Going into this race, I had less training than last year. So, I was a little worried about how I would do. I shouldn't be worried, not like I am an elite or pro. Given the conditions and my training, I think I did ok (At the bottom is an update about my results. A surprising update!).
Again, I used Tribike Transport, instead of shipping the bike, assembling at my mom's, taking to the race, bringing back from the race, disassembling, packing, and shipping before I leave. TriBike Transport sets up right outside transition, so all you have to do is pick up the bike and walk it into transition and then drop off after the race. Very easy and very nice. I highly recommend using it, if it is available for a race you and you need to get your bike to the race. It is cheaper than renting a bike box and flying, and slightly more expensive than shipping. As long as I do this race, I will probably use it from now on.
As always, packet pickup at this race is so fast and easy. In and out. They do a really good job.
Below are the usual transition pictures and a picture of the water the day before. Below are my race results from the previous years.
The weather this year was not nearly as nice as last year, there was more wind, with more heat and humidity.
I had my usual breakfast of oj, coffee, water, apple fritter, yogurt, and banana. Had some Gatorade here and there before the start. Transition setup was pretty easy. Morning was uneventful and went well. It was nice to have Jackie, second year in a row, to walk with me to the swim start. I usually don't have someone out there before the start.
There was no time for a short swim before the start, no real warm up except for the walk to the start and jumping around a bit. It is an in water start, so I did swim out to the start when the time came. The announced water temperature was 81 (!), so no wetsuits. I was warm, not sure 80 warm, but it was warm. The portion of the swim that was parallel to the shore went pretty decent, once you turned and headed for open water it got pretty tough. It is a left turn out, and people were getting jammed up on the turn buoy heading out. There were some people struggling out there. I could see people doing backstroke or breaststroke, or just bobbing. When I was swimming into the waves, at times it felt like my body was popping almost entirely out of the water. It was almost as bad going back in, where the water was coming over the top. Last year the conditions were rough, not this rough, and we had wetsuits last year.
Once out of the water transition went pretty well, especially for it being the first time of the year. I am always a little nervous for this race, since it is usually the first time outside on the tri bike. Like last year, this year it was the first time outside on any bike. The bike was pretty uneventful. I felt like I was really hammering it, see run comments below. As expected, I started getting uncomfortable about mile 20, that has to do with a lack of time in the aero position and I expected it. I spent less time on the bike this year than last year, and last year was my fastest split, and the weather was better, but I was only a minute off my split from last year. That was pretty surprising.
Second transition went fast. Going out on the run I felt like lead. I think I hammered it to hard on the bike. About 2 miles in I started to go through the mental work of telling myself to run to the next water stop, that no matter how slow I run, I wasn't going to walk, etc. It was hot and humid and my legs were not doing it that morning. I have a co-worker who does this race each year, this year he did the sprint instead of the Olympic due to a medical condition. By co-incidence he caught up with me on the run with about half a mile left and he ran in with me. It was really helpful to have someone with me in the last stretch. This was my second worst run on this course. It was a little disappointing, but I got through it without walking.
The run is through a residential neighborhood. It seems that every year the people along the course get more into it. Like last year, this year there was a guy at the end of his driveway with a Tiki bar setup, and cases of Corona around it. He was handing out beers if anyone would take them. It is pretty cool to see people along the course out cheering and celebrating.
What can I attribute me poor performance this year compare to previous years and last year, especially? Weather conditions, no wetsuit, less training? Hard to say. I feel I am in good swim shape, but the swim conditions were tough, and I think everyone was slower. My bike was surprisingly good, all things considered. My run was disappointing, but that could have been due to the swim and bike. I felt I trained pretty good for the run this year.
As always, this is great race to do. Great course, well executed.
Last year, when I did this race, I had my fastest time, and I qualified for USAT AG Nationals. After this year's race, I figured I was not going to qualify. You have to be in the top 33% of your AG to qualify. Well, surprise, surprise, I qualified. I must have barely, just barely qualified. So, this year I will be back at AG Nationals. Hooray!
2015 Results
Swim (1640 yards) - 33:08 (2:02/100 yards, no wetsuit)
T1 - 2:12
Bike (24.8 miles) - 1:10:28 (21.1 MPH)
T2 - 1:52
Run (6.2 miles) - 56:24 (9:06/mi)
Total - 2:44:02
Overall - 348/1474
AG - 45/139
Overall Pace - 5:08/mi
2014 Results
Swim (1640 yards) - 29:00 (1:47/100 yards, wetsuit)
T1 - 2:50
Bike (24.8 miles) - 1:09:36 (21.4 MPH, fastest bike)
T2 - 1:43
Run (6.2 miles) - 51:34 (8:19/mi, fastest run)
Total - 2:34:41
Overall - 344/1687
AG - 48/182
Overall Pace - 4:52/mi
2013Results
Swim (820 yards, shortened for weather) - 14:05 (1:43/100 yards, wetsuit)
T1 - 6:27 (shorter swim course, loooonnnggg run to T1)
Bike (24.8 miles) - 1:11:35 (20.8 MPH)
T2 - 2:29
Run (6.2 miles) - 52:43 (8:31/mile)
Total - 2:27:18
Overall - 752/2404
AG - 91/201
Overall Pace - 4:41/mile
2012 Results
Swim (1640 yards, new course) - 29:03 (1:47/100 yards, wetsuit)
T1 - 2:18
Bike (24.8 miles) - 1:12:54 (20.4MPH)
T2 - 2:42 (sprayed some sunblock on myself, put on socks, and forgot my race belt and had to turn around and get it)
Run (6.2 miles) - 55:04 (8:53/mile)
Total - 2:41:51
Overall - 977/2689
AG - 124/236
Overall Pace - 5:04/mile
2011 Results
Swim (820 yards, shortened for weather) - 17:56 (2:11/100 yards, no wetsuit)
T1 - 5:49 (shorter swim course, loooonnnggg run to T1)
Bike (24.8 miles) - 1:10:44 (21.1 MPH)
T2 - 2:45
Run (6.2 miles) - 55:04 (8:53/mile)
Total - 2:32:18
Overall - 980/3125
AG - 110/239
Overall Pace - 4:49/mile
2010 Results
Swim (1640 yards) - 29:36 (1:49/100 yards, this was wetsuit)
T1 - 3:12
Bike (24.8 miles) - 1:15:10 (19.8 MPH)
T2 - 2:27
Run (6.2 miles) - 58:33 (9:22/mile, coming off stress fracture)
Total - 2:48:56
Overall - 1264/3192
AG - 156/287
Overall Pace - 5:18/mile
2009 Results
No swim due to weather, then dropped out after bike due to stress fracture
Bike (24.8 miles) - 1:10:43 (21.1MPH)
2008 Results
Swim (1640 yards) - 30:58 (1:53/100 yards, wetsuit)
T1 - 3:38
Bike (24.8 miles) - 1:11:48 (20.8MPH)
T2 - 3:42
Run (6.2 miles) - 52:54 (8:31/mile)
Total - 2:42:57
Overall - 1258/3350
AG - 121/231
Overall Pace - 5:11/mile
Again, I used Tribike Transport, instead of shipping the bike, assembling at my mom's, taking to the race, bringing back from the race, disassembling, packing, and shipping before I leave. TriBike Transport sets up right outside transition, so all you have to do is pick up the bike and walk it into transition and then drop off after the race. Very easy and very nice. I highly recommend using it, if it is available for a race you and you need to get your bike to the race. It is cheaper than renting a bike box and flying, and slightly more expensive than shipping. As long as I do this race, I will probably use it from now on.
As always, packet pickup at this race is so fast and easy. In and out. They do a really good job.
Below are the usual transition pictures and a picture of the water the day before. Below are my race results from the previous years.
The weather this year was not nearly as nice as last year, there was more wind, with more heat and humidity.
I had my usual breakfast of oj, coffee, water, apple fritter, yogurt, and banana. Had some Gatorade here and there before the start. Transition setup was pretty easy. Morning was uneventful and went well. It was nice to have Jackie, second year in a row, to walk with me to the swim start. I usually don't have someone out there before the start.
There was no time for a short swim before the start, no real warm up except for the walk to the start and jumping around a bit. It is an in water start, so I did swim out to the start when the time came. The announced water temperature was 81 (!), so no wetsuits. I was warm, not sure 80 warm, but it was warm. The portion of the swim that was parallel to the shore went pretty decent, once you turned and headed for open water it got pretty tough. It is a left turn out, and people were getting jammed up on the turn buoy heading out. There were some people struggling out there. I could see people doing backstroke or breaststroke, or just bobbing. When I was swimming into the waves, at times it felt like my body was popping almost entirely out of the water. It was almost as bad going back in, where the water was coming over the top. Last year the conditions were rough, not this rough, and we had wetsuits last year.
Once out of the water transition went pretty well, especially for it being the first time of the year. I am always a little nervous for this race, since it is usually the first time outside on the tri bike. Like last year, this year it was the first time outside on any bike. The bike was pretty uneventful. I felt like I was really hammering it, see run comments below. As expected, I started getting uncomfortable about mile 20, that has to do with a lack of time in the aero position and I expected it. I spent less time on the bike this year than last year, and last year was my fastest split, and the weather was better, but I was only a minute off my split from last year. That was pretty surprising.
Second transition went fast. Going out on the run I felt like lead. I think I hammered it to hard on the bike. About 2 miles in I started to go through the mental work of telling myself to run to the next water stop, that no matter how slow I run, I wasn't going to walk, etc. It was hot and humid and my legs were not doing it that morning. I have a co-worker who does this race each year, this year he did the sprint instead of the Olympic due to a medical condition. By co-incidence he caught up with me on the run with about half a mile left and he ran in with me. It was really helpful to have someone with me in the last stretch. This was my second worst run on this course. It was a little disappointing, but I got through it without walking.
The run is through a residential neighborhood. It seems that every year the people along the course get more into it. Like last year, this year there was a guy at the end of his driveway with a Tiki bar setup, and cases of Corona around it. He was handing out beers if anyone would take them. It is pretty cool to see people along the course out cheering and celebrating.
What can I attribute me poor performance this year compare to previous years and last year, especially? Weather conditions, no wetsuit, less training? Hard to say. I feel I am in good swim shape, but the swim conditions were tough, and I think everyone was slower. My bike was surprisingly good, all things considered. My run was disappointing, but that could have been due to the swim and bike. I felt I trained pretty good for the run this year.
As always, this is great race to do. Great course, well executed.
Last year, when I did this race, I had my fastest time, and I qualified for USAT AG Nationals. After this year's race, I figured I was not going to qualify. You have to be in the top 33% of your AG to qualify. Well, surprise, surprise, I qualified. I must have barely, just barely qualified. So, this year I will be back at AG Nationals. Hooray!
2015 Results
Swim (1640 yards) - 33:08 (2:02/100 yards, no wetsuit)
T1 - 2:12
Bike (24.8 miles) - 1:10:28 (21.1 MPH)
T2 - 1:52
Run (6.2 miles) - 56:24 (9:06/mi)
Total - 2:44:02
Overall - 348/1474
AG - 45/139
Overall Pace - 5:08/mi
2014 Results
Swim (1640 yards) - 29:00 (1:47/100 yards, wetsuit)
T1 - 2:50
Bike (24.8 miles) - 1:09:36 (21.4 MPH, fastest bike)
T2 - 1:43
Run (6.2 miles) - 51:34 (8:19/mi, fastest run)
Total - 2:34:41
Overall - 344/1687
AG - 48/182
Overall Pace - 4:52/mi
2013Results
Swim (820 yards, shortened for weather) - 14:05 (1:43/100 yards, wetsuit)
T1 - 6:27 (shorter swim course, loooonnnggg run to T1)
Bike (24.8 miles) - 1:11:35 (20.8 MPH)
T2 - 2:29
Run (6.2 miles) - 52:43 (8:31/mile)
Total - 2:27:18
Overall - 752/2404
AG - 91/201
Overall Pace - 4:41/mile
2012 Results
Swim (1640 yards, new course) - 29:03 (1:47/100 yards, wetsuit)
T1 - 2:18
Bike (24.8 miles) - 1:12:54 (20.4MPH)
T2 - 2:42 (sprayed some sunblock on myself, put on socks, and forgot my race belt and had to turn around and get it)
Run (6.2 miles) - 55:04 (8:53/mile)
Total - 2:41:51
Overall - 977/2689
AG - 124/236
Overall Pace - 5:04/mile
2011 Results
Swim (820 yards, shortened for weather) - 17:56 (2:11/100 yards, no wetsuit)
T1 - 5:49 (shorter swim course, loooonnnggg run to T1)
Bike (24.8 miles) - 1:10:44 (21.1 MPH)
T2 - 2:45
Run (6.2 miles) - 55:04 (8:53/mile)
Total - 2:32:18
Overall - 980/3125
AG - 110/239
Overall Pace - 4:49/mile
2010 Results
Swim (1640 yards) - 29:36 (1:49/100 yards, this was wetsuit)
T1 - 3:12
Bike (24.8 miles) - 1:15:10 (19.8 MPH)
T2 - 2:27
Run (6.2 miles) - 58:33 (9:22/mile, coming off stress fracture)
Total - 2:48:56
Overall - 1264/3192
AG - 156/287
Overall Pace - 5:18/mile
2009 Results
No swim due to weather, then dropped out after bike due to stress fracture
Bike (24.8 miles) - 1:10:43 (21.1MPH)
2008 Results
Swim (1640 yards) - 30:58 (1:53/100 yards, wetsuit)
T1 - 3:38
Bike (24.8 miles) - 1:11:48 (20.8MPH)
T2 - 3:42
Run (6.2 miles) - 52:54 (8:31/mile)
Total - 2:42:57
Overall - 1258/3350
AG - 121/231
Overall Pace - 5:11/mile
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