This was my 9th year in a row to do the race and I’ve ridden up there for about 15 years, so I know the course like the back of my hand. And I always know lots and lots of people racing and my tri club has an aid staion, which makes it fun.
Swim 00:40:46.0 (my watch said sub-40)
T1 00:06:28.8
Bike 03:18:30.1 (includes a stop at an aid station–my computer had 3:06 riding time)
T2 00:06:10.5
Run 02:54:26.0
Finish 07:06:21.4
What I did wrong: Didn’t plan my nutrition very well, both breakfast and race. Started too far back on the swim. Mentally checked out the second half of the run (partially due to the mindset of it being a “training day” and I didn’t want to bury myself with two more weeks of training to go before the big race). Didn’t pre-lube my run socks. Didn’t have electrolytes in a good carry bag so they disintegrated after I had two of them.
What I did right: Rode right on the edge, not hammering, but able to run right off the bike. Tried to do the swim and bike at what I thought might be IM effort.
Swim: I started clear in the back and even though the wave wasn’t huge (all women +45), I had to swim through quite a few ladies in the first quarter mile. I wasn’t swimming “hard”, but tried to swim steady and do a better job of sighting (which I did for about 75% of the swim). The water temps were borderline and since it was a little overcast at the start, I wore my wetsuit. I really would have preferred a sleeveless suit since I did get a little hot (which maybe was an issue later?)
T1: Took my time and packed up my crap . It was crowded when I got out of the pen, so I walked the bike up the hill. (Once over the timing matt and mount line, it’s an immediate short but steep enough hill. Easy enough to hop on and ride unless it’s crowded and people are weaving all over.)
Bike: The first five miles on River Road I always take fairly easy where most people start hammering along since it’s flat. Made the turn off and up the short but steep hill and then onto the beginning of the rollers. Once we got over Canyon Road and in the Alexander Valley on Hwy. 128, I was flying. I love this part of the course since it’s mostly flat and I move right along. With the new disc wheel, at times I swear I was getting “lift” from the bike! Stopped at the aid station at mile 30-something for the bathroom. Figured it was a training day, so why rush.
The rest of 128 was great! It was then onto Chalk Hill Road and the lead up to Chalk Hill. Rode this pretty good. It wasn’t too windy and wasn’t overly hot (though I do like hot on the bike). Riding up Chalk Hill I was slow, but it wasn’t as hard as usual. I know that in two weeks, the second time up in the afternoon will not be fun! Coming down off Chalk Hill and onto the little rollers the rest of the way, I was again flying. Once you come down off Chalk Hill and across the flats, there is a short, steep uphill and 90 degree left turn and this guy passes me and says, “You are a bullet train on the downhills!” Now if I were a bullet train all the time! The last few miles I dialed it back a little and tried to spin out my legs. Got to T2 and when I got off my bike, my speedo said 3:06. Pretty happy with that as I think the fastest I’ve ridden the course in the past was 3:12.
T2: Long! Not sure where they measure from, but again, I took my time and it was pretty darned hot by this time.
Run: Hot and sunny but I was running ok. Walked through the first aid station and started running again. Same at the second aid station. Between that aid station and #3, there is a short, steep hill so I walked up it, but started running again. After that there are rollers, but after aid #3, it flattens out for about half a mile, but that stretch is in the baking sun and I was really getting hot. Then there is another bigger, steeper hill which nearly everyone was walking. After that is my tri club’s aid station, so that was nice to see everyone. Didn’t linger (which is easy to do) and right after this, you hit 3 miles of no shade. Along here I find that my electrolytes are dust and I’m getting hotter and hotter and start to walk a little more. I get out to La Crema (mile 6) and do the loop around the vineyard and coming out of it to the aid station, they are out of Coke. As is the next aid station. And the next, and the next and the next. So, I drank only water because every time I try Gatorade, I immediately get a serious pain in my stomach. Things went bleh and I was hot and irritated and started walking more. In the back of my mind was, “it’s just a training day”. There was never any consideration that I would not finish, but at this point, I didn’t really care about the time. Also, after about mile 8, my quads and calves started twinging every once in a while. At one point you step up onto a curb to the sidewalk from the road and my whole leg about seized up. Shook it out and kept going. With about a mile to go, I tried to pick it up and ran the rest of the way in (except for the curb incident).
Once across the finish line I had to sit down right there and they kept putting cold sponges over my head. After about 10 minutes of sitting and cold water on my head, I was starting to feel better so I got my medal and walked around and got out of my shoes and had some food and a cold shower.
So, I’m somewhat disappointed in my time, but in adding up my hours this morning, I had over 18 hours of training last week, including a 3 hour ride on Saturday, so I guess it was a good training day and hopefully it won’t be that hot for the full Vineman.
Great to see so many STers there and meet some new folks!
clm
Nice to see you again!