14th Tri-For-Real Sprint Triathlon
Shadowcliffs Regional Park, Pleasanton, CA
0.4 mi (700 yd) swim /18 mi bike /4 mi run
The Tri-For-Real is the final event each year for the now 20-year-old Tri-For-Fun Series. The first three non-timed events are perfect for the beginning triathlete or the veteran triathlete looking for a brick workout. The Tri-For-Real was added on later due to popular demand for an event that upped the ante to add competitive timing and longer distances.
Pre-Race:
I woke up early (4:15 AM - yikes!), grabbed breakfast (wheat bagel with PB&J) and aimed to get there close to reg opening at 5:30 AM; I got in closer to 6 AM, however. The racks were still fairly empty though, so I found a good spot near a picnic bench. Race bib pickup and body marking were painless. Set up my transition area and took care of potty business, but time flew faster than I figured it would. Luckily race officials were running late (race start was meant for 7 AM; we started closer to 7:15), so I was able don my wetsuit and gel-up quickly before heading to the beach for a pep talk/race-day instructions.
The Swim - Spider Plant, Spider Plant, Does Whatever A Spider Plant
Long story short, I really couldn?t swim freestyle worth a darn when I took up tri-training seriously this May after a running injury. Even though I?ve improved markedly the past few months, I still had some lingering dread about this leg.
The course was rectangular in nature - you started at one end of the beach, swam around two buoys, and then exited at the opposite end of the beach. The lake itself is a former rock quarry (the new quarry is actually right next door to the park) filled in with fresh water, so little to no murkiness. There were six waves in total released in 5 minute increments; I was placed in the third wave (40 & older males, or as the RD joked, the mature gentlemen.)
I purposely held back as my wave got the starting signal to avoid the thrashfest. However, this meant that I was soon well behind the pack, with only a few even slower stragglers 20 or so yards behind me. I managed some warmup time before my wave, but I still struggled to find a rhythm. Some plant life that looked like green spider webs that entangled in my fingers on some strokes a few times didn?t help either. I backstroked for a few breaths twice on the first leg and once right after I passed the first buoy, but after that, I stayed with freestyle, the breathing came easier, and I was a bit stunned though pleasantly surprised to find I had caught back up to the tail end of my wave by the second buoy.
From here on out, it was head for the shore time. Unlike the first leg, those darned spider-web plants were a welcome sight, because soon after I?d see the bottom of the lake and I would be home (or at least water) free.
T1: T(ake)2 Please?
How to waste time? Let me count the ways. Dig out bike gloves from bag at last minute (my hands tend to get freezing cold.) Worries about the cold caused me to spend time toweling down my tri-top. Also put on my race bib; didn?t want to forget it at T2. I rolled up my socks stupidly and couldn?t align them correctly on my feet (I?ll definitely experiment with wearing no-socks down the road.) And oh yeah, I couldn?t clip in right for a good thirty seconds after leaving T1. Only positive thing: the big thing I worried about, wetsuit removal, was a breeze.
Bike: Mocha Will Kill A Gel-la
The bike course was two laps on city roads that essentially encircled around the park. It was more or less a flat loop with one steep but short uphill grade. Whatever headwinds were out there were on a gentle downhill portion of the course.
I had no idea how this part would turn out - my training time with the bike didn?t seem to compare with the time I put into the run & swim. After T1, I warmed up at high cadence for a couple minutes and picked it up best I could. As it turned out, I was kind of a ?tweener - I passed up a fair number of folks, but I was no match speed-wise for the folks with the fancier bikes and/or the more well-developed biking engines.
Actually, I?d like to thank one of those faster folks for getting me in a good mindset. As I was getting going, the very first person who passed me shouted out a ?Good Job, Number 10." I returned the greeting and appreciated the reminder. The swim leg got me focused a bit inward, and I realized the bike leg would allow me to focus outward a bit more. I tried my best from then on to thank every volunteer and encourage race participants when I found them
At the start of the second lap, I wanted to prepare for the run portion and I took hold of gel I had specially-taped onto my bike top tube. Good news - the taping job worked to perfection, and I pulled the pack sans the tab no problem. Bad news - the Clif Shot Mocha Gel did NOT agree with me, and I soon grew nauseous. As time ticked on, this queasy feeling grew and grew and would not leave me until well after the finish line.
T2 - T(2) Thumbs Up
Much better. Everything from the dismount (shoes still clipped in variety) to putting on my shoes went relatively quickly. However, it did take a few seconds or so to find the exit chute and get going.
Run: Rolling Rolling Rolling...
Ahh, now to something I love to do, but I was kinda? groaning in my mind. The run was held on whole bunch of out and backs on very rolling (and sometimes steep-sectioned) dirt fire roads. I had the requisite bike-run bricks, but my legs never felt this heavy starting a run. And this queasiness was a constant issue throughout; there were a couple times where it my stomach felt like it was just bubbling under, but I kept it together.
However, the legs did loosen up as I concentrated on my cadence, and eventually I started picking off runners one by one, albeit in seemingly slow motion. Only one runner passed me - a gazelle of a dude who had one of the longest running strides I?ve ever seen. Overall, these were tough miles with all the hills, but I never stopped running, and I picked it up over the final mile all the way to the end, where I leapt across the finish line with a huge smile.
Post-Race:
Prior to the race, I was thinking there was no way I would beat 2 hours. So when I saw 2:01 and change on the race clock minus 10 minutes for my wave time, I was elated - nearly nine minutes under that time mark!
The bike portion was short by all my measurements. My Cateye measured it at 16.55 miles, and I more or less verified this distance via some mapping websites. Still, I was pleased that I broke 18 mph avg for the leg.
I had read this event had a relaxed, casual atmosphere and this day proved no different. Most everyone seemed chipper, with many participants having family and friends in-tow with them in transition areas and the lake shore pre- and post-race. The event volunteers were plentiful and helpful, and the support overall was very good.
Saw, met and talked with some really cool people along the way, all of whom were very encouraging when they heard it was my first tri. Got to see a senior woman who ran the race with her four triathlete daughters (they got quite a rousing ovation as they all crossed the finish line together.) Also got had a nice chat with a tri coach and one of his trainees, who happened to be an aunt of AVP Volleyball champion Kerri Walsh (who was actually in the area for a tour stop in nearby San Francisco this weekend.)
As I was heading home, I turned on the radio and heard the Foo Fighters song ?Times Like These? and one lyric just seemed to fit the moment perfectly - ?It?s times like these you learn to live again.? I?ve found so much joy earlier via running and now here with my first triathlon, and considering where I was just a scant few months ago, I?m amazed I?ve gotten this far. All the encouragement, support and kind words from everyone here have been truly special. This may be my first triathlon, but it definitely won?t be my last.
Results (based on watch times)
Swim: 700 yd @ 18:10
T1: 4:53
Bike: 16.55 @ 54:55 (avg: 18.1 mph)
T2: 0:30
Run: 33:20 (8:20 pace)
Total Time: 1:51:48
- Joe
http://This message has been edited by mmoonhead (edited Sep-17-2007).
Shadowcliffs Regional Park, Pleasanton, CA
0.4 mi (700 yd) swim /18 mi bike /4 mi run
The Tri-For-Real is the final event each year for the now 20-year-old Tri-For-Fun Series. The first three non-timed events are perfect for the beginning triathlete or the veteran triathlete looking for a brick workout. The Tri-For-Real was added on later due to popular demand for an event that upped the ante to add competitive timing and longer distances.
Pre-Race:
I woke up early (4:15 AM - yikes!), grabbed breakfast (wheat bagel with PB&J) and aimed to get there close to reg opening at 5:30 AM; I got in closer to 6 AM, however. The racks were still fairly empty though, so I found a good spot near a picnic bench. Race bib pickup and body marking were painless. Set up my transition area and took care of potty business, but time flew faster than I figured it would. Luckily race officials were running late (race start was meant for 7 AM; we started closer to 7:15), so I was able don my wetsuit and gel-up quickly before heading to the beach for a pep talk/race-day instructions.
The Swim - Spider Plant, Spider Plant, Does Whatever A Spider Plant
Long story short, I really couldn?t swim freestyle worth a darn when I took up tri-training seriously this May after a running injury. Even though I?ve improved markedly the past few months, I still had some lingering dread about this leg.
The course was rectangular in nature - you started at one end of the beach, swam around two buoys, and then exited at the opposite end of the beach. The lake itself is a former rock quarry (the new quarry is actually right next door to the park) filled in with fresh water, so little to no murkiness. There were six waves in total released in 5 minute increments; I was placed in the third wave (40 & older males, or as the RD joked, the mature gentlemen.)
I purposely held back as my wave got the starting signal to avoid the thrashfest. However, this meant that I was soon well behind the pack, with only a few even slower stragglers 20 or so yards behind me. I managed some warmup time before my wave, but I still struggled to find a rhythm. Some plant life that looked like green spider webs that entangled in my fingers on some strokes a few times didn?t help either. I backstroked for a few breaths twice on the first leg and once right after I passed the first buoy, but after that, I stayed with freestyle, the breathing came easier, and I was a bit stunned though pleasantly surprised to find I had caught back up to the tail end of my wave by the second buoy.
From here on out, it was head for the shore time. Unlike the first leg, those darned spider-web plants were a welcome sight, because soon after I?d see the bottom of the lake and I would be home (or at least water) free.
T1: T(ake)2 Please?
How to waste time? Let me count the ways. Dig out bike gloves from bag at last minute (my hands tend to get freezing cold.) Worries about the cold caused me to spend time toweling down my tri-top. Also put on my race bib; didn?t want to forget it at T2. I rolled up my socks stupidly and couldn?t align them correctly on my feet (I?ll definitely experiment with wearing no-socks down the road.) And oh yeah, I couldn?t clip in right for a good thirty seconds after leaving T1. Only positive thing: the big thing I worried about, wetsuit removal, was a breeze.
Bike: Mocha Will Kill A Gel-la
The bike course was two laps on city roads that essentially encircled around the park. It was more or less a flat loop with one steep but short uphill grade. Whatever headwinds were out there were on a gentle downhill portion of the course.
I had no idea how this part would turn out - my training time with the bike didn?t seem to compare with the time I put into the run & swim. After T1, I warmed up at high cadence for a couple minutes and picked it up best I could. As it turned out, I was kind of a ?tweener - I passed up a fair number of folks, but I was no match speed-wise for the folks with the fancier bikes and/or the more well-developed biking engines.
Actually, I?d like to thank one of those faster folks for getting me in a good mindset. As I was getting going, the very first person who passed me shouted out a ?Good Job, Number 10." I returned the greeting and appreciated the reminder. The swim leg got me focused a bit inward, and I realized the bike leg would allow me to focus outward a bit more. I tried my best from then on to thank every volunteer and encourage race participants when I found them
At the start of the second lap, I wanted to prepare for the run portion and I took hold of gel I had specially-taped onto my bike top tube. Good news - the taping job worked to perfection, and I pulled the pack sans the tab no problem. Bad news - the Clif Shot Mocha Gel did NOT agree with me, and I soon grew nauseous. As time ticked on, this queasy feeling grew and grew and would not leave me until well after the finish line.
T2 - T(2) Thumbs Up
Much better. Everything from the dismount (shoes still clipped in variety) to putting on my shoes went relatively quickly. However, it did take a few seconds or so to find the exit chute and get going.
Run: Rolling Rolling Rolling...
Ahh, now to something I love to do, but I was kinda? groaning in my mind. The run was held on whole bunch of out and backs on very rolling (and sometimes steep-sectioned) dirt fire roads. I had the requisite bike-run bricks, but my legs never felt this heavy starting a run. And this queasiness was a constant issue throughout; there were a couple times where it my stomach felt like it was just bubbling under, but I kept it together.
However, the legs did loosen up as I concentrated on my cadence, and eventually I started picking off runners one by one, albeit in seemingly slow motion. Only one runner passed me - a gazelle of a dude who had one of the longest running strides I?ve ever seen. Overall, these were tough miles with all the hills, but I never stopped running, and I picked it up over the final mile all the way to the end, where I leapt across the finish line with a huge smile.
Post-Race:
Prior to the race, I was thinking there was no way I would beat 2 hours. So when I saw 2:01 and change on the race clock minus 10 minutes for my wave time, I was elated - nearly nine minutes under that time mark!
The bike portion was short by all my measurements. My Cateye measured it at 16.55 miles, and I more or less verified this distance via some mapping websites. Still, I was pleased that I broke 18 mph avg for the leg.
I had read this event had a relaxed, casual atmosphere and this day proved no different. Most everyone seemed chipper, with many participants having family and friends in-tow with them in transition areas and the lake shore pre- and post-race. The event volunteers were plentiful and helpful, and the support overall was very good.
Saw, met and talked with some really cool people along the way, all of whom were very encouraging when they heard it was my first tri. Got to see a senior woman who ran the race with her four triathlete daughters (they got quite a rousing ovation as they all crossed the finish line together.) Also got had a nice chat with a tri coach and one of his trainees, who happened to be an aunt of AVP Volleyball champion Kerri Walsh (who was actually in the area for a tour stop in nearby San Francisco this weekend.)
As I was heading home, I turned on the radio and heard the Foo Fighters song ?Times Like These? and one lyric just seemed to fit the moment perfectly - ?It?s times like these you learn to live again.? I?ve found so much joy earlier via running and now here with my first triathlon, and considering where I was just a scant few months ago, I?m amazed I?ve gotten this far. All the encouragement, support and kind words from everyone here have been truly special. This may be my first triathlon, but it definitely won?t be my last.
Results (based on watch times)
Swim: 700 yd @ 18:10
T1: 4:53
Bike: 16.55 @ 54:55 (avg: 18.1 mph)
T2: 0:30
Run: 33:20 (8:20 pace)
Total Time: 1:51:48
- Joe
http://This message has been edited by mmoonhead (edited Sep-17-2007).
Glad you had a good time, it sounds like a well-run, friendly event. Congrats!!!
