Post by MarkD on Jun 19, 2005 23:01:18 GMT -5
Some stories are simply worth sharing, so, if you want to read a funny account of a budding triathlete's first go at it (well, I did a "super sprint" last year but with no training or preparation), read on. I'm still laughing at myself...
I competeted in the Spint event at Deer Creek State Park back on June 5th and I was absolutely certain that I was ready. Although I hadn't done any open water swimming, I assumed that most of the field of 170 sprinters hadn't either. I did a basic 12 week prep program by researching the internet and reading a few excellent books on the subject. The homework was done... The training was on-target and injury free... The adrenaline was surging (tapering really builds the energy)... Just like the guidance suggests, I checked out the course and registered the day before and did a thorough check of all my equipment. I read through all of the stuff in the registration bag (even the advertising) and went for a quick bike ride to make sure nothing got out of whack during transport.
Then came race day... Again, I followed what I remembered from the literature - got there an hour ahead of time - did the race day nutrition just right - got the transition area set up - warmed up - got marked up - ready to roll. Then the newbie in me came out blazin'...
Issue #1, "To wet suit or not to wet suit": Up until the Friday before the race, I was sure that I would not wear a wet suit. That is until someone (who doesn't swim, mind you) told me that water under 75 degrees really "zaps" the energy from you. So, I strayed from my plan and wore a wet suit that I hadn't worn since my jet ski days in the mid-90's. It had short sleeves. In training, I'd swam up to a mile in a pool with no wet suit. In the race, at my normal pace, my shoulders were dead tired less than 1/3 of the way into the swim. My intervals of breast stroke to free-style had to be comical to watch from the safety crew's boat. Had I taken the time the previous day to do a quick swim with the suit on, I would have known better. Lesson #1: Stick with the plan.
Issue #2, "Blurred vision": I bought a new pair of sunglasses about two weeks before the race. During T2, because of my inexperience and hurried pace, I whipped my bike helmet off forgetting that the shades were on the outside of the straps. They went flying. I picked them up as I started the run and assumed that they were hard to see throught because of sweat. Well after the race as I was cleaning up, I realized that it wasn't sweat. My new sunglasses had chipped right in my line of site because they had landed on the asphalt in my frantic T2 haste. Lesson #2 - Don't rush - 5 seconds isn't that important.
Issue #3, "The chips are down": Yeah, sometimes the incredibly stupid occurs and you just have to accept it, then not make the same mistake in the future. After I got my body marked before the race, apparently I was also supposed to get a racing chip. I was so focused on the task at hand, that I never noticed that all the competitors were wearing ankle straps - with one exception - ME... I didn't figure it out until after I crossed the finish line. With the focus gone, I noticed those coming across the finish line taking the ankle straps off and placing them on the rack provided. I didn't even have to ask (Andrew actually pointed this potential issue out in his transition paper). I knew my approximate time coming across the finish line and the race directors were good enough to put me in the standings after I humored them with my tale of dumb. The problem is, I have no idea what my splits were (well, I have some idea... my swim sucked, my Ts could be more efficient, my bike was good, and my run kicked a**. I'd still like to see the split numbers.) In the standings, it looks like my run and my total were the same time. Lesson #3: Don't make this mistake again !!
Issue #4, "The Ohio wave": About 2/3 through the bike, I was climbing the first of 2 fairly steep hills. Climbing is a strong point for me and I took full advantage by passing two competitors on this hill. Unbeknownst to me, someone in a car was trying to pass as well. After my pass, I got over. He then passed, honking and yelling at me. I reacted without hesitation by flipping the crotchety old man (and his wife) the old one-fingered bird. A classless move I know, but in the heat of the battle.... Lesson #4: Restraint.
And finally, Issue #5, "The big dent": Later that day, after checking out of the lodge and pulling out of the parking lot, I backed into the rear bumper of the SUV across the lot. Luckily, there was no damage to his car (man, am I glad he didn't have a bike racked on the back), but I had a honey of a dent in the back door of the family truckster (mini-van). Lesson #5, buy a car with a higher bumper.
After all that, I must say that I was thrilled with my performance and I'm primed for the next one; and, unless Darwin has it in for me, I won't make the same mistakes (I always strive for new mistakes !!). So, for those of you competeing in Stow Sprint this coming weekend, one word of caution: Un-rack those bikes immediately if you see a blue Chevy Venture with a big dent in the back and parked right across from you !!
Mark
I competeted in the Spint event at Deer Creek State Park back on June 5th and I was absolutely certain that I was ready. Although I hadn't done any open water swimming, I assumed that most of the field of 170 sprinters hadn't either. I did a basic 12 week prep program by researching the internet and reading a few excellent books on the subject. The homework was done... The training was on-target and injury free... The adrenaline was surging (tapering really builds the energy)... Just like the guidance suggests, I checked out the course and registered the day before and did a thorough check of all my equipment. I read through all of the stuff in the registration bag (even the advertising) and went for a quick bike ride to make sure nothing got out of whack during transport.
Then came race day... Again, I followed what I remembered from the literature - got there an hour ahead of time - did the race day nutrition just right - got the transition area set up - warmed up - got marked up - ready to roll. Then the newbie in me came out blazin'...
Issue #1, "To wet suit or not to wet suit": Up until the Friday before the race, I was sure that I would not wear a wet suit. That is until someone (who doesn't swim, mind you) told me that water under 75 degrees really "zaps" the energy from you. So, I strayed from my plan and wore a wet suit that I hadn't worn since my jet ski days in the mid-90's. It had short sleeves. In training, I'd swam up to a mile in a pool with no wet suit. In the race, at my normal pace, my shoulders were dead tired less than 1/3 of the way into the swim. My intervals of breast stroke to free-style had to be comical to watch from the safety crew's boat. Had I taken the time the previous day to do a quick swim with the suit on, I would have known better. Lesson #1: Stick with the plan.
Issue #2, "Blurred vision": I bought a new pair of sunglasses about two weeks before the race. During T2, because of my inexperience and hurried pace, I whipped my bike helmet off forgetting that the shades were on the outside of the straps. They went flying. I picked them up as I started the run and assumed that they were hard to see throught because of sweat. Well after the race as I was cleaning up, I realized that it wasn't sweat. My new sunglasses had chipped right in my line of site because they had landed on the asphalt in my frantic T2 haste. Lesson #2 - Don't rush - 5 seconds isn't that important.
Issue #3, "The chips are down": Yeah, sometimes the incredibly stupid occurs and you just have to accept it, then not make the same mistake in the future. After I got my body marked before the race, apparently I was also supposed to get a racing chip. I was so focused on the task at hand, that I never noticed that all the competitors were wearing ankle straps - with one exception - ME... I didn't figure it out until after I crossed the finish line. With the focus gone, I noticed those coming across the finish line taking the ankle straps off and placing them on the rack provided. I didn't even have to ask (Andrew actually pointed this potential issue out in his transition paper). I knew my approximate time coming across the finish line and the race directors were good enough to put me in the standings after I humored them with my tale of dumb. The problem is, I have no idea what my splits were (well, I have some idea... my swim sucked, my Ts could be more efficient, my bike was good, and my run kicked a**. I'd still like to see the split numbers.) In the standings, it looks like my run and my total were the same time. Lesson #3: Don't make this mistake again !!
Issue #4, "The Ohio wave": About 2/3 through the bike, I was climbing the first of 2 fairly steep hills. Climbing is a strong point for me and I took full advantage by passing two competitors on this hill. Unbeknownst to me, someone in a car was trying to pass as well. After my pass, I got over. He then passed, honking and yelling at me. I reacted without hesitation by flipping the crotchety old man (and his wife) the old one-fingered bird. A classless move I know, but in the heat of the battle.... Lesson #4: Restraint.
And finally, Issue #5, "The big dent": Later that day, after checking out of the lodge and pulling out of the parking lot, I backed into the rear bumper of the SUV across the lot. Luckily, there was no damage to his car (man, am I glad he didn't have a bike racked on the back), but I had a honey of a dent in the back door of the family truckster (mini-van). Lesson #5, buy a car with a higher bumper.
After all that, I must say that I was thrilled with my performance and I'm primed for the next one; and, unless Darwin has it in for me, I won't make the same mistakes (I always strive for new mistakes !!). So, for those of you competeing in Stow Sprint this coming weekend, one word of caution: Un-rack those bikes immediately if you see a blue Chevy Venture with a big dent in the back and parked right across from you !!
Mark
