Patriot HIM III

doddsj

(First RR so let me know if I miss something.)

Decided to do Patriot HIM at the last minute as I wanted at least one tri this year before IMLP.  Definitely a B race.  It was a long drive the day before but it was near the area where I grew up so it felt a little like heading home.  

Swim - 45:06  Still not sure why I am doing an IM as I just do not enjoy swimming.  Okay, doesn't help that I don't swim well.  (Which came first, the lack of ability or the dislike?  )  Okay, back to the race: First time putting on the wetsuit this year.  First non-pool swim this year.  Got in the water and remembered why I love wetsuits - just floating along.  If they would just build a beer can holder into the side of the wetsuit, you wouldn't need those floating chair things for the pool.  So I'm happily floating and then someone has to remind me that there is a race about to start.  Fun vacuum! Unfortunately, I forgot to wear tinted googles and the sun was out in full force.  Hmmm? - not so great swimmer, buoys wicked (race is in Massachusetts) far apart, can't see because of sun.  Result: zigzagging across the pond.  I probably swam about 1.5 miles by the time I was done.  

T1: 1:55  Okay, out of the water and back in my domain - dry land.  Woohoo!  This is where my races begin.  Uneventful T2, just a little slow (HIM and longer and I am taking the few extra seconds to put the socks on).

Bike: 2:40:20 Official time (uh oh, a little foreshadowing)  The bike course had a few rough sections and a LOT of intersections.  Many of the intersections are turns but several are just crossing busy streets.  Some of the rough sections include potholes the size of bike wheels (how convenient).  However, there did not appear to be many bike officials (there were penalties assessed so someone must have been out there) so you could usually ride toward the centerline when needed.  Also, I was passing lots of riders from my swim wave and the swim waves that started after mine (yes, after mine - see swim description above), so I could usually justify being toward the center of the road.

 

Feeling mighty strong.  I finish the first lap in ~1:13.  The riders are much more spaced out now as I start the second loop.  About 4 miles into the second lap, I approach an intersection marshalled by a policeman.  Right turn at the intersection just as the policeman directs me.  1.33 miles later when I come to a T in the road with no marshall, I begin to think that something is not quite right.  I stop and the rider behind me catches me, looks at the intersection, and says I think that policeman sent us the wrong way.  We ride back to the intersection and see other riders being directed straight across the intersection.  No acknowledgement from the policeman as we turn back onto the course after our 2.67 mile, 7:40 minute detour.  Nothing quite so frustrating as passing other riders at the end of the second lap that you had already passed at the end of the first lap.    I wonder if that was the same policeman that started stopping riders instead of cars later in the day?  Let's not invite him back next year.

 

Yes, my responsibility to know the course but with that many turns, you would have to live in the area to really know the course.  Also, I don't care how well you know the course, when your mind is in "go fast race mode" and the policeman points that way, you go that way.  Oh well, its a B race and I just got a few extra miles of quality training in.

 

AHR: 156 = Zone 4; Avg. Speed: 22.X mph

T2: 1:08  Yes, get me through transition and out onto that painfully hot run.

Run: 1:39:11  Run was okay.  One guy flew by me at the start but I'm telling myself that he was part of a relay.  No really, I think he was.  Other than that, I passed many and no one other than relay man (really) passed me.  The course was okay with only one unmarked intersection at about mile 10.5.  But at least the marshall was sitting in her car off to the side and pointed the correct way when I yelled, "Which way?"  Also, there was no policeman there pointing the other way so I'm feeling pretty good about that.  Of course, just for fun, the race director has set up the course so there are three big hills in the last couple of miles.

AHR: 153 = Zone 2; Avg Pace: 7:35 (VDOT = 53 - 8:08 LRP, 6:55 MP, 6:38 HMP) so it was probably a little slow but okay given the heat.

Nutrition:

Bike:

Calories:  ~200/hour from 3-hour bottle of Perpetuem (and Heed to start)

Hydration: ~20 oz/hour from 1 bottle of Heed (to start) and then water from aid stations (to be ready for similar strategy at IMLP)

Electrolytes+: 3 Hammer Endurolytes/hour + other Hammer supplements

Run:

Calories:  1 Hammer Gel (90 cal) at 1 hour mark

Hydration: ~3-4 oz/mile at each aid station so about 24-32 oz/hr

Electrolytes+: 3 Hammer Endurolytes  + other Hammer supplements at 1 hour mark

Recovery: Good.  Short ice bath and Hammer Recoverite.  Six hour drive home after the race and legs were a little weary today but I still managed a hilly 2:30 ABP ride.

Five weeks to LP.  

Jeremy Dodds

Beth_S

Good job!

Linda Patch

Jeremy,

Sorry I didn't meet you.  Nice tune up before LP. I think you had a great day! Congrats.

And thank you for bringing up the intersections! I know exactly which one you are talking about. I was yelling, "which way, which way!" There wasn't even any paint in the road there. And how about the one where there was a huge line of cars stopped at the light, and you had to ride up what was left of the road on the R with no shoulder. I saw one guy lose it, ride up on the grass in someone's yard, and fall over into a shrub.  No kidding. That was a huge time sink. I liked the race course OK--didn't love it by any means.

dhalligan

Nice job, Jeremy.  Sounds like you're in a good place leading into LP.

Dave

Nemo Brauch

Congrats Jeremy- looks like a great race with a solid run given the heat. Note to self, Patriot Half isn't a race to bother traveling to NE for. I'll save that trip for Mooseman or Timberman one of these years!

Coach Patrick

Jeremy....that's a great result. I am psyched for you that you were that fast given the bike challenges...bodes well for you at USA. Any time you can spend in the water in your wetsuit, even just for 20-30' will help over these last few weeks!

P

Michele Cellai

Hey! Great job! Sorry I didn't know you were coming. EN-ers were out in force looking for each other!
6 hours! OMG!
You will rock in LP (after the swim is over)- (winking here)