Four Races

I have competed in four races so far this year. When I compare that to 5k races I used to run, that number seems low. However, I'm finding that triathlon is much different than I thought, but it is different in a great way. It's very challenging because I can't just be good at one sport; I have to be at least decent at all three to be competitive. I'm also finding that another difference when I talk to other triathletes, many don't compete in a lot of races each year. 

Back when most of my athletic friends were runners it wasn't uncommon to run one or two hard races each month for most of the year. This has sort of been what I've brought with me to triathlon, but I'm really not in great competitive shape yet. My body seems to be recovering pretty well though. That's good because I want to keep improving. But, I'm sure that once I start the longer races and am pushing harder, my recovery and ability to race multiple long, tough races won't be quite as high...but we will see. I like to compete, and I don't know how this older body will react to the stresses I'll be putting it through. 

The four races I've done have all been short races. For those who aren't familiar with triathlon, there are many different lengths of race. There is everything from a super sprint (usually takes 40-60 minutes) to an iron distance race (top pros finish in about 8-8.5 hours depending on the course). 

My first race was the Alpha Delta Pi-Athlon in Murfreesboro at MTSU. It consisted of 300 yard swim, 10 mile bike, and 2.5 mile run. I did this race about six weeks after starting to train. As stated previously, before starting training this year, I had not done any consistent physical training of any type for about 8-9 years. That being said, I didn't expect to do very well. 

Swim: 5:36 (included 50-75 yards of running to transition area)

Bike: approx. 33 min (wet and drizzling)

Run: just under 19 min

My goal time was 60 min and I finished in 61, with four minutes coming from transitions. I was satisfied with my result, and quite tired from the race, but I felt like I could have done better. I just wasn't sure how my body would react at the end of the race, and I definitely didn't want to injure myself during my first race. 

Second race was Cedars of Lebanon sprint. 200 yd swim, 9.6 mile bike, 2 mile run. I was more confident and could feel that I was finally getting into better shape. I learned a lesson on the bike about taking a proper line even if the motorcycle is in the way. I had a wreck just after the halfway point of the race. If that hadn't happened, I would have win the beginner category. Oh well, lesson learned. 

Swim: 3:29 (incl 100yd run)

Bike: 28:38 (incl 2-3 min wreck)

Run: 16:03

I was happy with the swim and bike (except the wreck, obviously), but I was super disappointed with the run. I couldn't believe that I only ran that fast for two short miles. Ugh! I learned the. What I really need to work on. I used to be a crazy fast runner and now am so slow. First thing to get significantly better in us the run, then the bike. My swim isn't bad enough to really matter right now. The other two are, but especially the run. 

Third race was MachTenn. It's a long sprint. 0.6 mile swim, 16 mile bike, 4 mile run. This was my race to get myself ready for the longer intermediate/Olympic distance races of later in the year. I did okay in this race. I wasn't overly happy nor was I disappointed in my result. It was about what I expected, but not what I wanted. I just felt slow during most of the race. It started in the swim. First 100 meters or so were great, then I felt like I was going to sink for the next 300 or so before getting into a groove and finishing with a decent time. I felt slow on the bike, but my time ended up being ok for it only being around my tenth time out on the road with it. The first two miles of the run were really slow before finding a groove again and doing well the last two miles. 

Swim: 16:18 

Bike: 49:43

Run: 33:16

I learned not to go out too fast on the swim! Haha. I realized afterward that I just started too fast rather than having a consistent swim. The water was choppy, but the reason for the mess up was going out too fast. I just wasn't comfortable on my bike. I kept trying to get into aero position and felt like the wind was going to tip me over. More saddle time needed, but I averaged about 19.3 mph which isn't too bad for one of my longest rides ever at that point! The run...ugh...my legs just aren't there yet. I pushed through small ab cramps and started running faster and feeling better. Although my mind hasn't forgotten how to run at 5:30 miles, my body just can't go fast yet. Patience, Daniel! 

The fourth race was Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon. The swim was cancelled due to heavy rains lately, and the race was turned from my first intermediate triathlon into a duathlon. The good was that I'm decent on both events; the bad is that I'm only decent on both events! :) So, the Chattanooga Waterflood Duathlon is what I've decided to name this gem. 2 mile run, 42k bike (right at 26 miles), 10k run. 

Run 1: 00:13:47

Bike:    01:20:02

Run 2: 00:52:42

My goal for the race was 2:20:00, but I realistically thought I'd finish between that and 2.5 hours, counting transition times. My official finishing time was 2:29:04. I seem to be a pretty good judge of my current fitness level and speed. I will use this as a positive thing going forward with my racing and expectations. I have lofty goals, and it'll be good to be able to step back to take a realistic look at how I should perform in a given race. On this one, my first run was slightly faster than I wanted, but it was good that I was faster. I wasn't work out or anything when I started the bike. The bike course seemed like it was taking forever, and I really tried not to look at my watch but to only keep going hard. I must admit that here were times I was being passed and wondering if I'll ever be a good biker. I think I'll get there, but it's just going to take some time and hard work. On the second run I never really settled into a groove and felt comfortable. My body and mind were tired. I had only slept about 30 minutes the night of the race, and I was starting to feel the lack of sleep. My knees started to ache a little toward the end, but I think it was mostly just due to bad running form since I was quite tired. Lessons learned: sleep and proper nutrition (but mostly sleep!!)! I was so frustrated with myself for not being able to sleep. It was a dumb cycle that I just couldn't break that night. I'm thinking that I could have hit or come much closer to my goal time had I been able to sleep that night and get something decent in my stomach that morning. Again, lesson learned. But, I'm getting faster and have been more comfortable on my bike. I've been riding it more rather than sitting on the trainer. My running is improving, even with the longer distance. I can tell that my body is getting used to this competition thing again, and it likes it! I wasn't able to push myself into a lot of pain, but I was able to push through the tired body and mind from lack of sleep. 

This week will be the Music City Triathlon, intermediate distance. I'm hoping for little to no rain so that we can do the swim this time. I spent last week recovering and training during vacation in the Ozark Mountains. I'll be posting about that soon. It was beautiful!