Big PR at The Patriot HIM
This was my second triathlon since I began working with EN and I was really excited to see where I stood. I raced the Patriot last season so I knew it would be a good way to test how far I had come. Last year I managed to put together a 5:54:xx, but I had completely blown apart on the run which, after joining EN, learned it was possibly because I felt as though I had an AMAZING bike split. I finished this years race in 5:25:15 a 29 minute PR.
Swim: 33:34
As others had noted, the swim was choppy, though very much like last year. I wasn't able to get to the front of the pack right at the gun so I hung back slightly then found a good hole and just put my head down and plowed thru. Everything was going great, and I was sighting very well despite the chop. Just after the first turn things went bad! I got kicked hard in the stomach which immediately forced me to "lose" my breakfast. I am sorry for any Team EN peeps that might have had to deal with my breakfast, but I had no control. I took a few seconds to regroup and just started plowing forward again. Thankfully the rest of the swim was uneventful, and the chop on after the last turn helped push me towards shore. I was pleasantly surprised with my time considering "the kick".
T1: 2:01
Once out of the water I made my way to my bike, and once there I realized I needed to sit down. I don't usually do this this, but figured it was just an effect from the swim. Got moving pretty good and made my LONG way out onto the road.
Bike: 2:48:11
My bike plan was executed perfectly, stuck to my wattage and my nutrition plan. A lot of folks feel this course isn't that hilly therefore it's flat and easy, they just don't realize that it just means you are working the whole time with no downhills to recover on. I think this was my big mistake from last year. Last year I rode the course hard and managed a 2:56, but paid the price later. I also managed to stay out of the macho passing game. There one 1 guy who pretty much rode with me for most of the bike and felt he must pass me on every little hill on the course (then I would easily pass him during flat sections)and then somewhere around the midpoint of loop 2 he just took off, he would surface later in the day walking at about mile 3-4.This year, sticking to my race plan, I managed to shave 8 minutes off for a 2:48, but when I got to T2 I felt good and ready to run.
T2: 2:53
It was a long run from dismount to my bike, I really need to work on removing my feet from my shoes before dismounting. Shoes, visor, race/fuel belt on, and headed out. The event organizers had racked our local Tri-club together (35 people racing) and 3 of us got to T2 at the same time so times were a little slower than should be due to chatter and laughter (sorry coaches)
Run: 1:58:37
I missed my goal for the run which was 1:50-1:55, but I am still pleased with my time, it was a 22 minute PR from last year. I had 2 major issues on the run,1) my quads were in spasm the entire time, didn't slow me down to much, but it was painful at times and 2)my sides and lower back hurt like nothing I have ever experienced in training. for the first 6-7 miles I just couldn't figure out why my back and side pains were there, I have nothing new with me on race day WTF!! I started remembering a race report I read on the web, though don't remember who's, about their hydration belt causing problems. The pains had caused me to walk numerous times already during the run so I was willing to try anything, so at the mile 8 aide station I threw my bottles in the garbage (kept the belt, those things cost big bucks). Just about at the 8.5 mile mark the pains slowly started fading and by 9.5 I was finally feeling good. I managed to pick my pace back up and finish the race strong.
Overall I couldn't have been happier with the day, though I had hoped to break the 5:20 mark and get myself a 40 minute PR, but I'm ok with 29 (for now). I still need to figure out why I had the quad spasms and back/side pains, so any thoughts would we great. I'm sorry I didn't get to meet many EN folks, hopefully at Cedar Point.
Thanks Coach R&P, your system has been working wonders for my season so far, now onto the last 11 weeks of training before my first Full.
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Comments
I cant believe even with the "kick" you still had a ~33 min swim split. It sounds like you are digesting all of the EN Kool-aid because your bike execution sounded perfect! Just curious, what were your other bike stats? NP/VI/IF versus your race plan? I don't have anything really to say about the Quad cramping? What was your nutrition on the bike/run? Weird, because Jess (my wife) had quad cramps on the bike at the Patriot which has also never happened to her before.
John is right - I had horrible quad issues from the minute I got on my bike until the minute I got off (also never EVER happened to me in training... I'm thinking I might post something somewhere in some forum to see if anyone has some insight b/c it was just weird). It definitely didn't make running any easier!
Congrats on a fantastic race and a HUGE PR!