This was a super fun race. Anyone who has not competed at the Pacific Grove race should give it a go. Swimming through kelp beds makes the race interesting, the bike is fast, fun and spectator friendly and the run course is a fast three loop course with a one small hill on each loop.
Stats (2nd AG 4th Overall)
Swim: 26:04 -- T1: 1:33 -- Bike: 1:01:20 -- T2: 0:43 -- Run: 35:27
The Swim.
The swim was fun albeit very slow. The gun sounded and I quickly jumped on the feet of the first swimmer. We made it around the first buoy in good position with a nice size gap. However, the first swimmer lacked any judgement as to how to avoid the kelp beds. On the way back into shore, we swam/crawled/got tangled up in and became way too acquainted with seaweed. At one point I thought I would be rescued because I was wrapped up like a sushi roll. After entering the water for the second loop, we again swam right into a long stretch of kelp. I was thinking what are we doing, this is crazy. At the buoy I had enough of his poor directional skills and took the lead the last quarter of the swim. Navigating in a zig zag fashion I avoided the kelp on the way in and came out in first. However, it was a slow time of 26:04 (to put it in perspective; on Sunday's Big Kahuna Tri swim, I came out in 25:07 and swam 1900 meters not 1500).
The Bike.
"If you're not cheating you're not trying and you're only cheating if you get caught."
This was clearly the motto of the guy who sat on my wheel for entire ride. I made a tactical error by pulling him around the entire race and not slowing up so that he had to take a pull. It was very frustrating that he avoided a penalty, but that is how many races are played. I was off the bike in first, a Pac West athlete and all around good guy (Dave) was right with me, and the drafter a few seconds behind us.
T2
I had a not so great T2 and left transition in third, behind the drafter and Dave.
The Run.
I tried my best but I just did not have it on Saturday. Have you ever started running and your calves are just tired and not springing? That's how it was, but I wanted to make the best of it. I caught Dave at the first turn around and caught the drafter shortly thereafter. The drafter and I ran together for about 2 miles when I started to cramp. A gap formed between us and within a mile I lost about 35-40 seconds. I felt better the final lap and tried my best to claw back the time but was only managed to bring back about 20 seconds. I finished about 23 seconds in arrears.
I had a blast out there racing. I was a little frustrated with the drafter, but in the end, I have no complaints because if I was in better run shape, it would have been a non-issue and I would have taken the run. I jumped into the pacific ocean for a natural ice bath and tried to figure out how I was going to race a half ironman in 24 hours (because I barely finished this olympic tri).
Big Kahuna Tri 4:24:53 (3rd AG 7th Overall)
Swim: 25:07 -- Bike: 2:20:02 -- Run: 1:36:07
This is another great race. I love swimming in the ocean and swimming around the pier. The ride is fun, mostly along HWY one and the run is challenging with a tough ending on the sand.
First, major props to Andreas (another Pac Bikes athelete) who took the win. He's in great shape and racing fast.
Setting up transition I realized I left my racing kit in the hotel room. I usually put the shorts on before I leave, but since they were still wet I did not and they were left hanging on a hanger. I had an old ITU one piece suit in my bag and that would do. Lucky for me, my better half went back to the hotel and retrieved the pac bikes kit.
The Swim.
Happy to see Andreas at the start line, I told him, I planned to swim on his feet. That's exactly what I did (sorry if I hit your toes Andreas). Unfortunately, Andreas swam a bit off course with about 100 meters to go and I swam straight in to be first out of the water, with Andreas a few seconds back.
I had a quick transition and was first out onto the bike. I really hammered the first half of the bike forgetting that there were some tough climbs heading back in. I got to the turn around in a fast 1:05 and had about a 3+ minute lead over Andreas and another rider (Mark) who were in second and third. However, the way back was difficult (1:15 or so on the way back). There was a headwind and I was really struggling with the effects of the Pacific Grove race. Each climb I just had no power and I kept looking for Andreas to catch me. I am not sure how I did it but I managed to stay in first off the bike. I had maybe a 30 second lead off the bike.
The Run.
I was really surprised, I felt great the first 6 miles. About mile 3 and 4 I actually started thinking I could pull this off. I held onto first until Andreas caught me at about the 7 mile mark. I thought, ok, I'll run with Andreas for a while and see where this goes. Well I tried to run with him, which I did for maybe a 300 meters, and then he slipped away. (Andreas is looking very fast). There was a hill at about mile 8 and that was my undoing. I tried to catch Andreas and my legs simply quit. It's not a feeling I've ever had before, it was not a blow up or bonk, but almost like my muscles just decided enough was enough. They wanted no more of me. Unfortunately for me, I was still 5 miles from the finish. My 6:30/40 pace turned into 8:30/40 pace. My 1:24 turned into a 1:36. Mark, the second place finisher passed me at mile 10 and then I just did what I could to finish. I ran a 54 minute second half, not exactly the negative split I hoped to achieve but nonetheless I had a blast, and was stoked that Andreas took the win. If you're going to lose, it's always more fun to lose to a teammate. I was also very happy to complete the "Double." I always wanted to do it.
No comments:
Post a Comment