Blue Lake Tri Race Report (my second tri!)

[GLC1968]

Blue Lake Triathlon - Sprint distance - Athena Category
Total Time = 1:45:12
Overall Rank = 433/599
Age Group Rank = 29/56
Athena Rank = 2/10

Luckily, my huband agreed to be my race support, so that I didn't have to stress out about logistics with the new parking arrangements they made last minute (due to too much rain). We left home at about 5:30am, arriving at the site at about 6:30am where he dropped me (and my bike) off for the walk to transition while he went to park the car and take the shuttle back. I found my spot, got set up, chit-chatted with the people near by me and then ran into a friend from my swim clinic and wished her luck. Then I went to find my husband, hit the loo and then head down to the waterfront to check out the lake. I ran into another swim clinic friend at the waterfront, chatted with her a bit, and then waded into the water to test out the temps. It felt positively warm compared to my practice swim in another lake on Thursday!

I did not warm up - big mistake. I waded out and swam a few strokes to adjust the wetsuit and get a feel for the water, but I did not actually do any real swimming. I should have - it might have helped me get past that 'wall' sooner during the race.

Swim: 0:22:51
Terrible swim. I could not catch my breath and my HR was racing. I wasn't scared or afraid of drowning or anything, I just couldn't calm down. I think it was the distance - it just looked SO FAR and I was terrifed that I'd blow up and then have nothing left for the bike and the run. I think I basically hit that 'wall' and never broke through it. Or, at least, not until I rounded the last bouy. At that point, I told myself that it was to be 100% freestyle until the end, and I did it. And it did get easier. If only I'd done it sooner!

What would I do differently?
Lot's, lots more open water swimming practice so that I get used to what these distances look like! More races so that I can learn to calm down. And I should have forced myself to do more freestyle from the beginning so that I could find a rhythm.

T1: 4:55
The transitions felt long (distance) and they were very muddy and slippery. Coming out of the water, there was really no way to actually run without the danger of wiping out. My husband said he saw many people fall in the mud! When I got to my bike and went to strip off the wetsuit, it got a little stuck on my feet, but it think that was mostly my own inexperience at removal. I still need a new bike helmet - this one takes to long to put on! Socks went on great as did shoes and I did take a moment to put on lip balm.

What would I do differently?
Get a new helmet and practice wetsuit removal (when it's wet!).

Bike: 0:39:11
I was able to mount my bike much faster this time than the last time, so that's good. Got going and immediately started reminding myself that this was the fun part, so lets rock it. I think I did. I stayed in the drops and in my top three gears the whole way. I didn't really hammer until after the turn around because I didn't know the course and I didn't have a computer to tell me how far I'd gone. I figured that I'd take it easy, keep a good pace and then let-er-rip after the turn. I was playing tag with another woman (also in my age group) but when we rounded the turn and she commented about it, I said "yeah, but you run faster than me so it's time for me to go" and I took off leaving her behind. I knew I had to make a good time on the bike to be compettive since I knew my run time would suck. I was right.

What would I do differently?
Next time I need to take a bike computer. I'm pretty sure I had more in my tank that I could have expended on the first half had I known where I was in terms of the whole course. I could have also used aerobars for straight flat courses like that one.

T2: 3:08
I accidentally ran past my rack and had to back track a bit, so that cost me a little time. All in all, this was a good transition. The run with the bike was kind of long, but I was pleased to have my road shoes on as they gave me traction in the mud that the barefoot people did not have!

What would I do differently?
Next time I need to pay better attention to where my rack is located!

Run: 0:35:07
I am slow. It's unfortunate because I felt like my run was actually pretty good and pretty well managed - but yet I placed lower overall on the run than I did on my sucky swim! I wanted to run faster, but it was getting kind of hot and my feet were starting to ache. I basically just kept an eye on my HR and used that to gauge my effort. As much as I don't like my time, I was pleased with my performance before I saw the time, so I can't really complain. I'm not a runner...so this will take time to improve.

What would I do differently?
I don't know that there was anything that I'd do differently. I kept a steady pace (no walking!), I managed to leave just enough for a little sprint at the end, and I didn't say "ugh, I hate this" in my head but once! ;-)

Post race
Walked around a little - enjoyed the sunshine and snacked. I packed up my stuff and then my husband and I waited around for the results...just in case. I'm glad we did! I placed second in the Master's Athena category! Go me!

(not bad for my 2nd ever tri and my first OWS)

My ranking compared to the women:

Swim: 211/269
Bike: 51/269
Run: 203/269

Gee - wonder where my strength lies?

[GLC1968]

My husband was also my photographer and where he could get close enough to the action, took a few shots...

[Crankin]

Well, I think you did great! Anyone who do an open water swim is amazing to me. I am afraid of drowning in a pool, unless I can easily put my feet down!

[Susan Otcenas]

Well, I think you did great!

+1 !!

You should be proud of yourself. An OWS tri is a whole 'nother ballgame compared to the pool tri you did in May. Your reaction on the swim was very very common. It really DOES get easier with time. (For me, it never gets "easy" but it does get easiER. )

More OWS practice at Hagg, a few more sprints, and you'll be amazed at the difference. BTW, there's an all-women's sprint at Blue Lake on 7/31, if you want to do two more before Black Hills instead of one.

[GLC1968]

BTW, there's an all-women's sprint at Blue Lake on 7/31, if you want to do two more before Black Hills instead of one.

Yeah, I thought about that one, but I don't think I want to swim in Blue Lake mid-summer. I think the water temps will be too warm for me. Anything above 70F and I'm going to have to ditch the wetsuit, I think.

[Red Rock]

Congrats GLC. I can totally understand your feeling on the OWS. I have to reteach myself the freestyle in the swim myself. So your progressing. Keep it up. Not only that but you placed! How sweet is that.

Red Rock

[roadie gal]

Great race! The swim is always stressful, although as others have said, it does get easier over time.

[Veronica]

Yeah, I thought about that one, but I don't think I want to swim in Blue Lake mid-summer. I think the water temps will be too warm for me. Anything above 70F and I'm going to have to ditch the wetsuit, I think.

So ditch the wetsuit and do it. Think of it as a race simulation. It will give you a chance to practice your transitions and maybe help calm some of the OWS anxiety.

Veronica

PS Congratulations! You did well!

[colby]

Congrats on your pretty shiny medal and 1st OWS tri, GLC!! Great pictures, too. Glad you had a good time AND came out of it with concrete things to work on for next time. Always fun thinking about NEXT TIME!

I can swim in my sleeveless wetsuit just to around 72 or so degrees. If it's warmer than that, it starts to get too warm. Or.... you can swim the distance without a wetsuit, I'm certain. There was a tri I did a couple years ago where the water was so warm in July that they banned wetsuits (75?), a lot of women freaked out but pushed through it anyway and did just fine. It was like swimming in the pool.

[Susan Otcenas]

There was a tri I did a couple years ago where the water was so warm in July that they banned wetsuits (75?), a lot of women freaked out but pushed through it anyway and did just fine. It was like swimming in the pool.

I would DNS. Seriously. The wetsuit is the only thing that keeps me from completely freaking out.

[Veronica]

I would DNS. Seriously. The wetsuit is the only thing that keeps me from completely freaking out.

I'm such a sicko that I keep hoping my races will warm enough that they are not wetsuit legal.

Veronica

[Susan Otcenas]

I'm such a sicko that I keep hoping my races will warm enough that they are not wetsuit legal.

Veronica

Well, it would certainly reduce the competition. I *know* I'm not the only person who uses her wetsuit the way Linus uses his safety blanket.

[tulip]

GLC, you are AWESOME! Congratulations on a great race. I really value your analysis of each stage and transitions. If I ever do a tri, I'll definitely learn from your tips.

That's a big IF. But I think it's getting smaller.

[OakLeaf]

Way to go GLC! You rock.

[Susan Otcenas]

GLC - I think that last photo would make a GREAT avatar photo! You look so delighted.