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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    378

    Final Tri of the Season and New Bike Pic

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    I did my last triathlon of the season yesterday. Although I would love to do a couple more, there are no more OW tris close enough to avoid having to stay in a hotel. I am consoling myself with the thought that cross season is almost upon us.

    I raced a few weeks ago and felt the need to avenge my somewhat lackluster finish. I had decided to camp the night before that race and, well, I don't camp. I bought a tent, set up camp with my youngest dog, and proceeded to have the worst night of no sleep one can imagine. At 10:00, fireworks. Around 11:00, something small, and probably rodent-like, was climbing the tent fabric. (We were sleeping in the back of the Element with the tailgate down and the tent was attached around the back of the vehicle, making a sort of tunnel.) Throughout the night, the pitter patter of raindrops. At 1:00, 2:15, 3:15, and 4:00, marauding coyotes howled and hunted and made unearthly noises as they dispatched their prey. They were uncomfortably close! At 4:15, owls screeching. At 4:30, the buses to take athletes from T2 to T1 showed up and idled about 1/4 mile away from the campsite. And through it all, my dog's response was "zzzzzzzzzzzz."

    So, the night before this race was lovely by comparison. A comfy bed, indoor plumbing, and no sounds of Wild Kingdom outside my window!

    DH drove me to the race site but, because dogs are not allowed in the park, he found various locations to cheer me on out on the road and overlooking the run course. He's done this race in the past, so knew where to be.

    This was a very big race, probably the largest one I have done. I started about mid-pack for the swim. I tend to avoid the back now, as I am more comfortable in the pack than I was in my first tri about a year ago. This was a tough swim in that the wave was pretty big and I never really had any clear water. It was fun, though, and I put in a good time for me.

    I ran to transition, dodging everyone who was trudging up the boat ramp and through the parking lot. I zipped in and out pretty quickly, although I still put on a long sleeved sun-protective jersey and gloves. The bike was uphill for the first 7+ miles and then downhill on the way back. This was my first race for my new Lynskey T230 and it was heavenly. A constant barrage of "on your left" on the uphill and then WHOOOOOSH for the return trip. There was a big headwind for most of the course (how does that happen?) and being in aero position was great. The bike is so fast and stable and comfortable. As a surprise, DH bought me an aero helmet and, when I hit the second half of the course, I was flying by people. Only one sprint guy passed me on the second half of the course, and that was because I was going over 41 and applying my brakes down a very steep and short hill. I managed to pass him back after I got back on my aero bars, though.

    My stomach had felt a bit funky after my usual toaster waffle breakfast and it felt sort of sloshy during the bike. I wonder if I drink more because of the aero bottle? I need to figure that out.

    I zipped in and out of T2, and began the uphill 1.5 mile run on pavement. It was very hot, we were running in full sun, and I dumped water on my head and down my shirt at the aid stations. My stomach didn't feel great, but I just ignored it. After running on the road, we dropped down onto some dirt trails, and I could hear DH yelling from the road high above: "GO GO GO GO GO! Anyone can suffer for 15 minutes!" (Yeah, he was taking a page from the Evil Coach Troy playbook.) There were a fair number of short uphills and people were walking. By continuing to run, I passed a pretty good number of folks. I can tell my running has improved since the spring, but there is more work to be done.

    Finally, I hit the boardwalk path leading to the finish and I was done! I was spent and hot, and got a bottle of water and sat in the shade and alternated pouring it on myself and drinking it. The transition area was 1/2 mile away from the finish, and I felt like I was on a never-ending treadmill walking back. My stomach was not feeling well at all by then and I took a couple of Digest Caps.

    I packed up my things, rode my bike the 1/2 mile back to the finish, and learned I placed third in my age group. Very happy with that as I was really pushing on the course and felt like I did all I could on the day. It was a nice change from my last race, where I was so tired that I actually put down my stuff and rested while walking to T1 on race morning before the race even started!

    Here is my lovely titanium beauty. All 17 pounds of her! I'm looking forward to getting in some nice rides this fall. DH found pink tires and a pink chain and he assembled her for me, too. He extraordinarily patiently dealt with my tweaking the fit by millimeters over the course of several days! He is a most excellent sherpa and wrench and spectator, and he even bought me blueberry pancakes from a local diner to eat in the car on the way home from the race.
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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Seattle, WA
    Posts
    2,208
    AWESOME! Way to go, Alex! Lovely report and great job on your race. 3rd! Woohoo!!

    Camping before a race... I just don't think I could do it. I value my quiet time and have learned pretty well how to settle my nerves and sleep, but I am not really a heavy sleeper (especially before a race). Maybe something like Wildflower, for the experience, but I don't really race far from home for the same reason. Selfish of me, but I have all I need.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Little Egypt
    Posts
    1,867
    Great job, Alex! Awesome report and awesome job out there!

    I do camp on bike tours but don't think I could do it before a tri or a race--too many nerves and too many noises. I can't believe your dog slept through all that. Mine would've been barking and growling at every noise.

    DH sounds so supportive and I really like the bike. Love the pink tires and handlebar tape--especially that you have it wrapped in pink AND white on the aero bars. Pretty cool. It really sets it off.
    __________________
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." George Bernard Shaw

    Luna Eclipse/Selle Italia Lady
    Surly Pacer/Terry Butterfly
    Quintana Roo Cd01/Koobi Stratus
    1981 Schwinn Le Tour Tourist
    Jamis Coda Femme

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    257
    Great report and your bike looks great! I love the contrasting bar tape- so nice that your sweetie is soo supportive- blueberry pancakes yum yum
    The cure for anything is salt water;
    sweat, tears or the sea

    Isak Dinesen

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    northern california
    Posts
    1,460
    Congrats on a great race.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    4,516
    Congrats on the Lynskey facebook shout out! (at least I'm pretty sure I recognize the bike!). Awesome results!!
    Most days in life don't stand out, But life's about those days that will...

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    where the wind comes sweeping down the plain
    Posts
    5,251
    Congrats on your race!!! Way to go! And the Lynskey... Oh. My. Goodness. Beautiful!

    I have camped out before races. I don't usually sleep very well when camping, but it never affects my race. Have done it about a half dozen times. Sometimes being close to the race venue and not having to fork over $100 for a hotel is worth it to me.
    Check out my running blog: www.turtlepacing.blogspot.com

    Cervelo P2C (tri bike)
    Bianchi Eros (commuter/touring road bike)

    1983 Motobecane mixte (commuter/errand bike)
    Cannondale F5 mountain bike

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Atlanta, Ga
    Posts
    863
    sweet bike!

    And great report!
    Slow and steady (like a train!)

    http://kacietri-ing.blogspot.com/

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Mississauga -a "burb" outside Toronto
    Posts
    648
    Never sleep well camping...never sleep well the night before a race- so that would be a double whammy!

    Brilliant results -despite stomach issues. Way to go! It's interesting what people eat prior to a race.

    I Looove the colour of your bike!


    "You can't get what you want till you know what you want." Joe Jackson

    2006 Cannondale Feminine/Ultegra/Jett

    2012 Trek Speed Concept 9.5/Ultegra/saddle TBD

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    378
    Thanks, everyone! It's so much fun to share race reports with all of you.

    And, yes, that's my girl on the FB page.

    Alex

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    380
    great report and that new bike is a beauty.
    Brina

    "Truth goes through three stages: first it is ridiculed; then violently opposed; finally, it’s accepted as being self-evident." Schopenhauer

 

 

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