Another Devilman report
Race report NJ Devilman half lite.
This is my fifth time doing the Devilman, second doing the half-lite. I was really unhappy with my performance last year so this year I was back for revenge. Got up in the morning and it was not warm, it was freezing and windy. I stayed optimistic, once the sun came up it always gets nicer. The weather was supposed to be 71 degrees and sunny the last time I checked. At the last minute I packed my long-sleeve bike top, just in case. (Thank goodness)
The wind really picked up by the time I had set up, the flags were all whipping around and the sky was completely cloudy. As I was leaving transition, a guy was joking that “at least we will not need sunscreen”. The air was freezing and I was shaking and I truly did not know if I could suck it up and race. This year I brought a friend, she had started really complaining as soon as I got in the car and was loudly stating that she was going to DNF, I felt like she was cursing us both.
The water was much warmer than the air. Not so bad once I got my face in. There was actually a chop on the little lake. Bad water conditions are actually good for me, I am a strong swimmer and I like when the water is a little rough, it gives me a bigger advantage compared to the not so strong swimmers. The 0.8 mile swim took me 24 minutes, a 2 minute PR even though I actually got caught under a buoy for what seemed like a long time. The wind kept pushing it on top of me and I could not get away. It was long enough for me to really panic that I could not get to air. Must have actually been about 5 seconds, but it was scary. Impressively, as I was trying to get away from it, I made eye contact with one of the lifeguards, and the next time I fought my way up he was almost to me. I know that if I was still in trouble he would have saved me. Very reassuring.
Got out of the water and started to take off my wetsuit, felt the air, and I left it on until transition. Wow it was cold. One the bike my toes instantly froze. I kept wiggling them but they finally turned into bricks. I saw a guy coming back on the sprint course wearing his wetsuit on the bike, that seemed uncomfortable. The wind was crazy. I stayed right in my power zones, but it felt really hard. I have really worked on my bike this winter and I am very frustrated that I had so much trouble. NP 109 (top of Z2) with a VI of 1.02 for the 41 miles, this should have been comfortable, but my legs were burning at mile 30. The power is much better than last year, but it only got me 3 minutes faster. Very unhappy. Came out of transition just behind Jess, she ran off like she had rockets attached. I did not see her again until I was at mile 4 and she was almost at 6 WOW!
The sun came out for the run (of course). Last year I could not run the whole thing, I had toasted myself on the bike. This year, ran the entire way! I was really happy, and I felt comfortable. Total time was 8 minutes faster than last year and each mile was pretty steady. 1:33:45 for the run. I have never been a fast runner, but I have been making great improvements this spring and I think this race proved it. Now if I could just figure out the bike.
My friend was at the finish line, she quit after the swim. I was not surprised.
Remember the guy with the sunscreen? Well, I am burned everywhere. I do not understand how I got so burned, I mean really? It was dark and windy and cold but I look like a tri-lobster. My age is burned into my calf. I am going to wear sunscreen everyday from now on, even in the rain. It is just embarrassing to be so burned in May.
Comments
And I had a sunburn, too... :-( Gotta work on the IronTan!