Races

[DevilD]

yesterday i competed in my first triathlon and it was one of the best experiences of my life! incredibly motivating atmosphere, everyone focused on the same goal, and there to support each other. although you are all individual racers, there is still a sense of encouragement and commonality. if you have a competative edge to yourself, like to make and set goals, and love challenges this is the sport for you. it is also a sport that you can grow old with, as i've seen seniors (alot of them) competing as well.

everyone is set into age catagories. mine was 30-34 years old. i'm 30.

the race was a sprint distance comprised of a .5 mile (.74K) swim, 12 mile (17.65K) bike, and a 3.1 mile (5K) run. the swim was open water in lake washington, 60 degree F water, i raced in a full 2 mm wetsuit although i found it uneccessary.

here are my results:

overall time- 1:23:38
age division place- 47 out of 88
swim time- 0:20:03
swim place- 912 out of 1800
bike transition- 0:03:12
bike place- 220 out of 1800
run transition- 0:01:43
overall place after bike- 502 out of 1800
run time- 0:22:33
run place- 254 out of 1800

i used this race as a measuring stick, and also as an orientation to the race flow. now i have a better idea of where i could have pushed it harder. the issue of pace again. you can be as great swimmer, but when ya have guys climbing on top of you and kicking you in the face it is much different. the transitions are tricky as well, switching your gear over smoothly, getting your muscles in the pace of a different discipline. the pressure is an excellent learning tool. to be able to summon your talent at will, that's what matters. a great learning experience all together! i'll be doing another sprint next month on the 19th of aug. on camp pendleton marine base in california with a buddy from the corps.

there is always another level, skys the limit!!!

hope everyone's training is bearing fruit.

DD

[a1b2c3]

Congratulations. That's a great start to your triathlon career.

If you're getting kicked in the face when swimming, next time try to find a better line to the first buoy. Sometimes it's not good to be in the middle of everyone...hard to get into a rhythm. It can cost you some recovery time as you transition from T1 onto the bike if you're too tired coming out of the water. IMHO, you will be faster overall if you back off the intensity in the water a bit so you can jump onto the bike and get into a good speed right away, instead of taking 3-4mi to "warm up".

[crazysix0231]

Congrats bro, good job

[DevilD]

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If you're getting kicked in the face when swimming, next time try to find a better line to the first buoy. Sometimes it's not good to be in the middle of everyone...hard to get into a rhythm.

i would definitly seed myself better within the pack next time, as well as not feel so pressured to ride ass on the guy ahead of me. there is the subconscious need to keep up, or not be the last one. everyone found a pace anyway and the naturally faster and more efficient ones passed the others in time.

. It can cost you some recovery time as you transition from T1 onto the bike if you're too tired coming out of the water.

i keep playing T1 back in my mind and can't beleive or remember it being that long--over 3 minutes?!?!? that is a good example of the pressure and fatigue factor. i thought i was going to puke when i first got to my bike. i swallowed a little water here and there which was fine while swimming. once i slowed a bit in the transition it hit me. i remember pausing to shrug of the vomiting, but it only seemed like a second

.
IMHO, you will be faster overall if you back off the intensity in the water a bit so you can jump onto the bike and get into a good speed right away, instead of taking 3-4mi to "warm up".

fearing my s**ty time on the swim, i didn't warm up on my bike too much. consequentially costing me really tight hamstrings on the run. i didn't cramp but could have been more comfortable resulting in a better pace.

lessons learned the hard way:) thanks for the feedback.

[K9-]

congrats. there are just few who could finish thriatlon.
cheers

[DevilD]

a couple days ago i ran the sprint triathlon at camp pendleton. it was held at ACU-5, just about 1000m north of Red Beach--the LCAC park/maintenance area. lotsa marines, civilians, and people from all over the north/southwest united states. very motivating and great support crews. outside temp about 80 degrees F, open ocean swim--about 2-4 foot surf and 60 degrees F (beautiful!), bike couse mild to moderate hills with a couple flat stretches, totally flat run.

0.5km swim/30km bike/5km run

age catagory: male 30-34

Placing: 12th of 60 in age catagory, 135th of 800 overall

SPLITS:

swim: 00:15:11 1.6mph avg

bike: 00:57:53 21.25mph avg

run: 00:23:20 8.95mph avg

overall time: 01:36:24


i would like to use this thread as a place for posting and discussion of events and races of all kinds participated in by board members who have an interest in bouncing ideas off each other for training, goals, and the like. tri race season in my area is the summer and early fall.

work hard, play hard!

[DevilD]

congrats. there are just few who could finish thriatlon.
cheers

many can finish triathlon, you just have to want it. i've seen people walking on the run portion especially, their mind is beaten, not their bodies. they're not comfortable being uncomfortable. it's a state of mind, and besides it gets easier the more you participate--not harder.

i feel it is one of the sports you can grow old with.

thanks for the congrats though:)

[Digitalfreefall]

Congratulations mate.