Get your own Free Home Page16 August 1997
Big Creek State Park, near Des Moines, Iowa
1 mile swim, 25 mile bike, 6 mile run
Prologue |
This was to be my ONLY triathlon of the season that I had done last year. I knew I could do better this time, compared to last year's wilting on the run fiasco, so I was psyched to complete this race! I arrived plenty early the afternoon prior the event to reset my bearings and get the necessary goodies bag (equipped with numbers, t-shirt, etc), and find a better place to eat than next year. I settled on Perkins, ate well, but not too much, and readied myself for the evening by reading until it was too dark to see (KOA Kampgrounds are great!).
I managed a good night's sleep (about 6 hours' worth....) and awoke at 4:45 a.m., way before my alarm of 5:30. My nerves were jangling, so I took that as a good sign, rested until 5:30, then booked out of camp.....Drove to Big Creek State Park, set up and just wandered around to settle the nerves and get mentally prepared. This would be a great day! |
The
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As I wandered around, I overheard several athletes mention that the water was 80 degrees, and decided to forego the wetsuit. Since I didn't have one last year, either, I figured it would give me an accurate swim time. I knew my swim training with my Masters swim group 2x per week was certainly going to help me today, and maybe, just maybe, I would beat last year's swim time. I really wasn't concerned much about the swim, though, because I knew I would finish it!
As we started to line up for the swim, I met a fellow Minnesota triathlete, John, who I'd seen at other Minnesota events. We chatted awhile and wished each other luck, and I was certainly upbeat! All too soon, the gun blasted in my ear, and I was off! I figured I could push it a bit in the early going, just to see if there was anyone with me. I found someone to draft off of, and then just cruised most of the way. A few times, I found myself crashing into people or the rope, but I kept going in an amazingly straight line! (Maybe I AM getting better at this open-water stuff!) The turnaround was soon enough, and then I pushed again to get out of some traffic. Unfortunately, lots of swimmers had similar ideas, and I found I was stuck with the same group for the second half. As we neared the end of the swim, I was annoyed that it seemed verrrry far away, and seemed to not get any closer, even though I KNEW it was....and then I could stand up! I was jazzed at this point, and pushed my watch. 27:49! I checked again, just to make sure! Wow! Almost four minutes faster than last year! I was cruisin'! Kewl! T1 was uneventful, except for putting on my singlet, and then I was out on the bike course, and behind a DEFINITELY younger (Oh, say, 14-15 or so....) hyperactive and clueless male triathlete (no offense, O students of mine....). T1 = 2:27. |
The
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As we exit the transition area, I had forgotten that there were a few turns at the beginning of this race portion, which slowed my progress past the bike weenie :-). I reached a straight portion prior to a short loop, shot by him, and he was left in my dust! One biker down, and several to go!
I pushed as best I could up the beginning slopes of this segment, conserving a little for later portions where my speed on the flats and slight downhills could be used more appropriately. Without the speed of some of the bikers, and little body weight to help on the big hills (of which, there were none....), I knew I had to wait until I could hammer long stretches without the worries of other bikers. I waited until we hit a long straight stretch with was mostly flat, heading towrad the halfway point, and HAMMERED! As I cruised along at a steady 25 mph or so, I realized that very few bikers were passing me! Last year, I was passed frequently, and I passed several as well. This year, coming out of the swim earlier seems to have me far enough out in front that I see little action. The only folks that passed me were the fast women (only a few, and they were from the second wave that started ten minutes back! Whoosh!) and a few Masters group men. I was clicking today, and I hit the halfway point and knew it was a good day! And then.... I ran out of water! Aaarrrgh! I had planned ahead for the run by drinking plenty of water before the race, and decided at the last second to place only one water bottle on my bike, leaving the other at transition, for after the bike. Here I was, with over 8 miles left on the bike, and NO WATER! There was a spot where we could take some water with about 6 miles left, so I had to stop the bike (I haven't mastered grabbing and going, yet :-) and gulped a little water before regaining some strength. I did see a bit of drafting after this water handoff point as we continued the last part of the bike, but I don't think anyone was penalized (darn it!). I paced myself the last mile, slowed to a sedate 18-19 mph, and prepared for my nemesis, THE RUN! Arrived in the transition area still with a bit of pep, and guzzled water (see, the water bottle was well placed!) along with a Power Gel. I stuffed another Power Gel in my suit (another part of the run plan :-) and jogged onward! Bike time was 1:16:23 (a minute or so up on last year) with a T2 = 2:28, so I was definitely ahead of last year! WooHoo! |
The
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I knew this run would be tough, and it was already getting hot. The day had begun with no cloud cover, and there was definitely none now! Humidity has a way of doing in some people, and I saw it for the first time on the run. Last year, I only had a plan to finish. This year, I really wanted a PR! I had an incentive, and it was working!
John, the Minnesotan I knew, passed me in the first mile; his slower swim time and slightly faster bike meant he would probably do me in, but I didn't care. From previous runs with him, I knew he would certainly cruise, and that he did. By the third mile, after a large hill up to a water stop, he was gone for good! My plan was to walk every water stop, and NO MORE WALKING! I held steadfast to this plan, and started to see an advantage! I was passing people! People were walking, and I was passing them! Yeah! At the third water stop, I planned to down the Power Gel, but with the hill, first up, then down, I forgot! No matter, I'd just down it at the next one.... About the only problem (aside from the heat) was the formation of blisters on my feet. I'd had this problem at the Heart of the Lakes Tri earlier this year, but thought I'd try the same shoes again, and see if the same blisters developed.....They did! By the fourth mile (and the Power Gel), I knew I'd have some sore feet by the end, along with maybe some blood....But I wasn't going to stop and look! As the fifth mile mark and water stop was in the distance up ahead, I knew I would complete this race once again! The only question was, what would my time be? I looked at the watch, and calculated my pace (see, my brain was still working :-) and figured I could shoot for something in the range of 2:40-2:42, and that depended on the course, shade, hills, and ME! My body was beginning to tire, but I pushed each downhill a bit (quite a change from last year, where I was struggling to just get to the end....) and rested on the ups. I kicked it up just a notch when the beach area approached, and surged as I saw the race clock hit 2:40! As I "sprinted" to the line, it read 2:40:35! Yowsa! A PR by 14 minutes! Kewl! I couldn't believe it! But, I just knew I could do it! :-) My run was the best part, as I improved over seven and a half minutes, with a 51:28! |
Postscript |
All-in-all, a much better race for me than last year. I knew what to expect ahead of time, and could both physically and mentally prepare for the longest and last race of the season. I was glad I'd planned ahead, and the Power Gels and a hat on the run were a great addition. This is a very organized race (17th year) and it showed. The transition area is wide, and the run up from the swim is short. No gravel to walk or ride through. About the only detriment is the run, but then the runs are supposed to be tough, right?
I'll be here next year, and make sure I bring the gels and other acoutrements to have an even better PR! |
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