RACE REPORT: Lake T Sprint Tri #5

Lake Terramuggus Sprint Tri #5

July 31, 2014

The greatest parts about the every other Thursday night races are as follows...

1. It's cheap
2. All your friends are there to cheer you on (or run you down)
3. You can test anything new that you'd like
4. If things go wrong, it's the best time for it to happen
5. Go!, Go!, GO!!!  ...'cause even if your race sucks, it's over quickly.

This past week was no different!  I tried something new, I got cheered on, things went wrong, but I pushed on and still had a rather good day.  Here is the story!

PRE-RACE

Out of work at 2pm, I got home, packed, did what I needed to, and was out the door by 4pm.  The race starts at 6:20pm, but if I leave any later than 4pm, it can take 30-60 minutes longer to make the same trip.  Ugh!  Traffic!!

I got to the race site, quickly set myself up, and headed out on my bike because I wanted to try something new...

Trying something NEW

Racing with my trainer wheel

I bought this wheel (a Bontrager Race X Lite) from a friend.  I had a couple dings in it, but would function well for a quick switch on and off of the trainer.  But in the end, I decided that if it would work on the road, it is a better wheel than my normal rear wheel.  So...  Let's test it.  But I opted to test it before the race just in case it was going to pop or break off once on the road.

I headed out and did a couple laps of the bike route.  Just after starting this ride which kept me below Zone 1, the day/race started going downhill.

Things can go WRONG

PUKE!!  Puke again!!  ...a dozen times?

Afternoon races are tough to get your nutrition right for.  Two weeks ago, I nailed it!  This week I tried to imitate it and it blew up...  all over the road.  Hahaha.  I wasn't sick, but there was simply too much in my stomach for my body to handle, so it got rid of some. 

When I got back, I opted to rest as much as I could and just see what happened in the race.  I won't let puking stop me.  The race is only an hour!!  So I signed up, got my chip, got dressed, laid down for a bit, and then toed the line!

RACE

I was talking to my coach today and I mentioned that I've gotten to a point where races don't make me that nervous anymore; I've done enough or tested it enough to take away the nerves of "I hope this works out" and replaced it with much stronger habits of what to do if X, Y, or Z happen. 

So as I toed the line, I had a swim plan of pushing myself as normal to the turn around buoy and then kick it up to the 3/4 buoy and try to maintain it to the finish.  It just about worked out!!

As we started, I was just to the right of the fastest swimmer, Matt.  I did my best to hold onto the feet of the person who was immediately drafting him.  I held those feet to the first buoy.  Then the swimmers from my right merged in and I stuck around in that mass.  For whatever reason, breathing was tough this week.  I breathed right, breathed left, and both sides were being tough.  I had to resort to turning my head much higher than I like to.  As a competitive pool swimmer, I'm used to very easy breathing.  Open water swimming and especially triathlon race swimming is all about adapting.

We made it to the orange turn buoy and while I had already counted out the idea of kicking it up, the two swimmers I was drafting pulled ahead.  For a second, I opted to let them go and take the open water.  Almost immediately I yelled at myself and thought...

"You wanted to do this, here is your opportunity!!  GO!"

So I went.  I didn't catch those feet, but they didn't pull any further ahead.  They stayed right where they were all the way to the 3rd buoy and then somehow disappeared.  They may have swung right or pulled away; who knows.  At that point, I started realizing how drained my arms felt.  I had had Monday through Wednesday as rest, so I had hoped to feel race ready today, but as I swum from the last buoy to the swim exit, I started wondering where my swim fitness had gone.  Haha.  

I dug in as deep as I could to maintain my rhythm to the finish.  Thankfully, those ladies in front who decided to stop waste deep in water were off to the side.  Haha  Pet Peeve!!  I swam until I couldn't swim anymore, popped up and headed in!

SWIM

(** Always an approx. distance **)

0:07:12 

5th (I think) of 155

Transition went smooth.  The ROKA Viper Swimskin comes off like a dream!  Popped on the Rudy Wingspan helmet with the front vent completely open (also something new I tried) and headed out. 

One thing I love about this race is that they've decided on sticking with the Men's wave going 2nd.  This does mean that we swim through a number of the women in the water, but I also get lots of rabbits to chase out on the course.  Yay!!

As per usual, my goal was to not be able to catch my breath until at least the 2nd loop of the bike if not until I get to T2.  I maintained my rapid breathing all the way around the 1st loop.  While hammering it out, I also puked a couple more times (much smaller now 'cause there's not much left to get rid of), so I started taking a Clif Shot Razz gel and some water.  It didn't settle that well, but it also didn't come back up.  I'll take it.

About half way through the first lap, I passed Matt, the speedy swimmer.  I asked if there was anyone up ahead.  I thought at first he said "Red just ahead.  And you."  I assumed that was Chris Schultenn, the eventual winner and the guy who I had no chance of catching.  About half a mile later, after not seeing anyone in red, I started debating if Matt had instead said "No one ahead.  Just you."  Was I in first or second?  Either way, I was stoked to be up that far so early in the race.  (Turns out there WAS a speedy swimmer/biker ahead of me that I wouldn't meet until the run)

Hahahahaha!! 

I can't help but laugh at the term "early" for a sprint. 

Either way, I hammered on, taking bits of my gel, passing people.  The second loop had just as many people to pass which is odd.  I started wondering if they started the 2nd wave later than usual.  Later on, most of us had the same thought.

About a quarter the way through the 2nd lap, I got passed rather quickly by a guy in a black Pearl Izumi kit.  He was bookin!!  I figured at the time he was a slow swimmer.  Shortly after, Chris Schultenn pulled up and convincingly passed me.  I know Chris is a slower swimmer.  I yelled "Alright!!" 'cause what was I going to do?, chase him down?  I don't think so!

I figured I was in 4th at this point.  Last year, that would normally get under my skin and I'd start giving in.  This year, I've learned that I have an ace still in my back pocket with the run.  It may hurt.  Heck, it may hurt like HELL, but I can run people down!  So with that in my head, I tried to keep the bike speed up all the way to T2.  "I can run 'em down!  I WILL run them down!"

I was also pretty sure I was going to puke the moment I started to run.  "It's only a 5k."

BIKE

0:31:05

I'm not even going to count where I was on the bike.  I'm not the fastest biker for sure!  And this wasn't my fastest split ever.  But given the previous (and current) puking, I felt I did well. 

Down the last hill, slipped off my shoes, quick dismount straight into a run, racked my bike, immediately sat down, slipped on my Pearl Izumi ISO Transitions, traded the helmet for my Valor Triathlon Project visor, and was off.  Third fastest T2 of the day.

i passed the speedy biker in the black Pearl Izumi kit in T2.  I felt great at that point.  I had just slipped into 2nd or 3rd.  I still wasn't sure what Matt had told me back there on the first loop.  With the black PI on my heels, I kicked it up a bit higher than I had wanted.  I dislike ongoing battles.  I have always had it in my head that I am not a sprinter.  If I'm going to beat you, I need to get that in your head early on or I could be in trouble later on.  Off I went!

I took out the first quarter mile HARD.  My Garmin data says I ran around 6:00/mile pace up to the first hill, peaking at 5:20 for 0.05 miles (HR had already given out during the bike).  I REALLY wanted this guy gone! 

Another fun part about this course is the steep, but thankfully short hill at the 0.25 mile mark.  That hill can make or break you!  I kept my intensity on the way up hoping that black PI wasn't going to charge up to me.  I didn't look back at all, but I couldn't hear anything either.  He couldn't be too close.  Another 0.1 mile later, we made a 90-degree turn and I did look back.  He was 0.1 mile back.  I was putting distance between us, but still needed to push!

I passed a couple women along with Ken, a friend who was doing a relay.  Ken told me that I was in 3rd, that 2nd was just ahead in green, and that I was running him down.  I set my sights and stuck to my pace.  I really wanted to put this guy away on the false flat we were on; I love that section!!  It didn't happen though and over the next few rollers, he didn't seem to be slowing.  A big part of me wanted to just take it easy and accept 3rd.  But again, I found myself saying...

"You wanted to do this, here is your opportunity!!  GO!"

It took three more turns over the next mile to catch this guy.  Until I did catch him, I had no idea what kind of battle I would have.  He turned to me and said "You're in 2nd.  Don't let me catch you at the finish!"  Haha  Yup, this was going to be an easy pass.  He won't be sprinting after me.

With about 1.5 miles to go, I started slowly putting distance between us.  I turned back a few times to see if anyone was coming.  I had the mile 2 beep come up on my watch - 5:59.  I was doing well, but my stomach was not happy.  The single person I knew was ahead was out of reach (he would beat me by 1:30) and no one was coming up on me.  At that point, I gave in.  I let myself slow down a bit to a more comfortable pace and saved the rest of my energy for another fight on another day.

Rockin' the Moxie Multisport kit version 2.0!

 

RUN

0:18:48

4th of 155

Also, not my best, but I was happy with my battle to get into 2nd and that I stayed mentally in it despite feeling sick until I had gotten there. 

FINISH

0:58:03

2nd of 155

Not my best, but on a day when I tried something new (my trainer wheel worked well!) and my GI system decided to wreck havoc on me, I was happy with the outcome.  If anything, I got another gift card to my bike shop and another bottle of wine to add to the collection. 

I love this series.  It is so well run.  The athletes, volunteers, crew, and police are great.  The age group medals are awesome (below).  I get to race with some tactics instead of racing within myself (it's a nice change sometimes).  And I really believe everyone needs some races throughout their season that are just fun, a change up, or at least a throw away in case they don't go well.  Sure, I had to still ride 6 hours that coming weekend, but I got a break from the Zone 1 / Zone 2 and just went out and pushed the limit! 

Oh, and post-race, my stomach ached almost immediately; right back to the pains I used to have post-race.  So I downed my pbj in the car, chugged some water, and stopped to get ice cream on the way home.  It did the trick.  The next day, my energy was still a little low, but the pains were gone. 

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Questions:
1.  Do you have races that you use for tests?
The Lake T series is my triathlon testing site.  It works great.  New tri suit?  New bike wheel?  New helmet?  New transition setup idea?  New race tactics?  Bring 'em along.  We'll see how they work!

2.  What's the worst pre-race event that either made you pull out of a race or you ignored and raced anyways?
I had a cold going into my first iron-distance event.  This event I was puking just before.  The only raced I've ever pulled out of was the Litchfield Olympic this year and I re-registered for it the day of the race.

3.  What's your next race??
I have the olympic distance triathlon at this same race site.  Then just one more sprint before Rev3 Cedar Point full.  


DREAM.  BELIEVE.  ACHIEVE. 

RACE REPORT: Lake T Sprint Triathlon #5

I know I've skipped a couple Lake T race reports in here.  I started strong with writing up reports from #1 and #2, but then dropped the ball on #3.  I didn't race #4 due to recovery from Lake Placid, but now I'm back with the last sprint of the season. 

August 15th, 2013

This was by far my favorite sprint of the year for multiple reasons.

1. Relaxed mentally pre-race
2. New bike course
3. Competitive run
4. Use of mental tactics at the finish

Given that my triathlon season is winding to an end, I have no tri to specifically train for, so I had no reservations about whether I should race or not.  When I showed up to the site, I hadn't completely decided.  It depended on how my knee felt.  I did a quick ride and a short run and felt okay, so hence the report!!  But this really helped give me a relaxed mental state.  I wasn't worrying about taking it easy to leave energy for an upcoming race; aka. I could really GO!  I also wasn't worried about overdoing it because I had been feeling recovered for the most part.  It was just a perfect time of the season to let it all on the line if I felt like it.  Plus, a lot of the fast racers were out due to either Timberman or Mont-Tremblant coming up next weekend.  But don't worry, I still had plenty of competition. 

As we lined up for the start, we all lined up behind Ken, The Shark.  Post-race, come to find out The Shark got beat out of the water.  I blame the fact that this was race #4 within a week for him.  He's crazy.  That's why I like him.  =D

Honestly, the swim felt lack-luster.  I didn't feel as strong or as consistent as I usually do, but I fell in line behind the pack and just held on.  Nothing to really highlight.  It was my worst leg of the day actually, which is odd.  It's usually my strongest. 

As we exited the water, I noticed that we had a water exit timing mat.  Cool!  We had a separate swim and T1 time this week.  And of course I liked that because I can kill it in T1!

SWIM - 9:14

18th / 172

I had chose to swim without my wetsuit.  After having walked into the water, I somewhat regretted that decision, but it turned out fine.  I exited the water, dropped my goggles, put on my glasses and helmet, and was off. 

T1 - 0:23

1st / 172

Booyah!!

And now the most enjoyable part of the whole race!  Thanks to the town of Marlborough, we had to remap the bike course.  Instead of the typical two loop course, we've switched to another three loop course on the other side of the lake.  In my opinion, there are more hills, but they're much more broken up.  I love rolling hills because you can use your momentum to climb the next hill.  And with that, there is never a section where you don't feel like you should be pushing.  So for the entire three loops, I pushed the bike to the limit.  It was tough, but it made for such a fun ride!  Go!, Go!, Go!

I would post the elevation chart, but it is totally misleading!  Trust me, this was a BLAST of a course.

BIKE - 33:52

15th / 172

Once dismounted, we set our bikes back and with my Pearls, a hat, and my handheld, I was off to the run.  And I was ready to really race this course!  It might not have been the most enjoyable section of the race, but this run was the most satisfactory part of the race and one of my more proud moments of this year's season.

As I headed out, I had one Yale racer ahead of me, Roberto, and another right behind, Jon.  Once out on the main road, I saw three more racers a quarter mile ahead.  My mind was made up before I could think about it - "Running is my strength; GET THEM!!!!"  This was going to be a very competitive run!

But not yet!  There's a good sized hill in the first half a mile.  While it does slow me down, I always let my body find a comfortable pace through that first hill.  If I push that hill, the rest of the run is torture.  So I passed Roberto before the hill and then he passed me back on the hill as I shuffled.  Once we crested the hill, I passed him back and started picking people off.  =D

One guy down.  Two more down.  Then I passed Ken, The Shark.  His form looked good, but you could tell (as he told me later), he left everything on the bike course.  I told you!  It was too much fun not to!! 

We passed pleasantries and I picked off another guy in front of him.  At the end of my favorite section (a false flat), Roberto caught back up.  He passed me and I never caught him again but I kept him in view.  We both picked off one more racer who I hadn't remembered seeing before; he must have been ahead of me the whole time.  And then I hit a mental block.  My body wanted to slow, but Jon was keeping pace behind me; if I slowed, he would definitely catch up.  Scott taught me that lesson already!  

I kept a comfortable push and pulled in two women, Julia & Shaina.  It helped to have them to pull in; it kept up my motivation.  I also had guessed that I may even be currently in 3rd place.  I've never stepped on the podium at this race and that was a big mental push.  But it didn't keep Jon at bay.  With half a mile left, I began hearing his feet behind me.  Being so close to the finish and having pulled me in, he had enough motivation to keep a faster pace than I was.  I wasn't going to beat him physically, so I needed to break him mentally.  I needed a plan.  As he pulled up to my side on the final small hill, I made my decision. 

Let him pass me.  He'll mentally feel he won the battle.

I'll keep pace just behind him as quietly as I can.

With 0.1 miles to go, I have to put everything I have into a sprint finish he doesn't see coming.

My only hope is to make him THINK he can't beat me.

I was impressed with his pace up the final hill and then down the back side.  I seriously doubted if I had anything else to put into a sprint, but I had no other choice; he was going to beat me if I just clicked it up a notch or two; I HAD to break away quickly to beat him.  We hit the grass, I put my head down, and red lined for the finish.  I went maybe 10 steps and tilted my head to look back.  He was 5 steps back.  He could still make that up, so I pushed harder.  Another 10 steps and I looked back again.  He was 10 steps back.  I closed my eyes for a second and took in the victory.  I couldn't help but smile as I crossed the finish line.


It worked!!

RUN - 19:42

7th / 172

FINISH - 1:03:11

4th / 172

My best at this race has been 5th.  I was happy to have topped that, but I admit that there are a handful of other athletes I can name that would have beat me if they raced.  But despite that, the race was very memorable for both the enjoyment and the finish!! 

Post-race was a 3 minute grass collapse and then I went for a swim.  The water felt great and despite my tired muscles protesting, I felt much better afterwards.  I chatted with the other racers, helped pack up the race director's gear, and headed home. 

What a way to finish the series!!

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Questions
1.  Have you ever had your regular race courses changed?  If so, was it an improvement or no?
We've had three different bike courses this year and while #2 was worse, this course was by far better!

2.  Have you ever mentally broken another competitor?, or been broken by another?

3.  What has been your favorite race of this season so far?
This was my favorite.

4.  What race are you looking forward to most in the remainder of the season?
I'm really looking forward to the Newport marathon (the second part of the back-to-back marys) and the JFK 50.  Both are just adventure, just-want-to-finish type races. 


DREAM.  BELIEVE.  ACHIEVE. 

RACE REPORT: Lake T Sprint Triathlon #1

June 6th, 2013

PRE-RACE

I raced a Half Ironman four days before Lake T.  That about sums it up.

Even before Quassy, I was unsure if I was going to do this first Lake T race of the year.  In the days between the two, I had a headache for two days and felt pretty sore in my hamstrings & left calf.  At first, I figured I would do my own brick and go to a local track practice; I didn't want to hurt myself.  However, deep down I really wanted to race.  The day before the race, I did a lot of stretching and dynamic movement exercises and it helped to alleviate what I felt in my muscles.

On race day, I decided to head to the race site early and do the bike and run easy.  If I had any issues, I'd call it a day and just volunteer.  If I felt I could handle the race, I'd sign up and let my body dictate the race speed.

Race start was 6:20pm.  I arrived at 4:00pm and even had to set up the bike racks in order to hang my bike.

Two loops of the bike course in 36:09 (18.38 mph) - CHECK! 
One loop of the run course in 22:02 (7:06 pace) - CHECK!

Time to race!!!

I signed up, stretched, had a Picky Bar & Clif gel, and awaited the start.  We all hoped the incoming storm would hold off. 

SWIM & T1

Based on muscle soreness, the swim was going to be my best leg.  There were a few VERY good swimmers at the front of the pack and I lined up next to Ken, a friend I had been used to swimming with hoping to stick to his feet as long as possible.

At 6:25pm, we were off!  I held pace for the first 50 yards or so and then felt my energy begin to drain.  Darn!!  My energy hadn't been replaced, so I pulled back and did my best to draft the rest of the swim.  I felt much more of an effort than Quassy, but still popped up from the water running to the bike.

Having been the first athlete to the race, I was on the closest rack.  I got my wetsuit top down before I slid to my transition area and ripped the bottom off.  At that point, I realized that Ken, my kick ass swimmer friend was still grabbing his bike three positions down from me.  Woohoo!!  I put on my glasses, strapped on the helmet, and  ran off to the mount line. 

9:22

9th place

BIKE

In my warm up, my legs still felt tightness in my quads.  Oddly, during the race, my quads felt fine.  On the first loop, it was pretty lonely.  Only one guy passed me and there weren't many people out there to pass.  On the second loop, there was a group of four guys or so that passed me.  It felt oddly symbolic as they passed me in the last half a lap while I started to feel low on energy. 

As I finished the second loop, I unstrapped my shoes and dismounted, running the bike into transition feeling oddly good on my running legs.  No complaints!!

31:15

21.4 mph

15th place

T2 & RUN

Right off the bike, I had a relay runner on my tail.  I was determined not to let him pass me that early, so I took off.  About 0.1 mile down the road, I passed the first place female and spotted the first guy ahead of me.  With the first hill coming up, I slowed my pace and attached a string to the guy's back.  I passed him on the downhill and was quite alone for the next 1.5 miles.  When I spotted another runner ahead, I was relieved.  I figured I was somewhere between 5th and 7th and I had hoped that they weren't THAT far ahead of me.  Over the next half a mile, I made up about 15 second on him.  Then on the final 0.5 mile flat road, I caught up to and passed Chris, a HEAT friend.  No wonder I could see the runner so far ahead, Chris is pretty tall.  I remember thinking "Why do I feel so good right now?"  I was certainly not at my typical pace, but I wasn't fighting to maintain my pace either.  Again, no complaints. 

I made the last turn, looked back to see if Chris was going to have a kick, and he didn't, so I kept my pace.

20:16

 sub-6:32/mile pace

13th place

FINISH - 1:00:53

4th place overall

POST-RACE

Since it had been raining since mid-way through the bike, I quickly grabbed my gear and packed up the car.  I switched to regular clothes and headed back to transition to cheer on the remaining racers.  Then while I waited for the awards, I made use of a new feature of this race, the Fleet Feet Recovery Tent.  Caitlin from Fleet Feet had foam rollers, pro stretches, balls, bands, and lots of torturous items; very much appreciated!!

Once everyone was packed up, I headed home.  This has become a VERY good local race.  We used to be happy with maybe 60 people in the first race of the year.  We had 173 this past week.  Awesome!!  Can't wait for some great competition.

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Questions
1.  How soon after an A-priority race have you raced again?

2.  What's your favorite local race?
The Lake T sprint series is my down right favorite.  

3.  Do you do races of all lengths, or do you stick to short/long distance?
I like to mix it up.  While I'd like to focus on the 70.3/140.6 distance, sprints and olympics help keep my speed up, hone sport specific skills without the increased recovery time, and are just plain fun!


Dream.  Believe.  Achieve.