DAM race report

I was going into this race feeling pretty good overall and am not sure why but I have mental issues about swimming in this lake. Lake Gardner that is. Not sure what the reason is but I never swim well there. Anyway. I was registered as an age grouper today and the reason is to try and get as many points as I can to see where I stack up national against men my own age. Last year I can in at just under 1:05. I was hoping to better that and get a top 5.

Swim: 1/2 mile

Went off in the second wave and the start seemed ok. I was cruising along for about 300 yards when I looked up and I was by myself, No not leading, I was lost of course. Went way to far to the left. I stopped for a second and found the buoy I was supposed to be going at and tried to finish strong. The funny this is last year no wetsuits were allowed b/c of the high water temps. This year was optional and after checking my time from last year. I was one second faster last year with NO WETSUIT. swim time = 11:42

T1=

It was quick enough but as I mentioned if I did not wear my wetsuit I probably could have made up about 20 seconds on the lead pack. not a bad transition though.

BIKE= 12.3

I went out well and found my power quickly. I passed two riders right away and Patrick Smith was one of them. I know he is a solid biker and was about 25 -35 yards behind me. He was in the elite wave so I knew I was making up ground. I was plowing through the course and felt strong, then I saw the official on his motorcycle come up to me and write my number down. I wasn't sure why because I knew I was pretty much by myself and was not drafting. There was no one there!. At about the 10 mile mark there is a very steep downhill and there were three other elites in front of me and I made the move to pass them. Then a sharp left turn. There were volunteers there but they didn't give a heads up as to how sharp it was. I should have known myself! So as I went to make the turn I was going way to fast and when i hit brakes I could feel my back tire lock up and fishtail. A) I was going to go down hard or B) Go into the woods, save broken bones and hopefully no flat tires. I picked "B", I hit the road marker then went about 25 yards into the woods as I unclipped and climbed back out on to the course all the guys I passed went flying by me. I was ripped!!! Then volunteer even told me I should slow down, My reply was "a little sooner would have helped"! Back on the bike and tried to get up to power but with another big climb I was loosing serious ground on the others. Another steep downhill for about 3/4 mile so I tucked and pushed, got to 46 MPH, I was dangerous but I made up some time because I was able to see the other guys getting ready to run out.

Bike time = 32:05 (per my computer)

T2= very quick, angry and motivated helps!

Run=

Still pissed about the bike and knew I was going to have to work hard. As soon as I was on the street I passed Pat Smith and another guy then the female elite winner Marnie Lawler. Just ahead of her was another elite male and then open road. I gathered myself and started running hard. I knew the course was a legit 5K and the first half was uphill, second half down so I wanted to get through the first half as quick as I could. I was holding about a 6:10 pace for the first 2 miles. At the turn around I was counting 8th place but the elites ahead of me had a 3 min head start so I was gunning to catch the other age grouper about 200 yards away. He had a strong gait and was running well. The last mile was starting to hurt. I tried to pick up the pace and at mile 3 I clocked a 6:00 min mile. Turned into the park and finished with a respectable 1:06:41. I got the preliminary results and I had placed 6th with my time. I was happy considering my bike ride through the woods.

Then the ref posted the penalties. Then to my surprise he gave me a 2 minute penalty for riding too far to the left. HUH?? I went to clarify what that meant b/c I never crossed over the line and when I passed I did so quickly. He stated that I was in the center of the street but to the right of the double yellow line and that I was there for more than 10 secs. I was baffled and angry. In the end I was happy that I still won my age group.

Lesson learned!