Saturday, May 21, 2016

Race Report: 2016 Mountain Lakes Triathlon: Play like a Child

Agenda


  • 2:00: Out of bed
  • 2:00 - 4:00 Cook, eat, pack
  • 4:00 Depart for Guntersville
  • 6:00 Pick up race packit and set up Transition
  • 7:30 Start race
  • 9:15 ish finish race
  • 9:15-10:15 socialize and eat
  • 10:35 depart for home
And, the Army does more than whom before 6:00 am? OK. They would have been out the door at 2:05. But, a man's gotta eat. I got to see a significant number of Vulcan Triathletes including Sophia Lal and Travis Self. I am horrible with names, so I won't list many. And, of course, my buddy John Hanna was there participating with a relay team. He does a great job leading us E3Tri athletes.

I feel much better about these results as compared to Lake Guntersville Olympic from 2 weeks ago. I pushed the ride and the run. And, felt good at the end.

I met Stephanie Farrington's mom who did her first triathlon today. Mom and daughter both got on the podium. I walked by a couple in their 50's at the last race and he was ecstatic about having just completed his first triathlon. I have to say, I just get a kick at of seeing people near my age taking on life very much like children on a playground. Get together, jump in the water, swim; jump on the bike, ride; and grab the shoes and run. Makes for a fun day.


May 21, 2016: Mountain Lakes Tri
Guntersville, AL - Sprint
Time: 1:35:46


a
SwimDistance: .600 Yards
Time: 14:41
TransitionTime: 2:03
CycleDistance: 16.2 Miles
Time: 48:08
Rate: 20.2
TransitionTime: 1:45
RunDistance: 3.1 Miles (5K)
Time: 29:07
Pace: 9:24
WeatherOvercast
Temperature: 64-66°
Humidity: 100%

History

YearSwimT1BikeT2RunTotal
200919:083:0547:041:5525:161:36:25
201012:232:0845:582:5831:321:34:59
201114:252:4346:491:3026:241:31:51
201614:412:0348:081:4529:071:35:46

Saturday, May 07, 2016

Race Report: 2016 Lake Guntersville Olympic: A Good Excuse


Overview

The race begins the day before. The day before, I was in Vero Beach, Florida doing my job. Betsy and John were preparing to head to Decatur, Alabama for the annual State Cup soccer tournament. They leave for Decatur; I leave for home. They're in a car and I'm in a Jet. I pick up my car at the airport and swap it for the family car in a parking lot at the Colonnade in Birmingham. I sleep in an empty house despite not seeing Betsy or John for 12 days. He's got a tournament and I have a race.

First Omen of Potential Doom

I wake up before 2:00 am with an urge to use the restroom. But, while standing there doing my business I have to grab the wall because the room appears to drift below my eyes and I don't seem to be able to volitionally control it.  It looks like the video below. The video is safe for work, but if you can put yourself in my head at the time, it was disturbing.


Not to be deterred, I returned to bed grab another hour of sleep. I'm up just after 3:00 am. I prepare my staple breakfast (steel cut oats, blueberries, yogurt, and walnuts). I pack up the few things I had not packed 12 days ago. I eat. I load the car with stuff needed for the race, the weekend with the family at the soccer tournament, and the stuff I will need to hop on a plane the next day. I may, after all, not have enough time to go home again before I board the next jet to return to work in Vero Beach. We have a vendor coming in and I need to be there.

Preparation Continues

The drive is uneventful and I jammed to Chicago all the way. I arrive, get my packet, prepare the bike, and setup transition. I see a few Vulcan Triathletes including Matt Jaeh and Sophia Lal. I chatted briefly with Sophia. I popped up my changing tent, got into my triathlon kit and donned my wetsuit. And, bang it is time to get in line for the swim. So, far so good, and I feel okay.

The Race

The younger olympic males started in 2 waves and the old guys like me were called forward. Here I go:
Nearly time to get in the water...
The water had just a bit of a nip thanks to it cool temperature, but not bad. Right off the mark, my googles started leaking and I had to rotate on to my back for an adjustment.

Adjusting leaking goggles

But, it didn't take long to fix them and the leaking stopped. However, I did feel just slightly nauseous for most of the swim. Nonetheless, I pushed on. Swim done, I always love this part. I'm glad the swim is first. I am glad I can swim long distances, but I have to admit that during a race, the swim feels like a necessary evil.

The weather is perfect. I doff the wetsuit with the help from race volunteers, don bike shoes, helmut, sun glasses, and off I go. 

Ready to ride
Riding the Lake Guntersville Olympic Course
The nauseous feeling dissipated fairly rapidly during the bike and was gone when I started the run. The run is pretty hilly and mostly on a trail. 

Hilly run course
Running the Lake Guntersville Olympic course
 Judging by the smiling faces on the run and near the finish (below), perhaps I could have pushed harder. I don't look like I am suffering enough.

Nearly Done

Distance Differences

My Garmin Forerunner 910XT registered the swim and the bike as long.

  • I swam an additional 484 yards, but I the path doesn't look that extreme on the map
  • I rode .7 additional miles for a total of 25.5
Looks like a reasonably accurate swim path

Details


May 7, 2016: Lake Guntersville
Olympic
Time: 3:27:45


a
SwimDistance: .93 miles (1.5K)
Time: 42:44
TransitionTime: 2:11
CycleDistance: 24.8 Miles (40K)
Time: 1:27:23
Rate: 17.0
TransitionTime: 2:28
RunDistance: 6.2 Miles (10K)
Time: 1:12:40
Pace: 11:55
WeatherPartly Cloudy
Temperature: 54-75°
Humidity: 94-50%

Prolog

I was 17 minutes slower than last year. But, I have some good excuses. The distances went long and I had signs of illness. Wait, back it up, NO EXCUSES. It was a good day.

I had just enough time to clear my transition set up, load the car and hit the road to arrive at the soccer field in time for John's next game. I had hoped to have time to stop by and visit my friend Stephen McLamb. And, I didn't have time to enjoy the post race camaraderie and view the Vulcan Triathletes that earned podium places get their on-site recognition. But, long distance triathlon can sometimes be a selfish endeavor. I need to turn my attention to family time and go support my son's soccer performances. Off to Decatur where John's team ultimately finished in 2nd.