I think we can all learn from each other on mistakes we’ve made in racing. Here are several I made this past weekend at Eagleman:
Know the course. Even if you have done it before, make sure you carefully inspect and know the course. This was my third year for Eagleman, and I ASSumed we would swim around the boat just like the past two years. Wrong. I swam at least an extra 200 meters.
Do not predetermine your bike speed and set your computer on avg speed. This does not account for external factors…like WIND. I was mentally defeated by my bike computer’s avg speed by mile 40 of the bike and did not ride nearly as hard as I could have.
I’m sure there were more mistakes, but I’m still pissed at myself for these two the most…
Not wearing a Fuelbelt on the run at IM NZ after race officials removed one aid station from the run course (so really removed four on a double loop out and back).
My biggest race mistake? Not doing a pre-race inspection of my bike resulting in the rear derailleur breaking on Sugarloaf Rd somewhere around mile 50 of the Great Floridian Triathlon. I had to do the remaining 62 miles in the smallest rear cog.
Simon is one of the biggest sandbaggers I know. Great guy, but never listen to him re: pace, effort level, etc. Unfortunately, I didn’t know him all that well at the time - so I took his word at face value. No wonder he fits in so well with the roadies!
Of course, had I done my own recon this would have never been an issue. The blame is all mine.
Viva Team Dumbass Racing! (but not this weekend, Paulo)
1.Driving 4 hours to the race on the wrong weekend. Good scoutig trip though.
2. Putting my bike on a friends roof rack and reminding him to remember that when we get home. Then having him back under the neighbors carport 8.6 seconds later.
3.After losing my bike to a carport suggesting I could use my track bike and him my second road frame to go to the race and finding out that hilly in Mississippi can be pretty hilly.
4. Having to run a 10k barefoot because I had two left shoes in my transition bag…
5. tipping a bike rack over on me at Houston USTS
6. Riding sewups at the Detroit USTS race during a garbage strike. Hey you really can ride those sewups flat in both front and back if they are glued on tight.
Need more?, if you do enough races you make a few mess ups.
Making sure the person numbering your arms and legs clearly hears your number and is looking at your bib number or swim cap so they don’t make a dumb mistake, cross it out with the big black marker and write in below.
Ride the full bike course, even if just by a vehicle. Know where you will turn and don’t rely on the volunteers. Went extra few miles at Ironamn NZ.
Don’t trust anybody else to set up your T2. Gave shoes to a guy going over who showed up in his van after I did. Small race so I didn’t care much. Resulted in a 5k Barefoot pavement run.
Forgetting gel in the fridge. Jacked up the fuel plan at NZ.
Showing up with very little time prior to race and not having time to top off tires with air. Didn’t help Great Floridian.
Not securing aero drink bottle completely at Ironman NZ. Small velcro strap with mounting kit sucks and need to have something a little better. Evetually after trying to fix small dumbass strap with frozen fingers got some white medical tape and wrapped it up.
Just curious about your ID. Is that your actual name, or are you a Mitch Hedburg fan? I’m guessing the latter.
Man, I wish I could’ve seen him live. I’ve only seen his Comedy Central special and a few other short bits (plus some cameos), but he was so funny. I think I’m going to go buy one of his CDs right now. I didn’t get into Elliot Smith until after he was gone, too. I feel like that’s my dirty secret.
You got it right. Hedberg is just soooo funny. PM me and I’ll burn you his two cd’s and mail them out. You’ll die laughing if you like his sense of humor…
I’d like to see somebody try to fly a chair…you’d have to run like a m@ther f&$#!!!
“2. Do not predetermine your bike speed and set your computer on avg speed. This does not account for external factors…like WIND. I was mentally defeated by my bike computer’s avg speed by mile 40 of the bike and did not ride nearly as hard as I could have.”
All the more reason to have a powermeter…wind doesn’t really matter then…
If you swap saddles a couple days before a race tighten the post clamp all the way. After some really rough roads my saddle dropped at mile 10 of a 22 mile duathlon, and I ended up riding the final 12 standing which made the second 4 mile run interesting. Of course if I’d have had a multi tool in the bag this wouldn’t have been an issue.
