Race 2: 2008 San Jose Mountain Bike Triathlon

Date: June 7 2008
Distance: 500 Yard Swim, 10 Mile Mountain Bike, 3.1 Mile Run

After a brief brush with drowning during my first ever triathlon in the previous month, I headed into the San Jose Mountain Bike Triathlon with a little more planning. For one, I actually went swimming in a pool a few times. Although my times don't reflect it to much, my body thanked me afterwards for coming into this race with more training and planning then the last.

The venue was a smaller race held closer to home, in lake Almaden. A small 15 minute car ride from my house in Los Gatos. An early morning alarm clock and I was there early enough to grab a good parking spot, and get ready for the race. Armed with more confidence, I quickly dawned my second rental wet suit for the year, and headed down to the lake to warm up in the water. At 8 am that morning, a air horn blew, and I had started on my second triathlon of the season.

I noticed early on that although I wasn't in great swimming condition, it was a huge improvement over just a few short weeks ago. I only stopped a few times to catch my breath, but most if not all of my swim was done doing free style (instead of the lazy backstroke that I liked to adopt when severely out of breath!)

With a slightly longer swim course, I exited the water in just over 11 minutes, and headed out on the 10 mile off road bike ride though Almaden park. Having the ability to stand with out feeling dizzy at the start, made for a more enjoyable and confidant ride, which was made challenging by some single trail and minor technical off roading that I had not seen before. Everything was going great until the creek crossing. About 6-7 miles into the bike course, you were expected to take a 90 degree turn, and cross a small creek. The guy before me struggled a little to get across, but did so with out getting anything but the wheels on his bike wet. I however, was not so lucky.

Can't tell in this picture, but I'm in a creek!

I proceeded to head into the obstacle with caution, riding fairly controlled, but slow. This I would learn would be the cause of my demise. About half way across the creek, I noticed I did not have enough momentum or leg strength to carry myself to the other side. Even with the near by camera man shouting encouraging phrases at me (ie: "Push it!!!" or "You're a monster, you got this!!!") my bike stopped mid pedal stroke, and started to tip to the left. Luckily, I had not discovered clip in pedals yet, and was barely able to catch myself before taking my second swim of the day. (I know, you wanted me to fall into the creek and be carried down stream... sorry to disappoint). Unluckily, I had not discovered clip in pedals yet (deja vu?) and realized that my now soaking wet shoes were also the ones that I planned to run 3.1 miles in.

I'm not sure what it was, but the run was actually pretty good, even with soggy shoes. I did the 3.1 miles in just under 25 minutes for a total finishing time  1 Hour 28 minutes and 28 seconds, which surprisingly gave me 3rd in my age group! Gotta love small races that only give you 7 competitors! I actually got to stand on a podium after a race, and I wish I savored that moment a little longer, because it won't be a few years before I get to do that again.

At this point, crossing the finish line was not only gratifying, it was really fun! Next I head to local surf county Santa Cruz for my first ever road style race, with a swimming distance I had yet to attempt, in an ocean I had never swam in.

Moments away from the finish line

Links:

Official Results: http://www.usaproductions.org/media/SJMBT2008.pdf