This was the first triathlon I competed in last year and it was cool to go and do my first repeat race! I knew it would be difficult to draw comparisons between the 2 races as the swim and run courses had changed and the tranisition area had moved and was a different layout. Only the bike would be the exact same.
I got up, had a cup of coffee and a Cliff Bar, packed up my stuff and headed on down to Tempe Town Lake to race....again. I feel like I live down there having done 5 of the 7 races I have done in this exact same spot! It was great to see all the familiar faces before the race and we all chatted about IMAZ and my pending trip to Kona. I recieved a lot of well wishes from everybody and that made me feel really good.
The Swim:
I have a hard time accepting that this was a true 1500m course. Although wet suit legal, I opted to practice in my new Zoot Speedsuit as it is legal to use in Kona. I figured not wearing a wet suit would cost me maybe a min or two over 1500m. My last 1500m wet suit swim was 22:43. I have a hrad time accepting that 45 days later I am 3 min slower, wet suit or no! Looking at everyone's splits, it looks like the course was long, maybe by 100meters or so. Everybody was talking about it. Regardless of the time, my swim felt very good and the Zoot Speedsuit really feels good and regardless of my split, I'm glad I tried it out, although wearing my wet suit probably would have bumped me up a spot or two in the end. In retrospect, to be competetive, I should have brought my wet suit. Where I had been planning a 23 min swim I ended up 25min and was not happy! :mad:
Swim Time- 25:42 :eek:
T1:
No problems with transition, the speedsuit comes off super fast. I did have a moment of trouble with my helmet buckle, it was a little too tight.
T1 Time- :55
The Bike:
OK, I crushed the bike. I had the fsatest split for the day. I was more than a little annoyed about the swim and decided to make a statement on the bike. I pushed for all 4 laps. I have raced this same bike course 3 times now and really wanted to see how my cycling has improved since last year. It is well known that this bike course is about 1.5 miles short of 40K and my average speed was 26mph. I felt great, I felt very fast. I had one bottle of water mixed with 2 gels on my frame and made sure I drank 1/4 per lap. Last year I rode this course in about 1:00:53.
Bike Time- 56:01
T2:
Fast in, fast on with my shoes, visor, race belt.
T2 Time- :48
The Run:
The overall winners time was a 38 and change and he runs 35-36 typically. My 40:08 is also 3min slower than my last Olympic. Only 5 people went sub 40min! So can't really compare my split here either. But I felt good, it was really starting to get hot. It's an Olympic run, it ALWAYS hurts! I was being persued by 2 other AG'ers, but managed to hold my pace, which was probably right around 6:00 flat based on my HR data. The field at the front was so spread out, I was alone the entire run.
Run Time- 40:08
Final Time- 2:03:13, 6th overall out of 452, 1st in AG.
Although I am happy with my perfromance condsidering how my training isn't anywhere near where it was just a month and a half ago, I do wish I had brought my wet suit. I may have had a chance at top 3 overall, which would have been very cool. But, i am now done racing until Sept. amd have IM training beginning again in July, so I am going to enjoy a little off season, FINALLY!
This was the first triathlon I competed in last year and it was cool to go and do my first repeat race! I knew it would be difficult to draw comparisons between the 2 races as the swim and run courses had changed and the tranisition area had moved and was a different layout. Only the bike would be the exact same.
I got up, had a cup of coffee and a Cliff Bar, packed up my stuff and headed on down to Tempe Town Lake to race....again. I feel like I live down there having done 5 of the 7 races I have done in this exact same spot! It was great to see all the familiar faces before the race and we all chatted about IMAZ and my pending trip to Kona. I recieved a lot of well wishes from everybody and that made me feel really good.
The Swim:
I have a hard time accepting that this was a true 1500m course. Although wet suit legal, I opted to practice in my new Zoot Speedsuit as it is legal to use in Kona. I figured not wearing a wet suit would cost me maybe a min or two over 1500m. My last 1500m wet suit swim was 22:43. I have a hrad time accepting that 45 days later I am 3 min slower, wet suit or no! Looking at everyone's splits, it looks like the course was long, maybe by 100meters or so. Everybody was talking about it. Regardless of the time, my swim felt very good and the Zoot Speedsuit really feels good and regardless of my split, I'm glad I tried it out, although wearing my wet suit probably would have bumped me up a spot or two in the end. In retrospect, to be competetive, I should have brought my wet suit. Where I had been planning a 23 min swim I ended up 25min and was not happy! :mad:
Swim Time- 25:42 :eek:
T1:
No problems with transition, the speedsuit comes off super fast. I did have a moment of trouble with my helmet buckle, it was a little too tight.
T1 Time- :55
The Bike:
OK, I crushed the bike. I had the fsatest split for the day. I was more than a little annoyed about the swim and decided to make a statement on the bike. I pushed for all 4 laps. I have raced this same bike course 3 times now and really wanted to see how my cycling has improved since last year. It is well known that this bike course is about 1.5 miles short of 40K and my average speed was 26mph. I felt great, I felt very fast. I had one bottle of water mixed with 2 gels on my frame and made sure I drank 1/4 per lap. Last year I rode this course in about 1:00:53.
Bike Time- 56:01
T2:
Fast in, fast on with my shoes, visor, race belt.
T2 Time- :48
The Run:
The overall winners time was a 38 and change and he runs 35-36 typically. My 40:08 is also 3min slower than my last Olympic. Only 5 people went sub 40min! So can't really compare my split here either. But I felt good, it was really starting to get hot. It's an Olympic run, it ALWAYS hurts! I was being persued by 2 other AG'ers, but managed to hold my pace, which was probably right around 6:00 flat based on my HR data. The field at the front was so spread out, I was alone the entire run.
Run Time- 40:08
Final Time- 2:03:13, 6th overall out of 452, 1st in AG.
Although I am happy with my perfromance condsidering how my training isn't anywhere near where it was just a month and a half ago, I do wish I had brought my wet suit. I may have had a chance at top 3 overall, which would have been very cool. But, i am now done racing until Sept. amd have IM training beginning again in July, so I am going to enjoy a little off season, FINALLY!
_______
Bryan
Of course it's 'effing hard, it's IRONMAN!