[b]Pre race[/b]
This was my first Olympic distance triathlon. Going into it I was feeling a bit anxious. I felt under trained - could have done a better job handling some work stress / life balance, but there you go.
Anyhow, drove out the next before and stayed in a hotel. Drove the bike course, found the park. All set.
The morning of the race I had [url=http://www.trifuel.com/forum/22775/breakfast-cookies]TonisTri breakfast cookies[/url] and while eating I flipped through the channel and came across the
[url=http://www.trifuel.com/forum/22574/a-man-mustve-come-up-with-this-one]Shake Weight[/url] ad. So I felt like these were good trifuel auspices.
[b]Swim[/b]
Not wetsuit legal. I was in the second wave. I felt good during the swim. About a third of the way through I thought, "I caught someone from the first wave! Go me!" Then I realized the guy was doing breaststroke, so I don't think he really counted. But I know I caught at least 3 men from the first wave. Mid pack finish. I think I could have had a much faster time with better sighting. Still, happy with the swim.
[b]Bike[/b]
Pretty rural NC course. Cows, barns, hay bales. Only one area of road was rough, otherwise good conditions. As per usual, I experience the on-going "on your left!" parade. I do pass a few people. I end up averaging around 15mph. For me, not that awful. Back of the back of the pack result on this split. Still - I did use to be slower. Really! It's aggravating, because I've got the gas in the tank. I just don't have the leg turnover. Anyhow, an area for improvement.
[b]Run[/b]
The run is tough. The course itself is well laid out and supported - two loops out and back. Lots of water stations and several turn around areas. It was nice psychologically, because you were never from a mini-milestone.
What made the run tough was the weather. Flirting with 90 F and high humidity. Not much shade and only some breeze on the run. Lots and lots of people are walking. People faster than me are walking, people slower than me are walking. I am walking. More running, but I had to take several walk breaks. BOP split. Better rank than bike, but nothing spectacular.
[b]Overall[/b]
Looking forward to doing some more Olympics. I don't know why I was so worried. I can do this distance. Not very fast, granted - but I can do it.
Next up, an unstructured week or so and then time to start gearing up for Chicago in October.
no shame in sharing your
no shame in sharing your times :) (hint)
1st OLY finish! Nice!
1st OLY finish! Nice! Catching the first wave on the swim is a huge confidence builder. It doesn't matter if they are doggy-paddling. Congratulations Jen.
Congratulations! i have my
Congratulations!
i have my first Oly this year too....
I really hope I don't have that heat... I melt in the heat.....like the wicked witch.....
tri-ac wrote:no shame in
[quote=tri-ac]no shame in sharing your times :) (hint)[/quote]
I tend to be a bit paranoid about posting personal information on the internet. So when I post the actual race name I generally don't post my exact times. I feel like I virtually know all the regulars, it's the whole lurker thing that weirds me out a bit. You know how every now and then someone will pop up and say, "Well, I've been reading here for two years and now I'm finally posting."
So, possibly a little overly paranoid, but that's why. If anyone is curious and, you know, not a lurker weirdo : ) I'd be happy to PM you my times.
maggiemeans
[quote=maggiemeans]Congratulations!
i have my first Oly this year too....
I really hope I don't have that heat... I melt in the heat.....like the wicked witch.....[/quote]
I am sure you will kick butt! Looking forward to your RR.
Atta girl groovyjen. We seem
Atta girl groovyjen. We seem to be running in parallel universes in NC (first Oly). You sound alot more positive about it then I did when I finished.
Gosh, good call on the rural NC riding. It seems like every course is the exact same. I'm starting to think I have some black & white cow groupies. :)
Sounds like you're done with tris for the summer? I almost want to do the same. The mix of heat / humidity / hills is just mean in NC. I think I could even run in the 90s if it were flat but good luck finding that around here.
AT- I'm doing Ramblin Rose
AT- I'm doing Ramblin Rose (women's only super sprint) with my Mom and sister in August (as individuals). Otherwise I'm done. Kerr Lake was a flat run and I was still suffering.
What are you doing next?
Way to go Groovyjen - I know
Way to go Groovyjen - I know that I personally do NOT deal with heat well when I am already hot from working out so you get mad props from me! Great Job!!
great job Groovyjen! (Is
great job Groovyjen! (Is that your REAL name? j/k) I can totally relate to run/walking b/c of the heat. b/t the heat and humidity, a girl can plotz
Isn't it great when you complete a longer race distance and you have that moment of, "I can do this!" That's how you'll feel after your 1st IM too :)
groovyjen wrote:AT- I'm
[quote=groovyjen]AT- I'm doing Ramblin Rose (women's only super sprint) with my Mom and sister in August (as individuals). Otherwise I'm done. Kerr Lake was a flat run and I was still suffering.
What are you doing next?[/quote]
I know some gals that are doing the Ramblin Rose. I just talked to them this morning about it. I think it's cool there's a girls only race. Something different. I'm sure it's fun to get away from the testosterone from time to time.
I just finished a half marathon this past weekend (it sucked because of the aforementioned heat/hills). I'm doing an OWS (1 mile) at Jordan Lake this weekend (treating it like training since I can't site to save my life). I also signed up for the Ultimate Runner on the 26th. I don't know if you've heard about it or not. It's a set of five races on the same day (Mile/400M/800M/100M/5K). You get finisher shirts/beer mugs. I thought it would be cool to do something different. No tris until the July 11th Triangle Tri and I'll only be fit but not fully trained (because of all the silly things I want to do in June and mentioned above). You only get to be a newbie once, right? I'm loving all this.
We should try to get together for a fall race or something.
groovyjen wrote:tri-ac
[quote=groovyjen][quote=tri-ac]no shame in sharing your times :) (hint)[/quote]
I tend to be a bit paranoid about posting personal information on the internet. So when I post the actual race name I generally don't post my exact times. I feel like I virtually know all the regulars, it's the whole lurker thing that weirds me out a bit. You know how every now and then someone will pop up and say, "Well, I've been reading here for two years and now I'm finally posting."
So, possibly a little overly paranoid, but that's why. If anyone is curious and, you know, not a lurker weirdo : ) I'd be happy to PM you my times. [/quote]
I can respect that :)
GJ, Compared your times from
GJ,
Compared your times from Belews and Kerr and you definately have improved right accross the range. Keep it up girl.
The Amica Sprint in August is still open in Morresville and Setup Events just put out a whole load of 25-50% off entries to fill it. Check it out. This means you too AT.
Cookout at my place afterwards.
Amphibious Triton wrote:I
[quote=Amphibious Triton]I know some gals that are doing the Ramblin Rose. I just talked to them this morning about it. I think it's cool there's a girls only race. Something different. I'm sure it's fun to get away from the testosterone from time to time.[/quote]
Go volunteer. Its fun and you really are appreciated.
NotAsFast wrote:GJ, The
[quote=NotAsFast]GJ,
The Amica Sprint in August is still open in Morresville and Setup Events just put out a whole load of 25-50% off entries to fill it. Check it out. This means you too AT.
[/quote]
That's my Anniversary weekend. That SOUNDS romantic that I'm considering my anniversary within my race plans BUUUUUUUUUUUUUT I'm actually doing an Aquathon at Lake Logan that same weekend. I figured the wife and I get to go to the mountains for a few days (without the kids), I cap the weekend off with a race and I don't need to bring the bike along. I'll do Stumpy Creek next year and plan my anniversary trip (10 years.....good god) the following week. What about the Lake Norman YMCA tri in late August?
Amphibious Triton wrote:What
[quote=Amphibious Triton]What about the Lake Norman YMCA tri in late August?[/quote]
I am racing Saturday in that race, but Sunday is wide open. I will be volunteering that morning. And the beer and food will be flowing at my place Saturday afternoon for the 7th Annual after Lake Norman party.
We usually put a serious dent in the effectiveness of our training that day.
Holy cow. I was planning on
Holy cow. I was planning on doing that race. Must be popular for a Sprint to be closed out that quick. Geez.
Way to go, GJ! You made it
Way to go, GJ! You made it thru to the other side, and have more confidence now for the future ones.
I'm looking forward to joining your ranks of Oly finishers (did I just jinx myself?) on the 20th, and given how the heat/humidity conspire here in S.Ontario, it's encouraging to hear that the conditions can be survived!
While it doesn't sound like a big blip on your radar, be sure to file a report after the Ramblin Rose event, if only from the standpoint of the human stories that are sure to come from participating with family members. That would make it your RR RR, which proves you need to write it...
Jen, I am so proud of you!!!
Jen, I am so proud of you!!! The first Oly always sounds like a good idea until you actually do one and you realize, um...this is no sprint! : ) The run on my first Oly was so long and hot I was convinced they had changed it to a 12 mile run and didn't tell us. Afterwards, I thought, "I am never doing this again!" Then, of course, I did one two months later. Funny how that works.
I suck on the bike too, but I am working hard on it. We're probably doing the same stuff...intervals, tempo, long, slow distance rides. My speed is ticking up ever so slowly. Keep at it. And def post a RR for the race with your mom. I love that stuff : )