Luna Sprint Triathlon
Fairview, OR
1/2 mile Swim/12 mile Bike/5K Run
Overall Time: 1:31:51 (93/306 OA, 21/67 AG) - 3 minute PR for this distance
Swim: 18:01
T1: 3:34
Bike: 39:42
T2: 1:54
Run: 28:40
Second tri in as many weeks for me. B race, mostly for fun and also to mark my first multisport anniversary. I had done the Tri-It last year in 1:31:14 where the swim was only 1/4 mile. This time, I'm playing with the big girls and will do everything in my power to not only PR the distance but break 1:30:00. Race morning dawned with overcast skies. What happened to summer?!? The good news was that the temperatures should stay low and there would be no glare on the lake. The bad news was that the air was moist, like rain-threatening moist. It is Oregon after all. Breakfast was a honey wheat bagel with peanut butter and coffee before we coaxed N grudgingly out of his new big boy bed and hit the road shortly after 6 AM. The skies continued to look angry as we got to the race site. I set up my transition, used the facilities, slithered into my wetsuit, had a Gu, and headed for the beach for a quick warm-up.
The Swim + T1
One word...UGH!!! No excuses. The fish just didn't show up for work today. The goal was not to go all out but swim with smooth, strong strokes and maintain a good line to all the buoys. No need to PR the swim but at least match the time of my last 1/2 mile lake swim in a race situation. Well, my stroke and breathing were good. My sighting? Not so much. Actually, it was pretty darn lousy. I veered to the left almost immediately and got mired in the shallows fighting scratchy hemp-like lake weed. The weeds in the river last week didn't bother me but then they didn't try to hitch a ride on my arms and shoulders either. I finally got loose and corrected my way around the first buoy. Wide, very wide. I was almost halfway across the silly lake. I never really got into the sighting groove so more course corrections towards the second buoy where the faster people in the second wave started showing up and it was finally time to head for the arch. A peek at the old watch showed I was out of the water around 18 minutes. Not happy but nothing I could do about it now. Up to transition I ran determined to have a good bike.
The Bike + T2
The bike was my sanity saving grace today. This course is flat and not very technical which was good because the rain mist finally came. The goal was to hammer the bike, pass as many people as I can, and maintain an average speed of 18+ mph. I rode out of the park and onto Marine Drive where I settled into aero, focused on reeling people in, and drinking the Gleukos in my aerobottle. I must have spent the first four miles on the left side of the road passing the women who all had a better swim day than I did. I finally settled into a mini pack of women who were all riding the same pace and we spent the rest of the 12 mile ride passing and re-passing each other. Some of us were better on the up rollers and some of us were better on the down rollers. At the end of the day, I averaged 18.2 mph on the bike with an average cadence of 96. A definite win!
The Run
Low 60's, cloudy, a light mist. It's a great morning for the run. Where I set out last Sunday to survive a very warm 10K, I felt really strong today and was able to maintain a quicker pace. I waved to my boys, gave the race photographers some peace signs and just set out to enjoy myself. I did. A nice 3.1 mile jaunt and I finished the race with a smile on my face.
Post-Race Thoughts
I never expected to come into this race feeling as tired as I did. But an A race last Sunday, a few days of camping, and just general vacation running around with light workouts in between have a way of sneaking up on you. Though I was disappointed in not breaking my 90 minute goal, I still PR'd the distance and blew away last year's swim-adjusted time by about ten minutes, all on the bike. I also know what I need to work on since my next race is not all about the bike. It's all about the swim (1.5 miles) and the run (8 miles). Now it's time for a few days rest and then a six week build/taper to prepare for my quest for Alcatraz.
Fairview, OR
1/2 mile Swim/12 mile Bike/5K Run
Overall Time: 1:31:51 (93/306 OA, 21/67 AG) - 3 minute PR for this distance
Swim: 18:01
T1: 3:34
Bike: 39:42
T2: 1:54
Run: 28:40
Second tri in as many weeks for me. B race, mostly for fun and also to mark my first multisport anniversary. I had done the Tri-It last year in 1:31:14 where the swim was only 1/4 mile. This time, I'm playing with the big girls and will do everything in my power to not only PR the distance but break 1:30:00. Race morning dawned with overcast skies. What happened to summer?!? The good news was that the temperatures should stay low and there would be no glare on the lake. The bad news was that the air was moist, like rain-threatening moist. It is Oregon after all. Breakfast was a honey wheat bagel with peanut butter and coffee before we coaxed N grudgingly out of his new big boy bed and hit the road shortly after 6 AM. The skies continued to look angry as we got to the race site. I set up my transition, used the facilities, slithered into my wetsuit, had a Gu, and headed for the beach for a quick warm-up.
The Swim + T1
One word...UGH!!! No excuses. The fish just didn't show up for work today. The goal was not to go all out but swim with smooth, strong strokes and maintain a good line to all the buoys. No need to PR the swim but at least match the time of my last 1/2 mile lake swim in a race situation. Well, my stroke and breathing were good. My sighting? Not so much. Actually, it was pretty darn lousy. I veered to the left almost immediately and got mired in the shallows fighting scratchy hemp-like lake weed. The weeds in the river last week didn't bother me but then they didn't try to hitch a ride on my arms and shoulders either. I finally got loose and corrected my way around the first buoy. Wide, very wide. I was almost halfway across the silly lake. I never really got into the sighting groove so more course corrections towards the second buoy where the faster people in the second wave started showing up and it was finally time to head for the arch. A peek at the old watch showed I was out of the water around 18 minutes. Not happy but nothing I could do about it now. Up to transition I ran determined to have a good bike.
The Bike + T2
The bike was my sanity saving grace today. This course is flat and not very technical which was good because the rain mist finally came. The goal was to hammer the bike, pass as many people as I can, and maintain an average speed of 18+ mph. I rode out of the park and onto Marine Drive where I settled into aero, focused on reeling people in, and drinking the Gleukos in my aerobottle. I must have spent the first four miles on the left side of the road passing the women who all had a better swim day than I did. I finally settled into a mini pack of women who were all riding the same pace and we spent the rest of the 12 mile ride passing and re-passing each other. Some of us were better on the up rollers and some of us were better on the down rollers. At the end of the day, I averaged 18.2 mph on the bike with an average cadence of 96. A definite win!
The Run
Low 60's, cloudy, a light mist. It's a great morning for the run. Where I set out last Sunday to survive a very warm 10K, I felt really strong today and was able to maintain a quicker pace. I waved to my boys, gave the race photographers some peace signs and just set out to enjoy myself. I did. A nice 3.1 mile jaunt and I finished the race with a smile on my face.
Post-Race Thoughts
I never expected to come into this race feeling as tired as I did. But an A race last Sunday, a few days of camping, and just general vacation running around with light workouts in between have a way of sneaking up on you. Though I was disappointed in not breaking my 90 minute goal, I still PR'd the distance and blew away last year's swim-adjusted time by about ten minutes, all on the bike. I also know what I need to work on since my next race is not all about the bike. It's all about the swim (1.5 miles) and the run (8 miles). Now it's time for a few days rest and then a six week build/taper to prepare for my quest for Alcatraz.
. Is it the famous "Alcatraz" tri? Keep up the great work!!
