Race Report--Philadelphia Women's Triathlon

[divingbiker]

MDHillSlug and I did this triathlon (which became a duathlon) yesterday. I'm sure she'll be here with a more positive report.

There was heavy rain overnight, so the swim was cancelled because the current was too strong, and I'd assume the water quality was poor also. There was a lot of crap in the river. A lot of people were very disappointed that the swim was cancelled.

After getting there around 6:30am, I spent a lot of time waiting around for the start, because for some inexplicable reason they put the 50+ women in the last wave. I much prefer an earlier wave, so there's less time to fret.

The swim became a 1.9 mile run, and I did it at an 11:21 pace, which is pretty fast for me.

The first 8.5 mile bike loop went fine. A couple miles into the second loop, I hit a big hole in the road and shortly after that my rear tire went flat. I started changing it and this macho guy stopped and took over. I was glad for the help because I was getting a bit stressed, even though normally I like to do it myself.

A few miles later, it went flat again. I had to bum a tube from another rider, and then a race support car came by and another nice guy changed the tire this time.

Then when I was about a half mile from the finish, it went flat again. I just rode it in even though it was flat. My actual moving bike time was just over an hour, about a 16 mph average which is good for me (and I was averaging about 16.4 for most of the race only to slow due to stopping so much for the flat fixes). With the flats my bike time was 20 minutes longer, and my average was 12.7 mph.

I started stressing about how was I going to get to the hotel (I had ridden to the race, about 2.8 miles) in time for a noon checkout since I had to fix another flat. My heart rate was up in the 170s and wouldn't come down. So the second run was slow, and I had to stop to walk every now and then. My second run pace was 13:09.

I called the hotel and got a 1pm checkout, and found someone I could buy a tube from for $10 (all I had with me) and changed the tire again. (I was surprised at how many people said they didn't have a spare tube with them. Maybe they just didn't want to sell it to me.) Then about 1.5 miles down the road, it went flat again and I walked the rest of the way to the hotel, very frustrated and annoyed.

But...this afternoon I spent 4.5 hours ordering my new custom bike! So that kind of made the day worthwhile. The builder found a tiny piece of glass in the tire (had to fix it so he could see me ride the bike) but it didn't seem to be sticking through to the inside. We'll see if it holds up. I'm due for new tires anyway.

By the time I headed home I was so tired I missed all the turns for I-95 and ended up in New Jersey and Delaware, I think. Somehow made it back home. I stopped at a gas station/mini mart for dinner, and really wanted a package of oreos or potato chips, but I was relatively good and got pretzel chips and orange juice.

Got home exhausted after a very long day. Here's hoping the Irongirl will be a more positive experience next month.

[tulip]

Wow, divingbiker, that's quite a report. So sorry you had so many flats, and that you weren't able to swim. You should be proud that you did it, though.

[7rider]

Ouch. Bummer.
Well, at least you're safely home and put this behind you.
Iron Girl WILL be better!

[Kalidurga]

Congratulations for surviving all of that! And for ordering your new bike, as well. I can't remember, what did you go with?

[Possegal]

OH NO! That sounds awful. I'm sorry I hadn't headed to my sisters for the weekend, we'd have likely been down there and could have lent a hand (well, not so much help with changing the flat, but a tube and a way back to the hotel faster.) Sorry you had such a rough weekend. And sorry you missed your turn. I hate when I do that 'in another zone' thing and realize I've missed my exit. UGH.

I'd of had to go for a Reese cup and a Dew after a day like that, good for you, you are stronger woman than I!

[HillSlugger]

Janice,

I'm so sorry you had such a bad time on your ride! Glad you were able to put it behind you and enjoy your bike buying experience.

[divingbiker]

I can't remember, what did you go with?

I'm getting a steel mixte set up like a road bike from Bilenky.

[tribogota]

sounds like a very disorganized race, sorry, but great bike time.
And DB, sorry about all those flats, I tried to count how many they were in the rr, but it was too many.