Triathlon Thread 2009

[tiberius]

As I promised I am posting my Race Report for my tri today. I have also posted to the weekly race thread, but I thought I should also post a copy here.

Here's my report on the CB&I Triathlon in The Woodlands, TX.

First off, this was the 6th year for this race and it appears to be well run and well coordinated with the local community. I racked my bike in the transition area early last night with no problems. I also arrived early this morning to set up my stuff in transition, also no problems there. I found some friends from some races last fall and this winter, and chatted with them for awhile before finishing my preparations.

I was in the second wave and started out slow so I didn't get caught in the mass of swimmers in the lake before I really took off with my wave. The transition area was well-organized and caused no issues for me, I also had a good racking area which was well located with respect to the exits. The bike was good and traffic control was excellent, I never once had to so much as slow down or worry about road traffic. The run was slightly new for this course (although I hadn't run this event before I had volunteered for it) but it was a nice out and back, looping through a nice community. I saw several friends of mine volunteering during the run portion as my local running club was helping out with that, so I was well-cheered for during that portion. I'm not one to be confused with a speedster, and I finished well back in my age group, but I did beat my personal goals for each of the 500 meter swim, 15 mile bike and 5K run events. My stated goal for the race was to be under 2:00 hours, and I really hoped to beat 1:50; in the end my official finishing time was 1:43:54.5!
Afterwards, the post-race food and party was definitely better than average, and I got to sit around with my friends some more and discuss the course, future events and other stuff like that.

For my first real triathlon event, this was a great experience, and I am already looking forward to the next one, and the one after that, and the one after that,...

 

[deekaypee]

'Ohana Monday Mixer

Responses to this week's prompt can be posted on the 'Ohana team thread, and starts here.

Free advice, it's worth what you paid for it. Then again, sometimes the best things in life are free. You decide in this week's mixer prompt.

Share with us some memorable advice you've received.

Your advice can be related to training or races. It can focus on healthy habits or be "life" advice. It can be the best advice you've ever received, the worst, or the most profound. It can be helpful tips that helped you as a WISHer and athlete. Or it can be simply the funniest, most useless, or totally inappropriate for a situation. Just so long as it's memorable.

And just like M & Ms, don't feel restricted to just one piece....

 

[twoWDWfools]

Hi everybody!

Richard - congrats on the PR!

Ok, I've signed up for my first tri. Local women's sprint tri June 14. Have to work on my swimming a bit and bricks plus figure out best way of laying out my stuff in transition. Will do some reading and driveway practice (neighbors already think I'm nuts).

Have a question: I wear contacts and normally take them out when I swim. Can see and read w/o them but distances fuzzy so need them for bike/run. Don't want to take the time to get them in my eyes in T1 so thinking I either need to wear them during swim or get a pair of Rx sunglasses.

Thoughts? Experiences?

I'm sure I'll be back with more questions as get closer.

Thx!

 

[ironz]

Richard...I think I posted on another thread...but good job! I'm glad you had fun!

Liz...when I used to wear contacts, I would swim with them (under my goggles). If your goggles don't leak, there shouldn't be any problem with that. I think I did that for 2 years without any issues.
If that doesn't work for you, then the Rx sunglasses are the next option. Or Lasik! (that's what I did when I realized I was getting serious about all this)

As for me...and forgive me if it's a double post...
I did a sprint tri on Sunday and had a great time!
Little RR:
Up at 4 am and noshed on a bagel with PB on the way to the race (about an hour away)...sort of grazed on the bagel and then a banana. Didn't want to get the calories in too early, since it was a short race and I wouldn't be re-fueling during the event.
Set up transition and did about a 10 min warmup run on the course. There's a little hill before the finish and I wanted to run it to hone in on running it strong, so I would remember that when I was tired.
Short warm up swim to check on what to sight on for the way out, and for the swim exit. and to warm up my shoulder.

300m open water swim...the water was nasty, but that just made me want to swim fast. I didn't, though....still more focused on my shoulder and staying out of the crowds. Was about mid-pack of my AG at that point. Clock says 8:30ish...I must have made the swim long.
Super fast transition...both my T1 and T2 were the fastest in my AG!
11 mile bike...starting with a hill that seemed bigger than I recalled from racing on this course in the past. But I gutted it out, and then it was hammer time! I had a sense after the first few miles on the bike that I was leading the AG (unless there was someone who had a strong swim/bike combo), but I stopped seeing women my age, and was passing a bunch of the people from earlier waves. 'on your left, on your left, on your left' LOL Averaged about 17.8 mph or something like that. a few hills. Wind not too bad.
Fast t2, then on to the run...
I thought I was doing ok, but I'm a slower runner, and this is where I usually get caught...But I thought I was in the lead, so it was time to hold on. It's only 2 miles...so not that far to dig deep. Last year on this course (different race) I missed the podium by 6 seconds and partly because I took a dang walk break. I just ran like I was being chased, and even though some younger women and one older woman passed me, no one from my AG did. Avg pace of 9:50/mile, which still needs work, but for me that is pretty decent for running off the bike.
Overall time about 1:07, and 1st in AG by a minute!

Huge confidence boost, and many thanks to my coach for faith and encouragement, and to my ortho surgeon for putting me back together and letting me rehab fast enough to enjoy this season!

 

[twoWDWfools]

Becky - Congrats!!! That is awesome!

My goggles fit really well, no leaking, so I'll start leaving contacts in. Cannot do Lasik.

Thx!

 

[wtpclc]

Betsy & RIchard - COngrats on your races!!!

Liz - I wear my contacts under my goggles. Never have a problem.

Well, I finally got on teh horse again, or the bike as the case may be. Tried to work on cadence. I am so slow. I hate gearing down adn pedaling faster as it feels like so much effort to go nowhere? Has anyone experienced this before? Does it go away?

 

[sk8ingmom]

Hi everybody!

Richard - congrats on the PR!

Ok, I've signed up for my first tri. Local women's sprint tri June 14. Have to work on my swimming a bit and bricks plus figure out best way of laying out my stuff in transition. Will do some reading and driveway practice (neighbors already think I'm nuts).

Have a question: I wear contacts and normally take them out when I swim. Can see and read w/o them but distances fuzzy so need them for bike/run. Don't want to take the time to get them in my eyes in T1 so thinking I either need to wear them during swim or get a pair of Rx sunglasses.

Thoughts? Experiences?

I'm sure I'll be back with more questions as get closer.

Thx!

Congrats on starting! My first was a women's sprint - they are so much fun.
I've worn contacts and goggles since I was about 12 - no problems. I'm legally blind without correction, so I can't find the pool without my contacts!

 

[ghoulishgirl]

Hey everyone! Today was an open water swim clinic presented by the people putting on the triathlon. I rented a wetsuit and it was better. I still feel like I can't get enough air, but I wasn't shivering from the outset. I did catch an elbow to the bridge of my nose and boy, does that ever hurt! If I have to be the last one in the water and the last one out ( I'm slow!) that's fine by me. Next weekend, tri clinic # 2. We will swim the whole 400 yards, a short bike ride, a short run. Not full race distances, just enough to work on transitions. At least with the wetsuit, I know I won't drown, I was bobbing like a cork!

 

[chimera]

Congrats on everyone who's doing cool races!

I'm starting swim class in a couple weeks. Questions on caps and goggles...any recommendations on goggles? How do you find a good fit when they're all in those plastic thingies in the store?

And swim caps? Seriously?? What do you do with your hair? Tuck it up under? I have a LOT of hair.

 

[laxdef69]

Mel: The best thing you can do is go to a tri specific store, or a swim specific store...generally you can get some assistance with goggles, as there are many different styles and sizes, and people's faces are different, from the width of the bridge of your nose, to the depth of your eye sockets, to how prominent your cheekbones are...they all make a difference, so get some help!

Betsy: Congrats on the finish! I'd have to kill everyone in my AG prior to the race to take first...

Richard congrats on your race, too!!!

Liz You should, if you have no leaking issues, be able to wear your contacts under your goggles with no problem.

I've been sick for the last week, so training has been spotty...I got in 9.5 miles (at Waterfall Glen, Liz ) in 1:34 and then rode for 10 -15 to flush out my legs....Hopefully this junk clears up soon and I can work with something more than 75% lung capacity!

Mike

 

[twoWDWfools]

Mike - got my goggles fitted at the trip shop so they fit great. Guess no worries on the contacts. Are you doing the Extreme 10 in July? We both are - use that trail alot for training.

Mel - I also need to figure out how to get my hair under the swim cap. I'll pick one up this week and practice I guess.

Went camping over the weekend and got in 42 mile ride. Wanted 50 but we were bucking 25mph headwind on way back and were just done.

Tonight is weights/core/pool. Trying to re-work my schedule to concentrate more on swimming and keep biking/running at mid mileage.

 

[cdn_gal_eeyore]

Congrats on everyone who's doing cool races!

I'm starting swim class in a couple weeks. Questions on caps and goggles...any recommendations on goggles? How do you find a good fit when they're all in those plastic thingies in the store?

And swim caps? Seriously?? What do you do with your hair? Tuck it up under? I have a LOT of hair.

Hi Mel! I found my goggles through lots of trial and error. I wound up getting a pair of TYR ones that work fairly well.

As for swim caps - one word - silicone! The latex ones are so tough to get on your head, but silicone is so much easier. Plus I think it is easier if your hair is wet first too (and pulled back in a pony tail or looped pony depending on how long your hair is).

 

[ironz]

Re: goggles....You can take them out of the package to try them on. The "rule of thumb" is that if you press them to your face without the strap and they stay (sort of a little suction cup action around your eyes), then they should fit. My favorites are the Tyr Femme Ellipse. Been in them for several years and hardly swim in anything else.

Re: swim caps...the silicone ones are nice, though if you race, you will end up (usually) in a latex cap (unless you are allergic) provided by the race, as the colors usually identify the waves. (though you could slip it on over the silicone cap). I have longish hair (to my shoulder blades) and I have to put it in a ponytail or bun first. It may help to wet your hair first to keep the flyaway hairs from going everywhere. Wetting your hair before swimming also helps keep it from absorbing too much chlorine from the pool, too.

Mike/Laxdef....get to training!! How's it going? Are you riding hills?

 

[cdn_gal_eeyore]

My favorites are the Tyr Femme Ellipse. Been in them for several years and hardly swim in anything else.

Yup, those are my favourites too!

 

[jmasgat]

Well, I have. Last night I had the weirdest dream. I was doing a sprint tri. The swim (the part I dread most) turned out to be magically easy--that should have been a clue right there that something was wrong! I was in a wetsuit--which I have never done before--and I felt like I was gliding across the water. I think I was paddling, like a surfer heading out to catch a wave.

I get to shore and head for the transtion and everything fell apart. I don't remember it all, but I do recall that I had to go back to my car to get some things that I was missing! I ended up on the wrong bike--my DH. Finally, I headed out after 10 minutes. I couldn't find the course. Next thing I know it's like I'm driving a car and I'm lost.

Mercifully, the dream ended before I got to the run.

Very strange!

Maura

 

[mkymsehi]

I got back in the ocean for 1,000 meters. 31 minutes. I shaved a minute off of my last time out, despite the strong current on the return leg.

I felt fast, until I looked up and saw all the Honolulu Triathlon Athletes whizzing by me. LOL.

Running is going smoothly, as is the biking.

 

[deekaypee]

'Ohana Monday Mixer

"A good film is when the price of the dinner, the theatre admission and the babysitter were worth it." ~Alfred Hitchcock

By now, most of you have figured out I like movies. A lot. Perhaps an unhealthy amount. Nevertheless, I think it's fun to talk about movies, especially now that the summer season has started. Wolverine has been released, so has Star Trek, with many more big blockbusters soon to come.

So this week's mixer topic is, predictably enough, summer movies! The start of the mixer, posted on the 'Ohana thread, is here.

What summer movies are you looking most forward to, and why? Also, how do you like your summer movies?

Feel free to talk about how you choose your flicks: based on directors, your favorite movie star, a beloved genre? And what is your ideal movie experience? Midnight movies or matinees? Chain theaters or independents? Drive-ins? What about the movie-going extras? With or without snacks? Buttered popcorn or chocolate?

 

[mkymsehi]

Does anyone ride a Giant Defy 3 road bike?

If so, what do you like or dislike about it?

Or a Raleigh Sport road bike?

If so, what do you like or dislike about it?

 

[deekaypee]

'Ohana Monday AND Tuesday Mixer

Stop on by the 'Ohana team thread, where the mixer starts here!

I know this weekend is a vacation weekend for many of us, so we'll be running the mixer tomorrow (Monday) and Tuesday. This mixer question is a ringer, folks, but hopefully still fun:

What did you do for Memorial Day/Weekend?

Provide us with plenty of details & hopefully photos of your activities, gatherings, celebrations and how you observe the day (and spirit) of Memorial Day.

 

[twoWDWfools]

Ok, starting to worry about the tri. Yes it's only a sprint but still a bit worried. Mainly the swim and transition from it. Been doing reading but have to figure out a way to set up a practice transition for it. At least getting from water to bike gear. Ideas? Thx!