thinking that I would like to get mine tested as well, for a training reference point.  Looking forward to Lake Stevens as my next race in only 4 short weeks.

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 8th, 2008 at 8:16 pm and is filed under Training. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.