SpindizzyDU Race report

[spindizzy]

My story:

Perfect day, sunny, minimal wind about 8 degrees C.

First of all - I despise mechanical fiddling while I am racing. I'm going to have to get a watch that does pace and stays on my wrist while I'm running and leave one on the bike. (My coach wanted the foot pod on for every race- I actually have the e-mail where he said that and I've just sent it back to him) - but now he's saying just go with heart rate. Men!! As I was starting first run, polar said sensor wasn't on ( I had turned it on - I guess it decided to turn itself off.) At 1K watch said 4:32, 2K 9:39, 3K 14:59, 4K 19:56. Ran into transition. Forgot where I parked my bike.(this has never happened to me before) I guess I was so busy memorizing my times....Found it after a wasteful 10s. AHR 179/187

On the bike -Fiddled with my watch a bit (I will not do this again!!!) Couldn't get it twisted on my wrist so that I could actually see it - I could just make out HR. Anyway, at 15k mark looked at watch and it said 30:42. I was aiming for 30kph or more, so I thought I could negative split this ride. (Knowing that I did 170w for an hour on my trainer in the winter thought this was definitely possible....) 10K from the finish, a volunteer on the course waves a HUGE Ryder moving van in front of me. I look behind to see No-One!!!!!! Ryder van is taking up the whole lane, and moving at a snails pace.. I am trying to figure out why this guy is so freaking slow. I move to the right and see a horse and buggy...yep a horse and buggy. Now I can't pass on the left - well I could have but with my luck there would have been a course marshall and I would have been DQ'd. So I figure I'll pass on the gravel shoulder. Just as I get into the gravel, Mr. Horse and Buggy decides to go half on the road and half on the gravel shoulder. Meh!! So I had to wait for Mr. Ryder Truck to pass Mr. Horse and Buggy and then wait for Mr. Ryder Truck to turn. A few choice words were expleted! Try and kick me out of the race for that!! Lost a few minutes there. ( not that it made any difference) AHR 171/183, cad 96

Run #2 legs felt like crap. Time reflects that. Didn't bother with watch (I know ...bad attitude) Left hamstring started to squeal the last 1k going downhill. And then there was the "yes" woman. Heard her at a race I did last year - it's her mantra She just says "yes, yes, yes" every other footstep. I wanted to tell her to shut the **** up, but she was running faster than me...so I kept my thoughts to myself. Hmm, maybe I need a mantra.

Finished 7/12 without so much a mark in the top 3 for anything.Transitions need work. A couple of top athletes that usually podium this race did not. Yikes!!

1:48:11
4k run 19:57, 5:00min/k
Transition #1, 1:15
30k bike 1:04:05, 28.1 kph
Transition #2 1:10
4K run 21:46, 5:27min/k

So that's my story.
And I'd post pictures but I was there by myself.

[Tri Girl]

Tough race, huh? I guess if they were all easy and great we wouldn't appreciate the times that it all comes together perfectly.
Sounds like you had a great day despite some probs. Congrats to you!

[Urlea]

This RR reads like something you can laugh about later. The Horse & Buggy is pretty comical.

I can understand being frustrated with how the day progressed though, definitely some annoying hurdles in there, but you made it! Woohoo!

A "yes woman" would be difficult to ignore. Kudos for keeping your mouth shut. Running mantras are good, but shouldn't be intrusive to others at a race.

[OakLeaf]

Great job spindizzy! +1 on what Urlea said.

A couple of top athletes that usually podium this race did not.

Sounds like you weren't the only one struggling then. Good job keeping at it. Have a nice recovery day!

[spindizzy]

Thanks!

Trigirl - I am in total agreement with what you say, you can't appreciate the good until you've been through the bad...and the ridiculous.

Urlea - I have been giggling about it since yesterday...Mennonite Country. (and I can't get too mad, cause my mom's side of the family is Mennonite - more modern kind though and how can you get mad at those cute little girls in their long dresses and bonnets clapping and cheering us on..) Once I realized my chance of hitting that elusive 30kph was doomed - just took it in stride and knew I'd have a story to tell.

Oak - This race marks the beginning of the race season - so lots of triathletes do it as well as duathletes. And a lot of national age-group champions, ex champions, ex-elite whom aren't competing in that category anymore tend to run this race as well - which makes my coach nuts. He says with people like that - you will always be running for second place (or 3rd or 7th as fate would have it.)

Next race is in 2 weeks.

[txred9876]

Thanks!

Trigirl - I am in total agreement with what you say, you can't appreciate the good until you've been through the bad...and the ridiculous.

Urlea - I have been giggling about it since yesterday...Mennonite Country. (and I can't get too mad, cause my mom's side of the family is Mennonite - more modern kind though and how can you get mad at those cute little girls in their long dresses and bonnets clapping and cheering us on..) Once I realized my chance of hitting that elusive 30kph was doomed - just took it in stride and knew I'd have a story to tell.

Oak - This race marks the beginning of the race season - so lots of triathletes do it as well as duathletes. And a lot of national age-group champions, ex champions, ex-elite whom aren't competing in that category anymore tend to run this race as well - which makes my coach nuts. He says with people like that - you will always be running for second place (or 3rd or 7th as fate would have it.)

Next race is in 2 weeks.

One thing I am reminded of daily - I thank god that he has given me the strengh to even get out of bed let alone push ones body doing a tri!

You did great... all things concidered!

Tina

[roadie gal]

Congrats.

That business with the Ryder truck would have had me fuming. Good for you for keeping it together.

[tribogota]

Maybe in your next race you can forgo watch and monitor and just have fun! Despite the obstacle course you ran, it sounded ok!

[spindizzy]

Next race is strictly HRM only. It's what I did last year. I have a tendency to push really hard, get into anaerobic territory and fry myself. I know my HR zones for bike and run that hopefully that will help me finish strong. My coach has apologized profusely for his confusing directions.

"obstacle course"...giggle!