Hy-Vee Triathlon Race Report

What a crazy weekend! Saturday morning was filled with rain and storms, causing all the kids races to be cancelled. The afternoon and evening actually ended up being nice, so we were dry checking our bikes into transition. We also ate at the Olive Garden and then headed home to try to get to bed early. Sunday-wake up at 3am. Leave home at 3:30. Ride shuttle to race site. We got there around 4:30. I started to set up my stuff and warm-up. I was out for a little jog and had just come back into transition around 5:15 when the RD announced they were changing the race to a sprint because storms were on their way in and they wanted to get everyone in and out of the water as quick as possible.

Major bummer. I took about 5 minutes to be upset and think all the negative thoughts. Then it was time to be a sprinter and get psyched to race. The race had also been switched to a time trial start for everyone. I think I was about the 3rd elite female to start. First female out of the water and out of T1. Was passed right out of T1 by a girl, but passed her back once I had my feet in my shoes. Bike went pretty well, but I was passed by a girl about 8-9 miles in. Came out of T2 behind her. My transitions here were much better than last weekend and my bike computer worked! Having cadence really helps! I think I was about 45 second behind the other female coming out of T2. Maybe 20-30seconds until the next girl after me. I started out quick trying to catch the other girl. I was gaining on her the whole run and make up about 30 seconds on her, but unable to get past her at the end. She ended up crossing the finish line 14 seconds ahead of me. I had also made a bit of ground on the ladies behind me.

I thought I had gotten second overall, but would have to wait until the results came out since it was a time trial start it was impossible to know for sure. I was able to finish before the lightening and rain hit. It did come, and came hard. If I would have been doing an olympic race, I probably would have been stuck running in the rain for 10-15 minutes. There were still plenty of people out racing in the rain-some had still started an hour behind me. The RD made the right decision going with a sprint. We rode our bikes back to the mall where are car was in the rain. It was actually kind of neat to have a big line of bikers biking to the mall in the rain. People who didn't know about the triathlon had to be so confused.

We got home and kept checking the internet for results. They finally came up...2nd place....by only 8 seconds! The girl in front of me was the first female to go off. So I wouldn't have even needed to pass her to beat her, just catch up by 8 seconds more. Ack! So frusterated! Oh well, guess that is racing a TT start. An age grouper snuck in 24 seconds behind me to get third, but the next elite girl was 41 seconds behind me, at least no one was able to get in in front of me.

Still happy with my race. All 3 legs and transitions were good and there is nothing I would have changed. This race was also a pro qualifier for the top three. This race left me happy because my run off the bike finally came together so I'm excited for a ReAl olympic race and finally a 70.3! By this not being an olympic, it makes me look forward to Lifetime and Steelhead that much more. I'm all sprinted out for the rest of 2010, bring on the long stuff!

Pigman Sprint Race Report

On Sunday I raced the Pigman Spring in Palo, IA. Great race, good time, and definitely a sprint! Here is a quick race report. My warm-up was mostly putting on my Hurricane wetsuit from Kyle's Bikes and swimming for about 20 minutes. And yes, I seriously count putting on the wetsuit as part of the warm-up! The elite female wave was first as this was an equalizer event (women start first, men 8:44 back and it's a race to see who can cross finish line first).

The swim started and I was out in front but some chick was right on my feet grabbing at my ankles. She almost pulled my timing chip off so I had to stop and shove it under my wetsuit quick. But right back to swimming. I was surprised that in such a short swim no one was closer to me-I was first out of the water in 6:14, a minute up on the next few girls. Into T1. The wetsuit didn't come off as easily as two weeks ago, but still not bad.

Out of T1 and onto the bike. What is this car driving on the course in front of me? Oh yeah, it's the lead car! I had never been the first one before! It was kind-of neat to follow the lead car for a while, makes you feel kinda special. And in the good way, not the short-bus way. I lead the bike until about half way. Three girls passed me within one mile, then no more girls passed me on the bike. The bike went well except none of my computer was working so I had no idea my speed or cadence and I tried to fix my front brake about half way through because I was afraid it was rubbing on my wheel. Next time I need to double check these things before the race starts!

Came into and out of T2 in fourth. I managed to pass one girl half way through the run, but right after another girl passed me. So I was 4th overall. I was the first Iowan to finish so I called to race in the Best of the US race in Orange County in October. That was pretty cool. I know what I need to work on this week (transitions!) and how to better prepare for future races (double check equipment and check out the areas leading into and out of transition). Glad I did this race but really looking forward to more Olympics and especially the 70.3s!

Cableless Life

I have now been living without cable for one month. I was hoping this change would mean I would get a lot more done, like organizing the basement. I think I have since only added more to the piles in the basement. Oh well, there have been some positive changes. I have biked and walked to the store a few times, gone outside to throw a football/frisbee, and..played games on the computer. Also, I have saved some money. All of it spent on watermelons.

Training has been going well. Getting in some good training in the heat. I will be ready for the next hot race. One down side to the heat...Big Creek is already Nasty. After a swim out there, I took off my suit only for find what looked like green cotton balls of algae stuck all over me. I think I will stick to Saylorville until that turns nasty too.

Next race-Pigman Sprint this Sunday. One week later-HyVee!!!