Post by kfoster on Aug 11, 2008 20:10:48 GMT -5
Finished my last tri of my season yesterday with a satisfying performance in Sylvania. It was a chilly morning - about 50 degrees when I was setting up in transition, but then again, I thought it was probably best for my feet to be a bit numb for the long run from the beach and through the parking lot into the sprint racks!
The swim was the only disappointing part for me. I normally feel very comfortable in the water, but this was a crowded field (maybe I'm just spoiled from the hfp races that have he men 30-39 in a wave all to ourselves) - and I felt like I was playing defense for the first third of the swim. I know you can't win anything from a swim, but I like to get into my groove a LOT sooner than what I did.
I had a fairly good bike leg - passed a handful of people a the start and felt strong for most of it. I was happy not to incur any drafting penalties (not that I usually draft) because this was my first race ever with USAT officials on the course - and looking at results from last year's race, they had penalized lots of people!
Oh yes, because most of you don't know me (mainly cause group workouts are very tough for me to work with my schedule) - this is the end of only my second season. I'm starting to feel more like I belong in the pack of folks out there, but still kind of feel like a newbie.
Now for the run...this is always my weakest part of the race. Partly, I suppose, because I go into a bit of "survival" mode, eagerly counting down the miles, step by step. Then of course, I read all those other opinions about sprint races being all about "balls to the wall" and Aussie Rob's mantra of "being able to do anything for such and such time" and I think to myself, "okay, I'm past my first season and just being able to get through these things in one piece...how much can I push it?" Again, it's hard to know how hard to go, since I have always found the running the most painful. So I went into this race wanting to move faster on the run...
So at Deer Creek earlier this year (on a blazing hot day) I went 29:10 on my 5K.
Two weeks later at Maumee, I went 26:12 (more of what I had been doing in training)
the 8 weeks since then I have starting doing more LT workouts to find out more of an idea what "balls to the wall" is supposed to feel like.
At Sylvania yesterday, I went 23:56 on the run - out sprinting a guy in my AG at the end by 3 seconds. It felt awesome to feel that strong at the end of the race, and to have gone the whole run feeling fairly comfortable, and for the first time, feeling more like I was running in an actual cadence than just getting by (not to mention, getting passed a lot)
Into my off season, I plan on lots more running (as well as other all around work, including getting back to yoga...I always miss it during the race season when it is harder to work in) - maybe even some running only races in the fall and spring to establish a benchmark for myself...
Anyway, I thought it was worth sharing. Like I said, I only know a handful of you by name, but what a great forum this is that so many are willing to share their stories, inspirations, wisdom/tips. So thanks to all of you who post and share your experience and knowledge, because I know it has helped me personally to grow stronger and feel welcome to this sport!
The swim was the only disappointing part for me. I normally feel very comfortable in the water, but this was a crowded field (maybe I'm just spoiled from the hfp races that have he men 30-39 in a wave all to ourselves) - and I felt like I was playing defense for the first third of the swim. I know you can't win anything from a swim, but I like to get into my groove a LOT sooner than what I did.
I had a fairly good bike leg - passed a handful of people a the start and felt strong for most of it. I was happy not to incur any drafting penalties (not that I usually draft) because this was my first race ever with USAT officials on the course - and looking at results from last year's race, they had penalized lots of people!
Oh yes, because most of you don't know me (mainly cause group workouts are very tough for me to work with my schedule) - this is the end of only my second season. I'm starting to feel more like I belong in the pack of folks out there, but still kind of feel like a newbie.
Now for the run...this is always my weakest part of the race. Partly, I suppose, because I go into a bit of "survival" mode, eagerly counting down the miles, step by step. Then of course, I read all those other opinions about sprint races being all about "balls to the wall" and Aussie Rob's mantra of "being able to do anything for such and such time" and I think to myself, "okay, I'm past my first season and just being able to get through these things in one piece...how much can I push it?" Again, it's hard to know how hard to go, since I have always found the running the most painful. So I went into this race wanting to move faster on the run...
So at Deer Creek earlier this year (on a blazing hot day) I went 29:10 on my 5K.
Two weeks later at Maumee, I went 26:12 (more of what I had been doing in training)
the 8 weeks since then I have starting doing more LT workouts to find out more of an idea what "balls to the wall" is supposed to feel like.
At Sylvania yesterday, I went 23:56 on the run - out sprinting a guy in my AG at the end by 3 seconds. It felt awesome to feel that strong at the end of the race, and to have gone the whole run feeling fairly comfortable, and for the first time, feeling more like I was running in an actual cadence than just getting by (not to mention, getting passed a lot)
Into my off season, I plan on lots more running (as well as other all around work, including getting back to yoga...I always miss it during the race season when it is harder to work in) - maybe even some running only races in the fall and spring to establish a benchmark for myself...
Anyway, I thought it was worth sharing. Like I said, I only know a handful of you by name, but what a great forum this is that so many are willing to share their stories, inspirations, wisdom/tips. So thanks to all of you who post and share your experience and knowledge, because I know it has helped me personally to grow stronger and feel welcome to this sport!