Training Log Archive: vmeyer

Event: QOC Morven Park
 

The Ladies Choice Tri http://triitnow.com/LC/ladieschoice.htm

So, today is race day, the one I have been training for for many, many, er, days... ;) This was a "baby" tri in my mind, just the right amount of distance to tackle - 400 yard swim, 8 mile bike on roads, and 2 miles of running on mostly sidewalk, with a bit of grass/mulch.

The race start is advertised at 7:30 7:15, and I needed to be there around 6-6:30 to pick up my number, chip, and get body marked.

I don't think I am too nervous, but I had a fierce headache last night, and while some advil knocked it down, I didn't end up sleeping much at all, maybe two hours, though most nights this is par for the course. I am awake before the alarm goes off at 4:30.

Got up, decided on two packets of oatmeal, and several diet cokes for breakfast. Packed up everything I think I needed for the day - race and QOC orienteering event, and hit the road.

Drive to Manassas was uneventful, and I took time to stop and use the facilities at the rest stop on the way.

Temperature is 55, and the rain has moved out of the area, or so they claimed, after 11 straight days with showers.

Picked up my race number, chatting with some other first timers while in line, and took then my bike to the transition area...this isn't my bike, though it is my plastic container...



This is my bike. It seemingly didn't fit into the bike stands. After checking with the head tri-lady, I shoved it in, because all bikes must be in a rack.



Next, picked up my timing chip, and was greeted by a Hi, Valerie. It was Vic, QOC's treasurer, who runs a chip timing business.



Here I am showing off my body marking. I have to say that I thought this was very poorly done. Good thing they didn't need to read the number on my leg at a high rate of speed.



At 7ish, the transition area was closed, and a pre-race brief took place.

I foolishly decided to leave the lid off of my container, for easy access later. Silly me for a couple of reason which will soon become obvious...

The brief race briefing went on way too long, and the race started 15 minutes late. About 2 minutes before the actual race start, the skies darkened, and it poured for about 10 minutes.



Ah, well, at least some of my clothes were still dry in the locker room.

We lined up by bib number, and based on my predicted time of 8 minutes, I was 35 in line.

The lady next to me tells me to feel free to pass her, because she doesn't think she'll be able to reach her 8 minute predicted pace. I told her not to worry.

So, off we go every 5 seconds, and let me tell you, the time goes by FAST! Before I knew it, I was in the water, and trying to swim as fast as I could. But, I felt like I was in over my head. The water was very choppy and deeper than I usually swim in. I felt a bit of panic, and the look of desperation is real.



I calmed down after realizing that I wasn't going to quit, and it would be embarrassing to do so anyway, and that people could easily pass me, and going slow was ok. I stuck to the lane line, sometimes too closely, and the laps counted down. Ducking under the lane line with the turbulence was taxing, and I felt short of breath throughout the whole swim.

One of the missteps in what I wore was my garmin. I had stopped wearing a watch while swimming, and it felt big, clunky, and it was too loose, which was distracting, and I kept hitting the lane marker with that arm.

The other poor wardrobe choice was the two piece tri suit, which I haven't worn wet in two years. Wet = loose - see above. I chose it instead of my one piece with shorts because I was afraid I would need to go to the bathroom ten times, and I didn't want to have to keep undressing.

Amy, who was on the way to the QOC, made a detour to cheer me on. I was delighted to see her, especially after having an earplug come apart and get stuck in my ear. She got my car keys and retrieved the tick tweezers I carry around, and I got the earplug out easily enough.



A long distance shot from my cheering squad...



AP calculated the swim with more climb than the bike. I agree - it was all uphill, that's for sure.

Swim - official time 11:30, 2:30 above what I expected I could do.
Actual time should have been 10:30, but I stopped to talk to Amy before going across the timing mat.
Swim place 71/97, ~60/97 if I had gone across the mat right away.

Things for the race start and swim next time, if there is a next time...
-practice in a deeper pool with more people?
-get earplug situation sorted. Can't stand water in my ears, so I have to wear them.
-don't expect that race will start on time, go with the flow, stay chill
-put a longer swim estimate...perhaps starting at the end with the slower people would have been better.

C • Woo! 20

On to the bike ride...

I was concerned about being too cold on the bike, what with the 55 degrees and all, and time wasn't a huge issue to me, I decided to put my change of clothes in the locker room. Amy met me there with the tweezers for the earplug extraction, and also assisted with getting my bra pulled down in the back. :)

After about 8:15, I was changed and back out on the bike. The course was a one mile section followed by two times a longer loop. I had debated on which bike - the lighter one with skinnier wheels or the mountain bike. I went with the MTB, which I was happy about on the wet roads. I am not super confident on turns, but I was making up time when going around the turns.

Walking the bike to the mounting area...



The pants were much commented on, and the shirt was a perfect choice, well, until about 3 miles in, when I got too hot. I debated taking it off, but that wasn't happening. Couldn't even really get the sleeves pushed up either, so I concentrated on pedaling hard and getting it done.





Official bike time was 39:13, which was 31:00 on the bike and 8:13 in transition.
Bike place was 88/97, and ~60th without the long change time.
I passed a few people near the end, so that was fun.

Things for next time, if there is a next time:
-don't change clothes, unless maybe it is really, really cold. :)
-put the cover on the plastic bin, just in case it rains, or a squirrel comes foraging.
-maybe get a front water bottle
-be grateful if the course is short

C • gear 4

I changed my shirt for the run, and decided against changing my shorts since they were making me so happy, and the bike padding wasn't going to be an issue for two miles.

When I was going from the sidewalk section to a short grass/mulch section, the lady said "you'll be back on the sidewalk soon." I thought Ugh, no, please, more soft stuff, but 200 yards later, it was back on the sidewalk. Course was mercifully short - both on garmin and on gmap, not that I am complaining.

Official run time = 22:21, which included 3:00 in transition.
Run place 65/97, and ~60 with less transition time spent posing. :)











Things to remember, if I ever do another one of these:
-Put the timing chip on with big lump of plastic on the outside of the leg. I didn't turn it around to partway on the run.
-get shoes tight right the first time
-just because the event is put on by a sanctioned organization doesn't mean that they will get the course length correct.

After finishing, they handed everyone a carnation, their finisher's shirt, and took off the timing chip for you.



Thanks again to Amy for coming and supporting and cheering me on, and taking the pictures. Four of the pictures I bought from the race photographer. Nothing like having them up within 6 hours of the race.



One last picture before packing up and heading to the QOC event. I never even made it over to the food tent. Oh, well, maybe next time, if there is a next time.



Official race time was 1:13:05, and my goal was under 1:15:00. I was 79/97 overall and 6/11 in 55-59.

I figured 40 minutes for biking, but I was 39:13, even with the long change time.
Swim was 3:30 longer and run was right on even with the leisurely transition time.

So, if I were to ever do this again, I could probably take ~8 minutes off the time. Not that I'm saying I'll do it again. ;-)

Garmin = 4 miles with 76.4m climb

Off to Leesburg for the QOC event, where I worked the computer until 1 PM or so, and them off to do the 1 Cowboy Relay. BTW, since this is a horse farm, I think the name should have some sort of equine themed name instead...

Three 1-1.1k loops followed a 2.6k loop - lots of field/grass running, and being a late started resulted in matted down paths, but also muddy, sloppy paths, and misleading paths. So close to 10 minutes/k and lots of fun!

Cowboy Medium - Splits

Needed to do a little energy release, so to the pool it was. Thought 30 minutes, but 20 was enough.

Ten minutes of warm up and then to cool down after the two mile run.

C • tri 6

Meant to do this yesterday, but a dry window of opportunity to get the garden fertilized took precedence. Lots of rain today to wash said fertilizer into the soil, and to drive me indoors. Just as well since the treadmill is easier on the knees. After warm up, I set the speed at 5.5 mph and loped along mindlessly until the two miles was reached. Felt easy enough, but then the treadmill always feels easier to me.

Plan = 30 minutes with 2 x 400, which I did in 800 and 745. Then kept 8 minute pace for the remainder of the time. One minute rest after the 400s. A good swim.

Today is also a good day because I get to start sending out the gifts my mother made to her sister, grandchildren, and step-children. They will all be very appreciative of mom's gift to them.

No Garmin, so gmapped a 4 mile loop and did it twice. Slow, or at least it felt slow.

Changed shoes and then around the paved loop at work, trying to run as much as possible. Got done just before the skies opened.