Date: July 31, 2011
Distance: .75 Mile Swim, 13 Mile Bike, 4 Mile Run
With only a month out to my scheduled Ironman, I headed into the sandman triathlon with no goals or expectations, but just to have fun at a local event. I really just wanted to enjoy the race before the last few weeks of training. I think I should have this thought more going into future races, as this kept me very calm and collected before the race, which was a first.
The blood in my body must have been thickening over the years of doing this race, because the water did not feel that cold. Sure, it was the North Pacific Ocean after all, but I never really had that "omg, I'm gonna die" thought when first entering the water. In fact, I was able to settle right in and swim with the pack the whole way.
The bike portion was similar. I kept a pretty high pace, but still relaxed enough that I didn't feel overwhelmed at any point during the race. I had really felt like my training was paying off. Even though this was a very short race compared to what I had planned to do in less than a month, I felt like it was easy, and I was at the head of the pack of racers.
The run was an enjoyable 4 miles out and back along the beach. It was fun to pass by someone I met in the transition area, chat with them a little bit before making a hard effort back to the finish line. My final time would be 1 hour and 35 minutes and 53 seconds. Good enough for 36th place out of almost 180 racers, and I felt great afterwards, ready to do the whole race over again.
Unfortunately, that would also be the day where my 2nd workout later in the evening would reveal a pain in my right ankle. That would later turn out to be the stress fracture that would delay my Ironman race another 12 months.
Links:
Official Website and Results: http://www.sandman-triathlon.com/
Showing posts with label PR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PR. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Race 21: Silicon Valley International Triathlon
Date: June 12, 2011
Distance: 1.5k Swim, 40k Bike, 10k Run
If you have been reading the last 20 blogs about my races to Ironman, you may have noticed a pattern. I like to do the same races year after year. Some people may get bored by this, but not me. I like the calendar I have chosen. It spaces my races apart well, and also with the different challenges each race gives me, it allows me to properly see if, and by how much, I am improving. This particular race is important for me, as it holds my personal best for the olympic distance, and I intended to improve upon that in 2011.
My swim this year was definitely not where I wanted it to be. At almost 33 minutes, I really wish I could have shaved it down to below 30 minutes with all of my off season training. But then again, more of my training at this point was going into distance, not speed. Still, not a terrible time.
My bike on the other hand was the opposite story. I pedaled hard and constant though the entire thing. I was really working on getting a really fast 40k time on this course for a few months now, and it defiantly paid off. Even the one small climb that usually brought me down to my easiest gear in previous races seemed easy, and I posted my first 20+ MPH bike split ever with a 1:12:04. I felt great, and wanted to keep it going into the run. I could feel last years time shattering already.
The run could have been better. My legs were defiantly feeling it from such a hard effort on the bike. I wasn't pulling 7:15 splits like I did the year before, but was still able to keep it around 8 minute miles. I wish I could have gone faster, but that is the learning process. Don't leave it all out on the bike when you know your strength is the run! Either way, the 50 minute run would leave me with a time of 2:35:08, and a penalty for dropping my GU packet on the beginning of the bike would add another 2 minutes to my official time. Looking back, I know I pushed to hard on the bike, but I was still happy to have a great race, and a new PR!
Links:
Website: http://www.usaproductions.org/events/triathlon-series/tri-svot
Official Results: http://usa-productions.racemine.com/USA-Productions/events/2011/20th-Annual-Silicon-Valley-International-Triathlon/results
Distance: 1.5k Swim, 40k Bike, 10k Run
 | |
| Me and Gary trying to look "Gangster" before the race |
My bike on the other hand was the opposite story. I pedaled hard and constant though the entire thing. I was really working on getting a really fast 40k time on this course for a few months now, and it defiantly paid off. Even the one small climb that usually brought me down to my easiest gear in previous races seemed easy, and I posted my first 20+ MPH bike split ever with a 1:12:04. I felt great, and wanted to keep it going into the run. I could feel last years time shattering already.
The run could have been better. My legs were defiantly feeling it from such a hard effort on the bike. I wasn't pulling 7:15 splits like I did the year before, but was still able to keep it around 8 minute miles. I wish I could have gone faster, but that is the learning process. Don't leave it all out on the bike when you know your strength is the run! Either way, the 50 minute run would leave me with a time of 2:35:08, and a penalty for dropping my GU packet on the beginning of the bike would add another 2 minutes to my official time. Looking back, I know I pushed to hard on the bike, but I was still happy to have a great race, and a new PR!
Links:
Website: http://www.usaproductions.org/events/triathlon-series/tri-svot
Official Results: http://usa-productions.racemine.com/USA-Productions/events/2011/20th-Annual-Silicon-Valley-International-Triathlon/results
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