SpinDizzy Du Race Report

[spindizzy]

Guelph Lake Tri/Du - 2km/19km/5km

Rain was predicted for June 20 all week. The weather people were right! Saturday welcomed a rainy day- showers interspersed by downpours. Arrived at the site when the try-a-tri was completed. The field I parked in was impossibly muddy. Picked up number, bib, signed waiver and waited. Usually I am a bag of nerves, making *several* trips to the port-a-potties. I felt amazingly calm with a few butterflies. I kept thinking about that article by Elizabeth Waterstraat. Trust your training. My biggest dilemma was clothing oriented. Knew I would be warm on run, but with the rain, thought I might be cool without a jacket on the bike. Decided on tank, with arm warmers and a jacket.

Plan:

Better time than last year.
Run #1 5:00min/km
Bike - speed goal of 30km/hr
Run #2 5:00min/km
over all try to maintain steady state HR between 175-180

Run #1 -1 minute in and I'm hot already - should have ditched the jacket. The person in my age-group that always finishes ahead of me in du's seems impossibly thin. And she is running very quickly. I feel slothlike, but maintain my HR of 175.

T1 - a little longer than I would have liked but trying to get my wet feet into shoes was interesting.
Ditch the jacket. Don't see the competition.

Bike - Ride was amazingly strong. Hit the big ring and stayed there the whole race. Passed a lot of people - kept HR at 177 for bike. Temperature was perfect with arm warmers and tank top. Felt awesome! No competition in sight. I wonder how much time she has put on me on the bike. She has a Cervelo P3 tri bike....me a regular road bike with regular tires

T2 - quick. I was out in a flash. Despite the mud trails I got to run through

Run #2 - legs felt pretty good. About halfway into 1st km, they felt a bit heavy - then felt ok. My heart and lungs again dictated this part of the race. HR between 178-180. Run course is out and back. Ah yes - there is the competition..heading home and I'm still running out. Race belt fell off at about 4k - had to stop pick it up and tie it around my hips.

186 participants (M & F) in the Du
Finished 51st overall, 1:16:28 (last year 1:17:56)- 2nd in my age group
AHR - 177

Run #1 - 10:02 (5:00/km pace) Good!
T1 1:12 ( a bit slow, but it was just as good or better than most)
Bike - 37:55 (30.1kph/hr - Yippee - this was a BIG milestone for me)
T2 - 57s (yes!)
Run #2 - 26:24 (5:17/km need to work on speed when I'm tired)

I am totally delighted with my results. And I feel fantatastic today.

[salsabike]

Hey! Congratulations, Spin. Sounds like you hit your goals, improved over last year, feel human today...those are excellent outcomes.

[colby]

Nice work, especially on those fast transitions! I imagine you saying at the end "I'll get you next time!!" like Inspector Gadget's nemesis says to him. (A cartoon in the 80s... not sure how widely watched it was)

I love arm warmers. You know you can always change your mind if you get warm, and they are good for biking AND running.

Great job!!

[Tri Girl]

I loved Inspector Gadget.

CONGRATS!!!!! You really accomplished some major goals in this race. Woo hoo to you!!!!

[jesvetmed]

Great race Spindizzy!
Those are truly amazing transitions. You are my hero!
Glad you are feeling so great today.

[roadie gal]

I'm in awe at those transitions. Congrats on a great race.

[spindizzy]

Thanks- I practice transitions. Draw a chalk line on the street in front of my house, go ride a couple of km, dismount before the chalk line, run to the driveway, up, then along the side of the house to the back where I change sports. Then I run about a km and do it all over again. I also have speed laces in my shoes, a very big time saving. And I am not taking off a wetsuit! I think the neighbours are getting used to the "show."

Ah yes, Inspector Gadget..next time!