I raced this race last year (also 3 weeks after IMAZ) and it was a breakthrough for me at the sprint distance. I was worried that I wouldn't have my legs back for this race and that I wouldn't be able to beat my performance from this race last year. I was also worried that it would essentially be the end of my PR streak. Well, I was wrong!
2007 Results:
500m swim: 10:27, 2:05/100m, 7/23 ag
T1: 1:51
15m bike: 48:40, 18.5 mph, 10/23 ag
T2: 1:52
3.1m run: 29:05, 9:19 min/mile, 14/23 ag
Overall: 1:31:57, 9/23 ag, 357/731 oa (48% ahead of me)
2008 Results:
500m swim: 9:58, 2:00/100m, 12/51 ag
T1: 1:12
15m bike: 46:09, 19.5 mph, 6/51 ag
T2: 1:08
3.1m run: 26:56, 8:38 min/mile, 22/51 ag
Overall: 1:25:24, 11/51 ag, 287/836 oa (34% ahead of me)
A few interesting observations:
- I think the swim is long. Safe to say my pace at a 500m swim should be faster than my pace at the ironman...
- This is the first time I have ever placed highest in the bike respective to my age group (as compared to swim and run, swim is always the highest)
- The run placement in my age group is not surprising...clearly my weak spot, but seems even more so now as my bike is moving up
- I kick butt at transitions. My t1 was the 2nd fastest in my AG
- The run still felt pretty awful. I don't always love running fast.
Report:
This race is in the Woodlands, TX, just north of Houston. It is an awesome race in which no detail is left out. The race takes place in a local park with tons of open space and a great parking lot for transition. The swim is open water and very well marked. The bike course is awesome - very fast roads. There are quite a few turns, but you can still get going pretty fast on the straightaways. The run is through the town area and very shaded.
The swim was wave starts with all the men going first and then the women. My 25-34 age group was the first women's group to head out. I lined up right next to the start buoy almost at the front. It was the best swim ever. They have little white buoys every ~10 meters or so between the huge triangle buoys to mark the course. I just hugged the buoy line and went at it. I love how people were spread 30-40 feet to the right of the buoys. I guess they were trying to avoid people. It is safe to say I probably had one of the shortest swims (distance wise) of anyone in my wave because I was the only one swimming the buoy line. I felt strong and fast, but then told myself to calm down a bit because I'd feel pretty dumb if I got out and saw that I was in fact not swimming fast!
The bike started off pretty well and it was what I had been the most worried about. I immediately set off to beat my 18.5mph average from last year. Somehow my computer was messed up at first so I wasn't getting accurate readings. Once I got back online I was well above 18.5. I was close to 20 until the freakish storm came up! Wind was blowing from all directions and the trees were going everywhere. I finally looked up and the previously clear skies looked like they were about to drop a tornado or two on the race. I hoped it didn't start raining because just about every race I did last year was a total wash out and wet transition bags just aren't any fun. Oddly though, just as fast as the weird storm came up, it was gone. No rain, no more crazy winds. I was passing men left and right which was just fun because it never happens. I was also proud that only 1 person in my age group passed me on the entire bike. That is such a new thing for me. I knew they would all pass me within 1/2 mile of the run, but oh well.
I hopped off my bike and headed out for the run and remembered the not fun part of sprint races -the run. It just plain hurts. Especially when 4-5 girls in my age group fly by me at a seemingly effortless pace! Finally I passed mile 1 and I knew that is when I usually start feeling better. Sure enough I did and I wasn't hurting quite as bad. Mile 2 came and went and then I was finally almost home. I still had a bit of my signature kick at the end and beat a few guys into the line. I was so happy to see that I'd taken 6 minutes off my time from the previous year. My legs came back to help me out during this race and I was very pleased they decided to work!
On a very somber note, a 51 yr old man died during the race. He was apparently pulled from the swim and was given CPR for at least 20 minutes. I have not heard the cause, but I think they are assuming it was a heart attack for now. Most of the spectators watched the events unfold on shore as we raced right by not having any idea what had gone on. My prayers are with his family and friends.
Pictures
2007 Results:
500m swim: 10:27, 2:05/100m, 7/23 ag
T1: 1:51
15m bike: 48:40, 18.5 mph, 10/23 ag
T2: 1:52
3.1m run: 29:05, 9:19 min/mile, 14/23 ag
Overall: 1:31:57, 9/23 ag, 357/731 oa (48% ahead of me)
2008 Results:
500m swim: 9:58, 2:00/100m, 12/51 ag
T1: 1:12
15m bike: 46:09, 19.5 mph, 6/51 ag
T2: 1:08
3.1m run: 26:56, 8:38 min/mile, 22/51 ag
Overall: 1:25:24, 11/51 ag, 287/836 oa (34% ahead of me)
A few interesting observations:
- I think the swim is long. Safe to say my pace at a 500m swim should be faster than my pace at the ironman...
- This is the first time I have ever placed highest in the bike respective to my age group (as compared to swim and run, swim is always the highest)
- The run placement in my age group is not surprising...clearly my weak spot, but seems even more so now as my bike is moving up
- I kick butt at transitions. My t1 was the 2nd fastest in my AG
- The run still felt pretty awful. I don't always love running fast.
Report:
This race is in the Woodlands, TX, just north of Houston. It is an awesome race in which no detail is left out. The race takes place in a local park with tons of open space and a great parking lot for transition. The swim is open water and very well marked. The bike course is awesome - very fast roads. There are quite a few turns, but you can still get going pretty fast on the straightaways. The run is through the town area and very shaded.
The swim was wave starts with all the men going first and then the women. My 25-34 age group was the first women's group to head out. I lined up right next to the start buoy almost at the front. It was the best swim ever. They have little white buoys every ~10 meters or so between the huge triangle buoys to mark the course. I just hugged the buoy line and went at it. I love how people were spread 30-40 feet to the right of the buoys. I guess they were trying to avoid people. It is safe to say I probably had one of the shortest swims (distance wise) of anyone in my wave because I was the only one swimming the buoy line. I felt strong and fast, but then told myself to calm down a bit because I'd feel pretty dumb if I got out and saw that I was in fact not swimming fast!
The bike started off pretty well and it was what I had been the most worried about. I immediately set off to beat my 18.5mph average from last year. Somehow my computer was messed up at first so I wasn't getting accurate readings. Once I got back online I was well above 18.5. I was close to 20 until the freakish storm came up! Wind was blowing from all directions and the trees were going everywhere. I finally looked up and the previously clear skies looked like they were about to drop a tornado or two on the race. I hoped it didn't start raining because just about every race I did last year was a total wash out and wet transition bags just aren't any fun. Oddly though, just as fast as the weird storm came up, it was gone. No rain, no more crazy winds. I was passing men left and right which was just fun because it never happens. I was also proud that only 1 person in my age group passed me on the entire bike. That is such a new thing for me. I knew they would all pass me within 1/2 mile of the run, but oh well.
I hopped off my bike and headed out for the run and remembered the not fun part of sprint races -the run. It just plain hurts. Especially when 4-5 girls in my age group fly by me at a seemingly effortless pace! Finally I passed mile 1 and I knew that is when I usually start feeling better. Sure enough I did and I wasn't hurting quite as bad. Mile 2 came and went and then I was finally almost home. I still had a bit of my signature kick at the end and beat a few guys into the line. I was so happy to see that I'd taken 6 minutes off my time from the previous year. My legs came back to help me out during this race and I was very pleased they decided to work!
On a very somber note, a 51 yr old man died during the race. He was apparently pulled from the swim and was given CPR for at least 20 minutes. I have not heard the cause, but I think they are assuming it was a heart attack for now. Most of the spectators watched the events unfold on shore as we raced right by not having any idea what had gone on. My prayers are with his family and friends.
Pictures
Comments
Congratulations!!!
Luckily I was headed back to T2 when the winds hit. Glad you were able to hold off the competition between gusts.
I have already sent a request to IMFL regarding the line of smaller buoys between the larger markers. Wishful thinking!