Small Texan Triathlon 2013 - 7/29/2013 - 8:05 a.m. start time
Boerne City Lake, Boerne, TX
Distance - Swim -.93, Bike -28 miles, Run-6.2 miles
Swim - 43:05
Bike - 1:54:30
Run - 1:31:01
Overall - 4:13:20
The best way to describe this event - hot, bumpy and hilly!
Pre-Race
The Boerne City Lake park and transition opened at 630 a.m. so we left around 545 and arrived around 645. Parking was about .25 miles from transition site and we took all my gear up in the 1st trip, got body marking done, and set up my area (open racks) and then headed back to the truck to get my drinks. All of that was finished up around 715, so we have about 30 min to kill before the pre race meeting. Rob found a good spot to sit for the swim and we just kind of relaxed.
Swim
I have NEVER swam freestyle in a race and have worked very hard since last October to get my freestyle down so I was actually excited about the swim. When I saw the buoys I realized 1500 meters / .93 miles looks a lot further so that was a bit intimidating but I knew I could do the distance. In prep for the race my longest swim was 2200 yds so I knew I would be fine. The men went first with the ladies 5 minutes after. There were only maybe 25 ladies, so the swim was easy, some people running into you but always a polite "I'm sorry." The swim course was setup so the last 200 meters you met up with the Tiny Texan Tri (Sprint distance) so it got a bit crowded. I'm very proud of my time. The water was a great temperature, murky but very clean.
Areas to improve: Sighting - Despite what I thought I do not swim in a straight line and I need to do a better job of learning to sight without having to stop
Bike
Hilly, hilly, hilly! The distance was a bit further than what normal Olympic distances are but it was a nice ride. The roads were very bumpy and hard to find a smooth groove, which also made this a tough course. My speed ranged from 35 - 6 mph. Some of the most brutal hills were at the very end. I was a bit upset about not being able to go back to Luray and conquer that course, however this course definitely made up for the big hills of Luray. It was an out and back race so you got to go up and down all of those hills both ways. I remember at least 2 big hills that I had to drop in my low gear to get up. I think I passed 1-2 people but for the most part with the small # of people doing this distance (under 100) I wasn't surrounded by lots of riders.
Areas to improve: Hills, Speed, Big gear. I am proud of the way I handled the hills, never dropped my chain when switching gears but I still need to practice. I think my race in Kerrville this September might be even hillier. I want to make improvements to my speed, I find myself forgetting that I'm in a race! I did not use my big gear at all, need to work so need to work on building power / strength so I'm more comfortable pushing that gear.
Run
Hot, Hot, Hot! My run absolutely sucked! The first and last mile was on a trail that was very rocky. Since my surgery I never regained full feeling in 1/2 of my left foot and unstable terrain is very hard for me to manipulate. The rest of the course was on a country road and had some good hills as well. No shade and it was hot. I was a bit worried when I started because I quickly realized I drank too many fluids on the bike which resulted in sloshing around in my stomach so I didn't want to keep taking in liquids but with the heat I felt I had to for fear of dehydration. Sadly I think I walked the majority of the run, I just could not get a rhythm.
Areas to improve: Running after swimming and biking and handling the heat.
Overall
The race staff were fantastic, they had lots of stops, especially on the run. Water, Powerade, Gel, Pretzels, Cold towels and a friendly smile were always waiting for you.
The triathlon community is an awesome group to be associated with. You race with people of all ages, sizes, and abilities and everyone is friendly and always giving hi-fives or a kind word.
I feel that I have finally earned the right to call myself a triathlete! This race has been a long time coming (see my last post) and while as I type this and the soreness is just beginning I realize why I love doing this. Despite the heat and the hours of training - I do this for me! Nobody else - me!
I can't type this without thanking my hubby - Rob. He is always there to support me and I can't imagine another face I would rather see when I come to that finish line. He has been on this journey with me for a long time and while I am disappointed in aspects of my race yesterday he is always there to say "hey remember it's only been a year since you had back surgery" or "hey how many other people got up this morning and did this." Just one of the many reasons I love him!
Also a big shout out to all my friends/family that have helped me on this journey.
NEXT
That would be my 2nd Olympic Distance race, Kerrville Triathlon Festival in September.
As always thanks for reading!
Boerne City Lake, Boerne, TX
Distance - Swim -.93, Bike -28 miles, Run-6.2 miles
Swim - 43:05
Bike - 1:54:30
Run - 1:31:01
Overall - 4:13:20
The best way to describe this event - hot, bumpy and hilly!
Pre-Race
The Boerne City Lake park and transition opened at 630 a.m. so we left around 545 and arrived around 645. Parking was about .25 miles from transition site and we took all my gear up in the 1st trip, got body marking done, and set up my area (open racks) and then headed back to the truck to get my drinks. All of that was finished up around 715, so we have about 30 min to kill before the pre race meeting. Rob found a good spot to sit for the swim and we just kind of relaxed.
Swim
I have NEVER swam freestyle in a race and have worked very hard since last October to get my freestyle down so I was actually excited about the swim. When I saw the buoys I realized 1500 meters / .93 miles looks a lot further so that was a bit intimidating but I knew I could do the distance. In prep for the race my longest swim was 2200 yds so I knew I would be fine. The men went first with the ladies 5 minutes after. There were only maybe 25 ladies, so the swim was easy, some people running into you but always a polite "I'm sorry." The swim course was setup so the last 200 meters you met up with the Tiny Texan Tri (Sprint distance) so it got a bit crowded. I'm very proud of my time. The water was a great temperature, murky but very clean.
Areas to improve: Sighting - Despite what I thought I do not swim in a straight line and I need to do a better job of learning to sight without having to stop
Bike
Hilly, hilly, hilly! The distance was a bit further than what normal Olympic distances are but it was a nice ride. The roads were very bumpy and hard to find a smooth groove, which also made this a tough course. My speed ranged from 35 - 6 mph. Some of the most brutal hills were at the very end. I was a bit upset about not being able to go back to Luray and conquer that course, however this course definitely made up for the big hills of Luray. It was an out and back race so you got to go up and down all of those hills both ways. I remember at least 2 big hills that I had to drop in my low gear to get up. I think I passed 1-2 people but for the most part with the small # of people doing this distance (under 100) I wasn't surrounded by lots of riders.
Areas to improve: Hills, Speed, Big gear. I am proud of the way I handled the hills, never dropped my chain when switching gears but I still need to practice. I think my race in Kerrville this September might be even hillier. I want to make improvements to my speed, I find myself forgetting that I'm in a race! I did not use my big gear at all, need to work so need to work on building power / strength so I'm more comfortable pushing that gear.
Run
Hot, Hot, Hot! My run absolutely sucked! The first and last mile was on a trail that was very rocky. Since my surgery I never regained full feeling in 1/2 of my left foot and unstable terrain is very hard for me to manipulate. The rest of the course was on a country road and had some good hills as well. No shade and it was hot. I was a bit worried when I started because I quickly realized I drank too many fluids on the bike which resulted in sloshing around in my stomach so I didn't want to keep taking in liquids but with the heat I felt I had to for fear of dehydration. Sadly I think I walked the majority of the run, I just could not get a rhythm.
Areas to improve: Running after swimming and biking and handling the heat.
The race staff were fantastic, they had lots of stops, especially on the run. Water, Powerade, Gel, Pretzels, Cold towels and a friendly smile were always waiting for you.
The triathlon community is an awesome group to be associated with. You race with people of all ages, sizes, and abilities and everyone is friendly and always giving hi-fives or a kind word.
I feel that I have finally earned the right to call myself a triathlete! This race has been a long time coming (see my last post) and while as I type this and the soreness is just beginning I realize why I love doing this. Despite the heat and the hours of training - I do this for me! Nobody else - me!
I can't type this without thanking my hubby - Rob. He is always there to support me and I can't imagine another face I would rather see when I come to that finish line. He has been on this journey with me for a long time and while I am disappointed in aspects of my race yesterday he is always there to say "hey remember it's only been a year since you had back surgery" or "hey how many other people got up this morning and did this." Just one of the many reasons I love him!
Also a big shout out to all my friends/family that have helped me on this journey.
NEXT
That would be my 2nd Olympic Distance race, Kerrville Triathlon Festival in September.
As always thanks for reading!
I am so proud of you...you will do two triathlons in the time that I will be training for one marathon. Go Us!! And then you have a half marathon one month later. You are a ROCKSTAR!!! Great picture...that is one long, lonely, and sun baked trail you traveled down.
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