2014 Lake Waconia Triathlon

I am running a little behind on my posting.  Busy, busy, busy...

This is was my second fastest time at Lake Waconia and my fastest of the previous 2 years.  Surprisingly.  It wasn't quite as windy as some years, or as hot as some years, but there was still wind.  A few points on the bike you could really feel it. It was my third fastest bike split on this course.
The swim was pretty calm.  My swim split was the fastest I have had at this race.  I have been having a very strong swim year.  So far, my average swim pace is the fastest of any year.  I think calmer water helped this year. 
The race is under new management and there was a smaller, much smaller field, than previous years.
Even with a smaller field, the competition is still pretty good at this race.  You still get a good mix of elites and age groupers.  In my new age group, I finished 8 out of 13, so there was plenty of fast people over 40 on the course.
With less people, the transition area was arranged differently.  About the same width, not as deep.
Not as hot on the run.  It was still a sunny day, so it was warm, but the humidity was not bad, and it was not hot.  This was my third fastest run time on the course, faster than previous two years.
The new management runs the race just as well as the old.  No issues with sign-up, check-in, etc. 
The is one of the more challenging courses in the area.  If it is windy, the swim can be very choppy.  Without or without wind, the bike is challenging because of the hills.  The run is a mix of steeper hills and longer flat hills.  If it is a sunny hot day, you will feel it because of the lack of shade in many areas.  As long as this race is around, and as long as I am doing triathlons, I think I will continue to do this race because it is a great challenge.

2014 Lake Waconia Results
Swim (880 yards) - 14:32 (1:39/100 yards)
T1 = 2:09
Bike (20 miles) - 55:35 (21.6MPH)
T2 = 1:15
Run (4 miles) - 32:49 (8:13/mi)
Total = 1:46:17
Overall = 51/169
AG = 8/13
Pace = 4:20/mile


2013 Lake Waconia Results
Swim (880 yards) - 16:04 (1:49/100 yards)
T1 = 2:16
Bike (20 miles) - 58:02 (20.7MPH)
T2 = 1:12
Run (4 miles) - 33:13 (8:18/mile)
Total = 1:50:45
Overall = 111/263, same place as 2012.  Strange.....
AG = 12/26
Pace = 4:31/mile

2012 Lake Waconia Results
Swim (880 yards) - 15:07 (1:43/100 yards)
T1 = 1:49
Bike (20 miles) - 57:40 (20.8MPH)
T2 = 1:25
Run (4 miles) - 34:07 (8:32/mile)
Total = 1:50:06
Overall = 111/317
AG = 11/29, 6 minutes slower than 2011, same place in AG
Pace = 4:30/mile

2011 Lake Waconia Results
Swim (880 yards) - 15:11 (1:44/100 yards)
T1 = 2:15
Bike (20 miles) - 54:02 (22.2MPH, fastest bike split at Waconia)
T2 = 1:07
Run (4 miles) - 31:35 (7:54/mile, fastest run split at Waconia)
Total = 1:44:09
Overall = 90/315
AG = 11/26
Pace = 4:15/mile

2010 Lake Waconia Results
Swim (880 yards) - 15:04 (1:43/100 yards)
T1 = 1:43
Bike (20 miles) - 54:20 (22.1MPH)
T2 = 1:46
Run (4 miles) - 34:21 (8:36/mi)
Total = 1:47:10
Overall = 129/361
AG = 12/30
Pace = 4:22/mile

In 2009, Jackie and I volunteered on the bike course with my leg in a cast due to my stress fracture.

2008 Lake Waconia Results
Swim (880 yards, windy and choppy, miserable swim, ick) - 24:33 (2:48/100 yards)
T1 = 2:34
Bike (24 miles, bike lengthened due to construction) - 1:07:57 (21.2MPH)
T2 = 1:35
Run (4 miles) - 32:09 (8:03/mile)
Total = 2:08:45
Overall = 188/431
AG = 22/38
Pace = 4:31/mile