2nd tri of the season is in the books. Last Sunday I took part in the Pleasant Prairie Olympic distance event, which was one race I have been eying for up for a couple of years now. Really glad I was finally able to take part!
I drove to PP on Friday after work because I was helping out with the kids' race Saturday morning. These are always fun events to be a part of. When I woke up Sat, I was greeted with heavy rain and lots of lightning, not a good sign this race was going to happen. We started setting the course anyways in hopes of the storm passing. We kept a close eye on the radar which showed what looked to be a hurricane sitting over the entire state! Strangely enough, the race site was right under the edge of the storm, which was not moving anywhere...we could even see it in the clouds. However, by the time the kids race was meant to start, the lightning was long gone and the rain had cleared so everything went on without a hitch. Once the first swimmers were off I headed down the run course to the run turn around for the short and long course. It was fun seeing all of the kids out there giving it their best, regardless of how experienced they were. The rest of the day was spent getting registered for the race/picking up packet, getting food for dinner and breakfast, and relaxing. Our hotel was very close to the race sight which made everything a breeze.
Race Morning
Wake up call was 3:30 am. The race start was an early one with the elite going off at 6:40. I wanted to make sure I had food in me early. Had my typical breakfast of carb, nut butter, honey, banana and coffee. Transition opened at 4:30 and I heard it gets busy quick so I made sure to be there asap. Took care of body marking right away, which was a good call because the line got quite long. After I racked my bike, I got everything else squared away and was off for a warm up jog by 5:30. Took an easy jog around the lake and got in some pick ups. When I got back I was also finally able to meet some other Wattie teammates Ed and Cate! We chatted quick and planned to meet up again afterwards. Since transition closed at 6:15 I made sure to get out early in order to get a good swim warm up in, however, this did not go as planned. What I didn't realize was the water was also closed to athletes at 6:15, so no swim warm up : /
Swim
My last race I struggled to get a clean start. This time around I decided to line up in the back/left side of the group. I knew there were some fast swimmers here, so I just wanted to get out clean and find some feet. This part of the swim went perfectly for me! Finally. My Helix wetsuit was feeling awesome and I was holding a good pace for the first few minutes. Things started to fall apart rather quickly though. I'm generally not one for excuses, but the chip strap I had was this plastic/Velcro crap that was digging into my ankle...felt like a razor blade was cutting me every kick! My game was completely thrown off and I lost focus. Having to stop every 100 meters or so to pull that damn thing up my leg was not ideal. My sighting was off and I was all over the course. I knew the swim was going to be slow. It even ended up being long (1+ miles) by about 200-300 meters, which didn't help, but exited the water feeling fresh and had a good T1, thankfully.
Swim - 27:16
T1 - 0:53
Bike
There is time to be made up. That is all my brain was thinking at this point. After I brought my heart rate down and got my feet secured it was hammer time. This was my first time running a disc and I could not be happier with the way it handled in the wind and on the flat sections. Overall I felt good on the bike but a little flat at times. Even with my computer not working (worked pre race, go figure), taking a slight wrong turn and losing about a minute, I managed a solid 9th fastest bike split, which allowed me to gain a few spots. Riding by feel alone was a good experience.
Bike - 1:00:14
T2 - 0:47
Run
I really wanted to crack the top 10 so there was work to be done. I wasn't sure where I stood but knew it was close, so instead of trying to go out hard and not blow up my plan was to start picking off people in front of me one at a time. This plan worked well. I ran myself into 9th OA with the 8th fastest run split! Running around the lake was nice. All of the turn-a rounds made for a fun course but the lack of shade made for a really hot run. That chip strap was still digging into my ankle, which I wasn't happy about, but this sport is all about pain tolerance...didn't let it get into my head too much.
Run - 38:54
OA - 2:08:02
All in all I am really happy with this result. I placed pretty well in a stacked field, while at the same time knowing I left some time out there. Quick shout out to ISM Saddles, Powerbar, Fuelbelt, Speedfil, K Swiss and Wattie Ink! Great products and support are allowing me to continually improve. Thanks! So, this got a lot longer than anticipated, and no pictures! Sorry about that and hopefully this isn't too boring. Time to hunker down and get ready for some 70.3's.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Lake Mills RR and Some Product Review
First tri of the season has FINALLY happened! It has been a long winter/spring and the itch to get out and race was greater than ever before. And it seems the crappy weather is not quite done with WI yet. Last Sunday morning we were met with strong sustained winds and cold temps. Race morning felt more appropriate for a St. Patty's day dash than the first summer sprint triathlon.
Race Morning
Early roll call...oof. As you know most of my weekends are spent helping time/do set up for the many local races Race Day Events is involved with. We had to be on site early to complete course set up so I was up at 3:15. Having had an early wake up the previous day for another race and not getting to bed until past 11, I was a bit concerned about not having rested enough. To preface that, Saturday night before the race I had a slight panic attack. My tri shorts were no where to be found! I knew I had packed them, I specifically remembered putting them right next to my Wattie tri top. After a frantic phone to my roommate Sean, he said he would drive another pair of shorts my way. Talk about a good friend...thankfully, I found the shorts and he didn't have to make the drive. They were stuck to a blanket I used to protect my bike for the drive to Lake Mills.
Once on site, I helped my coworker Sam set the run course. Not that I don't mind the work/race/work that goes along with working and racing the same event, but this was a learning experience for me. Very stressful to say the least. Even though I was the first bike racked, I was one of the last people out of transition. I need to be more effective with my time for future events I'm working/racing. I got to the swim start with barely enough time to get wet before the gun.
Swim & T1 (5:58 & 1:08)
This was a rough swim. I don't think it was so much the chop alone, it was the combination that goes along with the thrashing in the elite wave. Everyone was gunning for the front, which made for another moment of panic. I took a swift kick to the face which completely knocked my goggles off (a first for me). That combined with having to swim tarzan style into some really choppy waves made for an unpleasant experience. I had gulped probably close to a pint of nasty lake water at this point. Yuck. I have worked a lot on my swim and its coming along, but I felt like a novice all over again. Once I got past the first buoy I was able to get into a good rhythm and settle down. Although this felt like an eternity I managed to swim 12 seconds faster than last yr...an improvement. I'll take that. T1 went flawlessly. I sprinted past a few guys on the way to my bike and my Blueseventy Helix popped off with ease. I think I had the 3rd fastest T1! This wetsuit is incredibly comfy and super easy to remove. So glad they are supporting the W this year!
Bike & T2 (40:23 & 0:42)
Right off the bat I was feeling strong. I closed the gap to about 5 riders in front of me by mile 1. Normally, I would use my adrenaline to ride past them, which is a mistake. This always ends in me not being to sustain a strong effort throughout. Instead, I hung back once I caught the group and decided to make a move past the group after I was able to get warmed up. Once again, I got caught by Mike Wolfgram about half way through the ride. However, this time I told myself I was going to keep him in my sights. The wind was howling the entire ride and I started to really hurt after about 25 minutes, but I was able to keep him within eyesight. I ended up riding the same exact time as last year but in much harder conditions. Another improvement! I must say, the Adamo Racing II saddle has made for more comfortable training and racing. Definitely makes a noticeable difference. I clocked the 7th fastest ride of the day. I'm still training/racing without power but have decided I really need to start. If you or anyone you know is selling a used hub please let me know!
T2 was somewhat quick. My feet were so numb I had a hard time getting my Kswiss K-Ruuz on because I kept losing balance. Once I was able to focus, they slipped right on and I was off! Man these shoes are light, comfortable, and FAST! I really wanted a good run today, one I could be proud of...so I was bustin it.
Run (17:45)
Finally! I say that because I knew I had this in my legs. Last year I kept finding myself getting complacent with my run effort. I would end up having a decent run, but always ended feeling like I hadn't pushed enough. Today I completely surpassed the 18's and cracked it by 15 seconds (6th fastest run)! And the funny thing was I felt fairly comfortable doing it. My legs never really hurt and my breathing was controlled, so I know I can push more here. This might be a stretch but I'm publicly stating my goal is to break 17 min in a 5k by the end of the year, hopefully off the bike. Got to aim high...
Anyway, running up towards the front was a new experience for me and was really fun. Heading towards mile 1 I caught up with Mike W. and made a quick pass. I knew he was running strong as well because I could hear him for the rest of the run. Fellow Wattie Ink teammate Pat Brady caught me shortly after and eventually moved up to 2nd with a monster bike/run. Also, friend and winner Mark Hering came into view shortly after that. He had a crazy fast bike/run and also threw down a great swim. Look out for him! Unofficially, I ran my way into 4th but ended up 5th because the swim/T1 times were scrapped due to the swim conditions. After 4 waves everyone was sent out TT style onto the bike. A little unfair but what else were we to do? It is what it is. Fellow friend/athlete Bill Martin also had a great race but got even more screwed because he's a great swimmer. Still 3rd overall in my book. Congrats Bill and to everyone else who raced (too many to name). Many solid races on the day with lots of PR's.
UPDATE: bah! I always mean to include this at the end and then space. HUGE thanks to coach Will. Ever since I have started with him I have seen nothing but steady improvement. He seems to know just what I need to keep improving while keeping it fun. Thanks Will! Looking forward to what's still to come : )
Just a couple more shout outs to Wattie Ink Elite Team sponsors:
Powerbar - great training/racing nutrition products! Had a double caffeinated latte gel beforehand with one of the new energy blends. Never had a drop in energy from start/finish.
Speedfil A2 - have not raced with this yet but looking forward to it. Awesome product. I can rehydrate climbing, descending, whenever I'm on the aero bars.
Fuelbelt Revenge - love this for my long runs. Fits just enough water/fuel for 2+ hours of running. And I forget its there, which is the most important thing for me.
Check out the side of my blog for the other great team sponsors! Next up is Pleasant Prairie oly. Finally going to meet some other Wattie's!
Race Morning
Early roll call...oof. As you know most of my weekends are spent helping time/do set up for the many local races Race Day Events is involved with. We had to be on site early to complete course set up so I was up at 3:15. Having had an early wake up the previous day for another race and not getting to bed until past 11, I was a bit concerned about not having rested enough. To preface that, Saturday night before the race I had a slight panic attack. My tri shorts were no where to be found! I knew I had packed them, I specifically remembered putting them right next to my Wattie tri top. After a frantic phone to my roommate Sean, he said he would drive another pair of shorts my way. Talk about a good friend...thankfully, I found the shorts and he didn't have to make the drive. They were stuck to a blanket I used to protect my bike for the drive to Lake Mills.
Once on site, I helped my coworker Sam set the run course. Not that I don't mind the work/race/work that goes along with working and racing the same event, but this was a learning experience for me. Very stressful to say the least. Even though I was the first bike racked, I was one of the last people out of transition. I need to be more effective with my time for future events I'm working/racing. I got to the swim start with barely enough time to get wet before the gun.
Swim & T1 (5:58 & 1:08)
This was a rough swim. I don't think it was so much the chop alone, it was the combination that goes along with the thrashing in the elite wave. Everyone was gunning for the front, which made for another moment of panic. I took a swift kick to the face which completely knocked my goggles off (a first for me). That combined with having to swim tarzan style into some really choppy waves made for an unpleasant experience. I had gulped probably close to a pint of nasty lake water at this point. Yuck. I have worked a lot on my swim and its coming along, but I felt like a novice all over again. Once I got past the first buoy I was able to get into a good rhythm and settle down. Although this felt like an eternity I managed to swim 12 seconds faster than last yr...an improvement. I'll take that. T1 went flawlessly. I sprinted past a few guys on the way to my bike and my Blueseventy Helix popped off with ease. I think I had the 3rd fastest T1! This wetsuit is incredibly comfy and super easy to remove. So glad they are supporting the W this year!
 | ||
| Running to T1 |
Right off the bat I was feeling strong. I closed the gap to about 5 riders in front of me by mile 1. Normally, I would use my adrenaline to ride past them, which is a mistake. This always ends in me not being to sustain a strong effort throughout. Instead, I hung back once I caught the group and decided to make a move past the group after I was able to get warmed up. Once again, I got caught by Mike Wolfgram about half way through the ride. However, this time I told myself I was going to keep him in my sights. The wind was howling the entire ride and I started to really hurt after about 25 minutes, but I was able to keep him within eyesight. I ended up riding the same exact time as last year but in much harder conditions. Another improvement! I must say, the Adamo Racing II saddle has made for more comfortable training and racing. Definitely makes a noticeable difference. I clocked the 7th fastest ride of the day. I'm still training/racing without power but have decided I really need to start. If you or anyone you know is selling a used hub please let me know!
T2 was somewhat quick. My feet were so numb I had a hard time getting my Kswiss K-Ruuz on because I kept losing balance. Once I was able to focus, they slipped right on and I was off! Man these shoes are light, comfortable, and FAST! I really wanted a good run today, one I could be proud of...so I was bustin it.
Run (17:45)
Finally! I say that because I knew I had this in my legs. Last year I kept finding myself getting complacent with my run effort. I would end up having a decent run, but always ended feeling like I hadn't pushed enough. Today I completely surpassed the 18's and cracked it by 15 seconds (6th fastest run)! And the funny thing was I felt fairly comfortable doing it. My legs never really hurt and my breathing was controlled, so I know I can push more here. This might be a stretch but I'm publicly stating my goal is to break 17 min in a 5k by the end of the year, hopefully off the bike. Got to aim high...
Anyway, running up towards the front was a new experience for me and was really fun. Heading towards mile 1 I caught up with Mike W. and made a quick pass. I knew he was running strong as well because I could hear him for the rest of the run. Fellow Wattie Ink teammate Pat Brady caught me shortly after and eventually moved up to 2nd with a monster bike/run. Also, friend and winner Mark Hering came into view shortly after that. He had a crazy fast bike/run and also threw down a great swim. Look out for him! Unofficially, I ran my way into 4th but ended up 5th because the swim/T1 times were scrapped due to the swim conditions. After 4 waves everyone was sent out TT style onto the bike. A little unfair but what else were we to do? It is what it is. Fellow friend/athlete Bill Martin also had a great race but got even more screwed because he's a great swimmer. Still 3rd overall in my book. Congrats Bill and to everyone else who raced (too many to name). Many solid races on the day with lots of PR's.
.jpg) |
| Finish, feeling strong |
Just a couple more shout outs to Wattie Ink Elite Team sponsors:
Powerbar - great training/racing nutrition products! Had a double caffeinated latte gel beforehand with one of the new energy blends. Never had a drop in energy from start/finish.
Speedfil A2 - have not raced with this yet but looking forward to it. Awesome product. I can rehydrate climbing, descending, whenever I'm on the aero bars.
Fuelbelt Revenge - love this for my long runs. Fits just enough water/fuel for 2+ hours of running. And I forget its there, which is the most important thing for me.
Check out the side of my blog for the other great team sponsors! Next up is Pleasant Prairie oly. Finally going to meet some other Wattie's!
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