Bay to Breakers 2009 featured revised rules and warm weather. The former inspired a San Francisco combination of protest and initiative. After having a blast in 2008, I hoped to repeat the run first, party later approach.
This year's event also marked the introduction of a new corral system at the race start - I lined up with the first amateur group (A - Orange) and hoped to beat 55 minutes for the 12 km run (my PR of 51:09 in 2007 was after a start directly behind the Elites). This was my first race sporting Asics Gel Kayano 15 and Skins CROM shirt.
The pre-start porta-potty line took 35 minutes...the toilets were too close to the B corral - those in line couldn't prevent inevitable queue-jumpers. The wait led to my race-buddy and I being separated but his speed would have been too much for me anyway! (Check out results for bib number 2536).
I sucked down a gel before we began but some fluid-chaser would have been welcome. During the run I managed to avoid any lasting effects of Mexican food the night before. I cleared most of the traffic before Hayes Street Hill but my lack of training showed again - those I had been keeping pace with pulled ahead as we progressed through Golden Gate Park.
The party on the walk back could not be described as subdued but it did not compare to the total mayhem of last year. It seems the new restrictions and initiatives were at least a partial success...
Results. My bib number was 941. My time was 50:11.
Photos.
PS In the days following the race I tried 2XU's Compression Recovery Socks. Unfortunately I tore a hole in one of them immediately...I flew with Southwest four times in two days and my luggage was delayed so I wore the socks longer than expected...Smelly or not, they seemed to help my aching calf muscles. :-)
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Wildflower - 3rd May 2009 - Olympic
Amateur triathlete rule of thumb; train in each discipline at least twice per week. Math skillz tell us that over 15 weeks that's 30 times for each sport. Here's what I did in 2009 before Wildflower:
This was my first attempt at the Wildflower Olympic course. It was also my first race in the Male 30-34 age group (USAT uses racers' end-of-year age...), and my latest start to date; 9:25am. The start time might not seem like a big deal but I cannot swim with solid food in my stomach (my swim training normally begins at about 6:30am). Staying energized until that "late" was a challenge.
My (conservative) goal was to beat 2:45 or roughly 23 minute swim + 82 minute bike + 50 minute run + 10 minute transitions and Wildflower "adventure time".
Swim: At the start I turned into that guy as I charged my way past or over swimmers ahead. Traffic from the 4 earlier waves was noticable but not egregious. I didn't notice until after the race but my TNT wetsuit is showing its age - it shed black rubber all over my neck and tri-suit...
T1: Sprinted out of the swim but ran past my spot again.
Bike: The mechanized portion did not begin well. I could not get my right shoe locked into the pedal and eventually had to dismount on Lynch Hill and jam it in. (After the race I discovered mud on my bike shoe cleat - oh the travails of Wildflower camping...). I also had to stop while climbing during the return leg to recover a dropped a caffeinated PowerBar Gel. In a turnabout from past performances I seemed to be stronger uphill versus flats and straights. This might be due to losing a few pounds (during a Costa Rica trip in December 2008) and not being trained properly...or maybe training while carrying extra (fluid) weight is paying dividends. I didn't stick to my nutrition plan - I paid later for failing to scarf all my Thermolytes.
T2: Forgot to re-apply sunscreen (one thick layer of factor 50 is not enough)...Luckily I was only mildly burned on both shoulders.
Run: My lack of nutrition discipline led to quad and hamstring cramps in both legs - sometimes all four muscles at once!
My bib number was 5783.
Results. My time was 2:39:46.
Photos: Event official.
This brings my tally to 13 triathlons:
2 Big Kahuna Half Ironman +
1 Sentinel (aka Santa Cruz Olympic) +
2 Treasure Island Olympic +
2 Wildflower Long Course +
1 Wildflower Olympic +
1 Escape From Alcatraz +
2 Escape from The Rock +
2 Folsom
Future thoughts:
- swim: 21
- bike: 7
- run: 8 (including brick workouts)
This was my first attempt at the Wildflower Olympic course. It was also my first race in the Male 30-34 age group (USAT uses racers' end-of-year age...), and my latest start to date; 9:25am. The start time might not seem like a big deal but I cannot swim with solid food in my stomach (my swim training normally begins at about 6:30am). Staying energized until that "late" was a challenge.
My (conservative) goal was to beat 2:45 or roughly 23 minute swim + 82 minute bike + 50 minute run + 10 minute transitions and Wildflower "adventure time".
Swim: At the start I turned into that guy as I charged my way past or over swimmers ahead. Traffic from the 4 earlier waves was noticable but not egregious. I didn't notice until after the race but my TNT wetsuit is showing its age - it shed black rubber all over my neck and tri-suit...
T1: Sprinted out of the swim but ran past my spot again.
Bike: The mechanized portion did not begin well. I could not get my right shoe locked into the pedal and eventually had to dismount on Lynch Hill and jam it in. (After the race I discovered mud on my bike shoe cleat - oh the travails of Wildflower camping...). I also had to stop while climbing during the return leg to recover a dropped a caffeinated PowerBar Gel. In a turnabout from past performances I seemed to be stronger uphill versus flats and straights. This might be due to losing a few pounds (during a Costa Rica trip in December 2008) and not being trained properly...or maybe training while carrying extra (fluid) weight is paying dividends. I didn't stick to my nutrition plan - I paid later for failing to scarf all my Thermolytes.
T2: Forgot to re-apply sunscreen (one thick layer of factor 50 is not enough)...Luckily I was only mildly burned on both shoulders.
Run: My lack of nutrition discipline led to quad and hamstring cramps in both legs - sometimes all four muscles at once!
My bib number was 5783.
Results. My time was 2:39:46.
Photos: Event official.
This brings my tally to 13 triathlons:
2 Big Kahuna Half Ironman +
1 Sentinel (aka Santa Cruz Olympic) +
2 Treasure Island Olympic +
2 Wildflower Long Course +
1 Wildflower Olympic +
1 Escape From Alcatraz +
2 Escape from The Rock +
2 Folsom
Future thoughts:
- Gear: I need to invest in a new wetsuit.
- Gear: I've said it before but I still need to buy a new bike helmet.
- Gear: New bike shoe cleats.
- Race: Find my transition spot...
- Race: Stick to my nutrition plan.
- Race or Gear: Put sunscreen *in* my run shoes or wear a long sleeve shirt.
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