Post by Ed Slovenkay on Aug 12, 2010 10:42:23 GMT -5
This race was scheduled for Saturday July 31st 2010. I signed up back in December and it was hard to believe that the months went by so fast and here we, Jason Davis Kim Shaheen and I, the Friday before driving to Benton Harbor Michigan,. This would be my A race for the year and I did not sign up for many other races since I promised not to jamb up the summer with racing this year. The weather was nice as we checked in, previewed the course and set our bikes in transition. I remember being very relaxed and not nervous at all about the next days festivities. I had a funny conversation while in line to check in with a newbie triathlete who was competing in his first half distance. Once he learned that this was to be my 6th half, he had all kinds of questions. One of which was about the benefits of using an aero helmet. I told him that I have one and I think it helps a bit. He revealed that he intended to use a regular helmet and stretch a swim cap over it to create his own version of an aero helmet. I had to pinch myself to keep from laughing in his face while telling him that I didn’t think that was a good idea. Fortunately by that time it was my turn to get my packet and I quickly moved far away from the guy.
I slept well Friday night and woke up without the alarm on race morning (unusual). Still relaxed and focused on my pre race rituals and getting the car packed up. As I ventured out of the hotel, I felt the light mist of a morning rain and hoped it was going to pass soon. No such luck! It rained the entire way to the race and there was no sign of it letting up. Jason was going to drop Kim and I off near transition then park the car. Somehow we lucked out and found a parking spot near transition. We dodged the rain drops into a transition that had little to no lighting. I helped Kim pump her tires which seemed almost impossible with the tight conditions of the transition, the rain and the lack of light. We were lucky that Jason was not racing and came along to cheer us on so I was able to hand him my transition bag to keep it from sitting in a pool of water as my bike and run shoes now were. Everything was soaked but I decided not to stress about it since the conditions were beyond my control.
Transition was about to close so I walked toward some shelter to see if I could slip on my wetsuit while I was already soaking wet. With a considerable amount of effort I got the wetsuit on and began the 1.2 mile walk down the beach for the swim start as this was a point to point swim. I was in wave #16 so there was no hurry and ran into Tim Ritt & George Vale who were also racing. The water was almost like glass and I couldn’t wait to get things going. During my warm ups I was shocked at how clear the water was. The rain was letting up and I watched the waves ahead of me begin their race. As they called for the yellow caps to get up to the starting line, I realized that I was seated in a large wave of racers. I decided right then to get into the front of the pack and hammer a bit at the start to get away from all the arms and feet that would soon be flailing around.
The horn goes off and the legs begin sloshing through the shallow water until we can make a strategic move to dive in and begin freestlye. At the first turn buoy I began passing those who went out too hard and quickly settled into a groove. The water was so clear you could see the people around you and rarely had to do any sighting. This was the best swim venue I’d ever been in. I kept a hard pace going and began catching people in the wave ahead of me. I wondered if I was going out too hard. My breathing was consistent, arms felt good, no major issues so I decided to keep hammering the pace. I exited the water just under 28 minutes. It was a long run up the beach to the timing mat so my official swim time was 29:06.
The sun was out now and the ground started to dry up. The wetsuit came off easy and I began slipping on the bike shoes, helmet and glasses. I would be going sockless today since nothing was spared by mother nature. T1 was 3:01, not bad considering the length of the transition area, and I was off on the bike, feeling good. My strategy for the day was to keep my cadence 100 or better for the first 10 miles and work down from there. I was in the right gearing, heart rate was in check, so begins the pass fest. In addition to that interesting fellow I met the day before, there must have been a thousand bikers who decided that this race would be their first half distance. Either that or no one bothers to read the rules that you are to bike on the right, pass on the left. It is no wonder triathletes are seldom respected in the cycling community with behavior like this. Route 63 was newly paved and there was a 5 foot shoulder, perfect for cycling. Why people going 15mph would hug the white stripe I have no idea but I kept sweeping left into the road to pass them, a couple times staying right and giving them an “I can’t believe you” look.
After turning off Route 63 the roads are less forgiving. I was still passing large packs of racers riding side by side, not staying to the right and drafting off each other. I started working the cadence down and was fed up with the garbage I was seeing from the racers ahead of me. I began yelling at people to stay to the right as I approached them to pass. There were several occasions where I would have had to cross the yellow line to pass because these yahoos were swerving back and forth. I’ve never seen anything like it. This went on for the entire 56 miles. The cadence began to drop on the home stretch back on Route 63 as there was a stiff head wind. At mile 50 I realized that I would hit my goal time for the bike so I backed off the gears a bit to prepare for the run. Bike time 2:27:17. I never did see a guy with a swim cap over his helmet so he must have taken my advice…
Into T2 and I slipped off the bike shoes so I could run faster to my rack spot. Had to ask a couple people to get out of the way as they were in the narrow lanes going too slow. The long run to my spot helped get my legs ready for the run. Out of T2 in 3:06 and feeling really good. I was telling myself not to go out too hard. The sun was out in full force now and I realized that I never put on any sunscreen before the race. Hit mile 1 in 7:10 and told myself to back off. Wasn’t too hard to do since there was the first hill and my heart rate began to climb. I was settling in now and came upon the Whirlpool campus. Part of the run takes you through a jogging path through the woods. Once again large packs of racers in front of me. There was mud to either side of the path from the rain so I found myself asking people to move over so I could pass. Out of the Whirlpool campus ANOTHER hill! My pacing was good but I’d have to pick it up on the second loop if I were to hit my goal time. Began the second loop feeling good and I was telling myself to pick it up. The trouble is my legs did not respond. I could see my pace keeping steady mile after mile and after hitting the Whirlpool hill a second time, I knew my goal time was not going to be met. I was still feeling good just had no kick left in me. Finished the run at 1:40:53 and the race at 4:45:23, a new PR but 15th in my AG.
For all you new triathletes out there, I encourage you to take some time to read the USAT rules and look up racing etiquette. All of us were newbies at some point, but becoming familiar with what you are supposed to do will make it safer for all of us.
I slept well Friday night and woke up without the alarm on race morning (unusual). Still relaxed and focused on my pre race rituals and getting the car packed up. As I ventured out of the hotel, I felt the light mist of a morning rain and hoped it was going to pass soon. No such luck! It rained the entire way to the race and there was no sign of it letting up. Jason was going to drop Kim and I off near transition then park the car. Somehow we lucked out and found a parking spot near transition. We dodged the rain drops into a transition that had little to no lighting. I helped Kim pump her tires which seemed almost impossible with the tight conditions of the transition, the rain and the lack of light. We were lucky that Jason was not racing and came along to cheer us on so I was able to hand him my transition bag to keep it from sitting in a pool of water as my bike and run shoes now were. Everything was soaked but I decided not to stress about it since the conditions were beyond my control.
Transition was about to close so I walked toward some shelter to see if I could slip on my wetsuit while I was already soaking wet. With a considerable amount of effort I got the wetsuit on and began the 1.2 mile walk down the beach for the swim start as this was a point to point swim. I was in wave #16 so there was no hurry and ran into Tim Ritt & George Vale who were also racing. The water was almost like glass and I couldn’t wait to get things going. During my warm ups I was shocked at how clear the water was. The rain was letting up and I watched the waves ahead of me begin their race. As they called for the yellow caps to get up to the starting line, I realized that I was seated in a large wave of racers. I decided right then to get into the front of the pack and hammer a bit at the start to get away from all the arms and feet that would soon be flailing around.
The horn goes off and the legs begin sloshing through the shallow water until we can make a strategic move to dive in and begin freestlye. At the first turn buoy I began passing those who went out too hard and quickly settled into a groove. The water was so clear you could see the people around you and rarely had to do any sighting. This was the best swim venue I’d ever been in. I kept a hard pace going and began catching people in the wave ahead of me. I wondered if I was going out too hard. My breathing was consistent, arms felt good, no major issues so I decided to keep hammering the pace. I exited the water just under 28 minutes. It was a long run up the beach to the timing mat so my official swim time was 29:06.
The sun was out now and the ground started to dry up. The wetsuit came off easy and I began slipping on the bike shoes, helmet and glasses. I would be going sockless today since nothing was spared by mother nature. T1 was 3:01, not bad considering the length of the transition area, and I was off on the bike, feeling good. My strategy for the day was to keep my cadence 100 or better for the first 10 miles and work down from there. I was in the right gearing, heart rate was in check, so begins the pass fest. In addition to that interesting fellow I met the day before, there must have been a thousand bikers who decided that this race would be their first half distance. Either that or no one bothers to read the rules that you are to bike on the right, pass on the left. It is no wonder triathletes are seldom respected in the cycling community with behavior like this. Route 63 was newly paved and there was a 5 foot shoulder, perfect for cycling. Why people going 15mph would hug the white stripe I have no idea but I kept sweeping left into the road to pass them, a couple times staying right and giving them an “I can’t believe you” look.
After turning off Route 63 the roads are less forgiving. I was still passing large packs of racers riding side by side, not staying to the right and drafting off each other. I started working the cadence down and was fed up with the garbage I was seeing from the racers ahead of me. I began yelling at people to stay to the right as I approached them to pass. There were several occasions where I would have had to cross the yellow line to pass because these yahoos were swerving back and forth. I’ve never seen anything like it. This went on for the entire 56 miles. The cadence began to drop on the home stretch back on Route 63 as there was a stiff head wind. At mile 50 I realized that I would hit my goal time for the bike so I backed off the gears a bit to prepare for the run. Bike time 2:27:17. I never did see a guy with a swim cap over his helmet so he must have taken my advice…
Into T2 and I slipped off the bike shoes so I could run faster to my rack spot. Had to ask a couple people to get out of the way as they were in the narrow lanes going too slow. The long run to my spot helped get my legs ready for the run. Out of T2 in 3:06 and feeling really good. I was telling myself not to go out too hard. The sun was out in full force now and I realized that I never put on any sunscreen before the race. Hit mile 1 in 7:10 and told myself to back off. Wasn’t too hard to do since there was the first hill and my heart rate began to climb. I was settling in now and came upon the Whirlpool campus. Part of the run takes you through a jogging path through the woods. Once again large packs of racers in front of me. There was mud to either side of the path from the rain so I found myself asking people to move over so I could pass. Out of the Whirlpool campus ANOTHER hill! My pacing was good but I’d have to pick it up on the second loop if I were to hit my goal time. Began the second loop feeling good and I was telling myself to pick it up. The trouble is my legs did not respond. I could see my pace keeping steady mile after mile and after hitting the Whirlpool hill a second time, I knew my goal time was not going to be met. I was still feeling good just had no kick left in me. Finished the run at 1:40:53 and the race at 4:45:23, a new PR but 15th in my AG.
For all you new triathletes out there, I encourage you to take some time to read the USAT rules and look up racing etiquette. All of us were newbies at some point, but becoming familiar with what you are supposed to do will make it safer for all of us.