Rick Aaronson's 2014 USAT OLY Nationals Race Report
[Already posted in Race/Training Reports Forum]
As I read this year’s IM reports, I am continually awed by the physical and emotional strength on display. EN’ers are primarily a long course crew. My OLY efforts seem pale in comparison. But I can tell you, my next day soreness is pretty impressive.
I started out with a goal this year; get back to the USAT OLY Age Group Nationals. I had qualified in 2012 but couldn’t compete for scheduling reasons. (My 2013 season was lost for medical reasons). A second goal emerged as I learned about the Age Up rule; qualify for the 2015 Worlds. Competing this past Saturday as a 69 year old in Milwaukee, in my third competitive Tri, I’m happy to report that I have met both goals. My two previous races were small, local affairs. This was my first effort on the national stage and it was the proverbial reality check. There are a lot of fast old guys out there! As Al Truscott had made clear to me at dinner the evening before the race, a podium finish would not be in my future.
Matt, my coach, trainer, teammate, bike tech and Sherpa, bailed on me to race Steelhead on Sunday. And I couldn’t find a plate glass window to walk into. Nonetheless, a five minute PR landed me mid pack in M6569 (34/61) at an age when older inexorably means slower. With only two 69 year olds finishing ahead of me, in a field of national qualifiers, I feel satisfied with the effort and the outcome.
Swim: 30:55, 2:46 faster than my time at Grand Rapids earlier this year. My previously reported wet suit fiasco at GR cost me time there. Saturday’s result was more in line with my 2012 Pleasant Prairie time. Conditions were superb, with calm water and comfortable 71 degree temp. My execution was a little sloppy which I attribute to a lack of experience in open water and in crowds. But I got out of the water 36/61 with room for improvement.
T1 was inexcusably slow, mostly struggling with my wetsuit. More room for improvement.
Bike: 1:13:47, about a minute improvement over GR. The course was unremarkable except for some roughness on a long overpass under construction. The balance of the course was well paved, with a couple of small hills and little wind to speak of. My VI was 1.03 (1.01 with the ends chopped off) with an average speed of 20.2mph. I under clubbed my power by about 10 watts, had one gel and almost no water on the bike, not the smartest execution but I held my own 35/61.
T2 was just ok. I gave up a little time, particularly chugging half a bottle of Gatorade when I should have been hydrating on the bike.
Run: 53:31, a big 2:21 improvement over GR, dropping my pace from 8:59 to 8:36, only 26” off my open 5K PR pace. The run course was beautiful along the lake, flat, with a slight breeze off the water and some shade. But it was warming up rapidly. And why is the turnaround always so damn far away? I finished strong and was happy to see EN’ers Bruce Thompson and Al at the finish. Matt was quickly on the phone with results and analysis.
So, all in all, it was a very gratifying day for a late bloomer. Now if I can only turn the clock back…..
Comments
This being the Boomer forum … while it's true that the rate of decline speeds up as we age (precipitously so over 60-65), there are so few of us racing @ that age that everyone would win!
As it should be!