Race Report-Hunter Army Airfield Sprint Triathlon
This race was a blast! I had so much fun, and was a great start to a hopefully great triathlon season. It was a sprint-a 300 meter pool swim, a 12.4 mile bike, and a 3.1 mile run. Best of all, it was the first triathlon my husband Joel got to see me race, since he was deployed all last year. So it was Joel, my best friend Loraine, and my 2 little girls going to the race.
This triathlon had a late start, 11 am, so I actually got to wake up at my normal time of 6 am. Transition opened a 9:15, so with an hour drive to the race we left at 8 am. Got body marked and set up transition, my number was 104, I found out that this race number meant I would be one of the last people in the water, but I tried not to let that bother me.
It was a time trial start based on what you said your 100 meter swim time was at the time you registered. I was very honest with my time, and my honesty landed me in the back of the line, but no worries, I met a lot of cool people in that line, since we had an 11 minute wait to jump in the water once the race started.
Finally my turn in the water, and time for my race to start. I took off and the strangest thing happened, I swam properly. I was level in the water, hip weren't sagging, taking effective strokes. I never swim this good in training. It was a serpentine swim and I ended up passing 3 people in the pool. I hoped out of the pool and there was a long run to transition, but I was happy to be out of the pool. Total swim time including the long run to transition 7:30
T1 put on cycling shoes without socks, helmet, Garmin, took a big swig of Gatorade, grabbed bike and ran out to the mount line. T1 time 1:07
Jumped on my bike and started hammering in the big ring, for this race I took the term "sprint triathlon" quite literally. I stayed in the big ring in the big gears for the whole bike. There was a hill around mile 5, and since it was a sprint tri, I just stood up and hammered up the hill. I tried a new hydration strategy where I didn't use my bottle cages on the frame. Instead I filled my aero drink between the aerobars with a bottle of G2, so I wouldn't have to slow down to reach down to get a drink, with the aero drink the straw was right in front of my face so I could take a drink when I needed one without losing any speed. This worked out beautifully. After the turn-a-round I got to ride down the hill I had hammered up before, and it was fun! I hit 30 mph on the downhill. My one and only goal going into this race was to go sub 40 on the bike, and when I got to the bike dismount line Joel and Loraine were cheering me on and yelling I was under 40 minutes, I was so stoked. Bike time 37:34. I had the second fastest female bike split of the day.
t2 racked bike, took off helmet, took off bike shoes, put on running shoes without bothering with socks, put on running hat, switched Garmin from bike to run, and headed to the run out. T2 time was 1:26
The run was 2 laps, first lap went well while I tried to find my running legs. I speed up a lot on the second lap once my legs got used to running. I was tremendously happy that my ITBS didn't flare up, looks like all that physical therapy I have been doing is paying off, and yes, my physical therapist did give me the OK to do this race. I saw Loraine and the girls cheering for me close to the finish line, I gave them a big smile and wondered where Joel was. I saw the finish line up ahead and there he was on the other side of the finish line, cheering for me. I crossed the finish line and he gave me a big hug and kiss. Run time was 24:48
Total time was 1:12:26
We waited around for awhile because I wanted to see my final time and place posted. I never imagined what happened next. Before I could check the results posted on the bulletin board, we heard the race director announce the overall male and female winners.We heard my name announced as the second place overall female winner. Me being in denial, me and Joel looked at the bulletin board and there it was. I was in shock. We waited around for the awards ceremony and I was given a plaque to hang on the wall.
I'm happy with how I did at this race, my next sprint triathlon is on April 9th, this time with an open water river swim, and I'll finally get to try out my new wetsuit. Here are a few pics from the triathlon
This triathlon had a late start, 11 am, so I actually got to wake up at my normal time of 6 am. Transition opened a 9:15, so with an hour drive to the race we left at 8 am. Got body marked and set up transition, my number was 104, I found out that this race number meant I would be one of the last people in the water, but I tried not to let that bother me.
It was a time trial start based on what you said your 100 meter swim time was at the time you registered. I was very honest with my time, and my honesty landed me in the back of the line, but no worries, I met a lot of cool people in that line, since we had an 11 minute wait to jump in the water once the race started.
Finally my turn in the water, and time for my race to start. I took off and the strangest thing happened, I swam properly. I was level in the water, hip weren't sagging, taking effective strokes. I never swim this good in training. It was a serpentine swim and I ended up passing 3 people in the pool. I hoped out of the pool and there was a long run to transition, but I was happy to be out of the pool. Total swim time including the long run to transition 7:30
T1 put on cycling shoes without socks, helmet, Garmin, took a big swig of Gatorade, grabbed bike and ran out to the mount line. T1 time 1:07
Jumped on my bike and started hammering in the big ring, for this race I took the term "sprint triathlon" quite literally. I stayed in the big ring in the big gears for the whole bike. There was a hill around mile 5, and since it was a sprint tri, I just stood up and hammered up the hill. I tried a new hydration strategy where I didn't use my bottle cages on the frame. Instead I filled my aero drink between the aerobars with a bottle of G2, so I wouldn't have to slow down to reach down to get a drink, with the aero drink the straw was right in front of my face so I could take a drink when I needed one without losing any speed. This worked out beautifully. After the turn-a-round I got to ride down the hill I had hammered up before, and it was fun! I hit 30 mph on the downhill. My one and only goal going into this race was to go sub 40 on the bike, and when I got to the bike dismount line Joel and Loraine were cheering me on and yelling I was under 40 minutes, I was so stoked. Bike time 37:34. I had the second fastest female bike split of the day.
t2 racked bike, took off helmet, took off bike shoes, put on running shoes without bothering with socks, put on running hat, switched Garmin from bike to run, and headed to the run out. T2 time was 1:26
The run was 2 laps, first lap went well while I tried to find my running legs. I speed up a lot on the second lap once my legs got used to running. I was tremendously happy that my ITBS didn't flare up, looks like all that physical therapy I have been doing is paying off, and yes, my physical therapist did give me the OK to do this race. I saw Loraine and the girls cheering for me close to the finish line, I gave them a big smile and wondered where Joel was. I saw the finish line up ahead and there he was on the other side of the finish line, cheering for me. I crossed the finish line and he gave me a big hug and kiss. Run time was 24:48
Total time was 1:12:26
We waited around for awhile because I wanted to see my final time and place posted. I never imagined what happened next. Before I could check the results posted on the bulletin board, we heard the race director announce the overall male and female winners.We heard my name announced as the second place overall female winner. Me being in denial, me and Joel looked at the bulletin board and there it was. I was in shock. We waited around for the awards ceremony and I was given a plaque to hang on the wall.
I'm happy with how I did at this race, my next sprint triathlon is on April 9th, this time with an open water river swim, and I'll finally get to try out my new wetsuit. Here are a few pics from the triathlon
Jillian
Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran, Army Wife, 3x Ironman Finisher
Amazing run time! HOLY CRAP 2nd OVERALL for the race?!?! Great job, sister!
You continue to amaze and inspire!
You continue to amaze and inspire!
Read my blog, BARIATHLETE I run because I can.
First 5K race October 4, 2009 (34.59) PR 5/22/11 (27:26)
First 5 Mile: January 1, 2011 (50:30)
First 10K: July 4, 2010 (1:03.26) New PR 4/10/11 (1:01.14)
First 10 Mile: April 11, 2010 (1:46.15)
First 1/2 marathon: June 13, 2010 (2:22.21) PR: 5/1/11 (2:17.30)
First Marathon: October 16, 2011: 5:47:20
Goofy Challenge: January 7-8, 2012
If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you're right. - Mary Kay Ash
First 5K race October 4, 2009 (34.59) PR 5/22/11 (27:26)
First 5 Mile: January 1, 2011 (50:30)
First 10K: July 4, 2010 (1:03.26) New PR 4/10/11 (1:01.14)
First 10 Mile: April 11, 2010 (1:46.15)
First 1/2 marathon: June 13, 2010 (2:22.21) PR: 5/1/11 (2:17.30)
First Marathon: October 16, 2011: 5:47:20
Goofy Challenge: January 7-8, 2012
If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you're right. - Mary Kay Ash
CONGRATULATIONS - great race and 2nd overall! Fantastic!!!
Eating junk food and CRAP is not a reward...it's a punishment...
it's a DEATH sentence...Reward yourself with Good Health!
Highest Weight: 287 Lbs-January 2010; Reached Goal 195 Lbs - Dec 2010
Total Lost: 92 Lbs; Completed FULL MARATHON (26.2 Miles) 10-16-2011
it's a DEATH sentence...Reward yourself with Good Health!
Highest Weight: 287 Lbs-January 2010; Reached Goal 195 Lbs - Dec 2010
Total Lost: 92 Lbs; Completed FULL MARATHON (26.2 Miles) 10-16-2011
kick freakin ass, overall 2nd place! wow, congrats girl, you rocked it! i sneaked a peak at the race results online and the female winner must have been a pro, holy crap did she have a smokin run time... your transition times are awesome, there is no way i could go without socks, i get crazy blisters, i'm envious. what a great start to the season.
Where are we going?? And why am I in this handbasket??
right now. somewhere. somebody is working harder than you.
right now. somewhere. somebody is working harder than you.
Thanks! Yeah, that girl pretty much wins every sprint tri around here, not sure if I will ever be able to catch her since she just keeps getting faster. I am nursing blisters on my feet from not wearing socks. I really should, but during a race I really get "caught up in it" and don't think about the no socks consequence. My birthday is in 2 weeks and I am thinking about asking my parents for a pair of zoots or newtons to wear just for sprint tri's, since you don't need to wear socks with them.
Jillian
Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran, Army Wife, 3x Ironman Finisher
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