SWIM: TrainingPeaks Data
Target Time: 0:45:00
Race Time: 0:42:54
I was so nerves before this swim that I tore my wetsuit twice trying to put it on. This was going to be my first group start in a triathlon so I really had no idea what to expect. Once the race started I started to relax and try getting into a rhythm. Unfortunately that was not going to happen. Instead I struggled with the swim the entire time I was in the water. Overall I felt the swim went terrible, but when I saw my time I was pretty happy. B+
T1: 0:04:55
Just tried to be steady. Overall very happy with my time.
BIKE: TrainingPeaks Data
Target Time: 3:00:00
Race Time: 2:48:13
I had pre-rode the first and last 8 miles of the course on Saturday, so I knew the first 6.5 miles were mostly uphill. It was never a big climb, just a long rolling climb. The plan was to just keep it nice and steady for this part and then put in a good effort until the big climb that started around mile 12. After that climb it was 35-38 miles of just getting into a nice steady grove and try to maintain around 220 watts. This worked out better than I could have ever hoped for. I had great legs for the two big climbs on the way back in and just buried myself for the last 6.5 downhill miles into the finish. A+
T2: 0:05:23
It was looking like rain before the start, so I left my T2 stuff in my transition bag to keep it dry. This cost me a little time, but at least I didn’t have to worry about having wet stuff to start the run.
RUN: TrainingPeaks Data
Target Time: 2:15:00
Race Time: 2:32:28
Before I was even out of transition I knew that I had no legs for the run. Instead of killing myself and trying to find something that was not there, I just immediately fell into a run/walk routine that I was sure would get me to the finish. I really liked the course and wish I could have found some way to run a little more but it was not to be. D-
Overall: 6:13:53
Summary:
I was using a training plan to get ready for Timberman and was questioning the running volume for the last month before the race. Unfortunately I decided to trust in the training plan instead of what my body was telling me. I just do not think that I was doing even close to enough miles, so coming off the bike and being a little tired I was doomed. Going into the half marathon that I ran in April I was doing 25-30 miles a week, but the training plan that I was working with only had me doing 10-15 miles a week. Oh well, live and learn.
On the bike I wanted to average 220 watts. When I pulled my data off the Garmin, I found out that I only averaged 190 watts while going under my target time. I’m not sure if means that I had great legs that day, or that the course really suited me. I will say that I really liked the course. I did have on problem on the bike. I missed my pocked when putting my gel flask away around mile 20 and didn’t find out until the next time I went looking for it.
Based on my result and how I felt after this I have decided that I will go ahead and do a IRONMAN next year. Not sure if it will be IRONMAN Maryland or Louisville.