to benefit Disabled American Veterans
300 meter swim
15 mile bike
3 mile run
I left my house at 6:50 am after getting up at 6am and taking my time showering, getting my dog fed and walked and packing my bag and bike into my truck. Getting to Quaker Lake in Allegany Sate Park (the swim start) I was the 3rd or 4th athlete to arrive, around 7:15am. Official registration/check in was to start at 7:30am so I was one of the first to get checked in and get my bags. Bags you might ask? Yes. This was a non USAT sanctioned, straight line triathlon. At check in we were provided with 2 bags, one to put our running things in and the bag would be transported to the T2 area and one bag to put our swimming stuff, shorts, t shirt, whatever we wanted at the finish line into. This bag would be taken to the finish line after all competitors had left T1. There was a shuttle that would drive from the finish to T2 and the start line, so after the race, once the bag from the start with my shorts and keys made it to the finish line I could hop into the shuttle, be taken to my truck and then go to pick up my bike and head home. Interesting triathlon in that aspect, but it was well run and worked out fairly well also. After checking in I had 1 ½ hours until the pre race meeting so I sat around for a while, then stretched and ran for a bit to warm up. At the meeting I learned I would be in the first heat to head out.
15 mile bike
3 mile run
I left my house at 6:50 am after getting up at 6am and taking my time showering, getting my dog fed and walked and packing my bag and bike into my truck. Getting to Quaker Lake in Allegany Sate Park (the swim start) I was the 3rd or 4th athlete to arrive, around 7:15am. Official registration/check in was to start at 7:30am so I was one of the first to get checked in and get my bags. Bags you might ask? Yes. This was a non USAT sanctioned, straight line triathlon. At check in we were provided with 2 bags, one to put our running things in and the bag would be transported to the T2 area and one bag to put our swimming stuff, shorts, t shirt, whatever we wanted at the finish line into. This bag would be taken to the finish line after all competitors had left T1. There was a shuttle that would drive from the finish to T2 and the start line, so after the race, once the bag from the start with my shorts and keys made it to the finish line I could hop into the shuttle, be taken to my truck and then go to pick up my bike and head home. Interesting triathlon in that aspect, but it was well run and worked out fairly well also. After checking in I had 1 ½ hours until the pre race meeting so I sat around for a while, then stretched and ran for a bit to warm up. At the meeting I learned I would be in the first heat to head out.
SWIM
The water was quite warm at the swim start, about 80 degrees. The swim was an out and back type swim, 150 yards out to a buoy and back to shore. 20 of us in the first wave lined up on shore and dashed into the water for our start. As I hit deep enough water to swim and dove in to
do just that, my goggles where dislodged and the right eye filled with water completely. The left was about ½ full but I could see out of it (and I closed that eye when breathing). I kept the right eye closed and decided to go at it with the goggles full instead of fixing the situation, because it was such a short swim. Pretty much right away, 2 guys in my wave pulled about 5 body lengths ahead of me and they ended up building that lead to about 10-15 lengths by swims end. No other complications during the swim and I left the water 3rd with about a 20 length lead to the next swimmer. T1
The dash up to T1 was about a 45 second run through Quaker Lake’s bath house. At the bike I slipped my socks and shoes on, grabbed my helmet and sun glasses and then threw my goggles and swim cap into the bag that already contained my shorts, shoes and shirt. Up on the bike and off. T1 felt slow, I don’t know why but it seemed slow. Will have to see what the actual time was when splits are posted.
BIKE
Leaving transition 3rd and about 10 seconds after the 2nd place racer I got into a decent rhythm early and passed the leader out of the water shortly after the 2nd place racer did. Riding in 2nd
place for several minutes we turned out of State Park and headed up Rt280. I was passed by 2 competitors early in the race, one on a fully aero, carbon Cannondale with Zipp’s and an aero helmet (he ended up way ahead) and the other on a Wal Mart special Mountain Bike, riding with gym shorts, no shirt and no helmet (yea…not a USAT sanctioned event!!!), holding his iPod and working his head phones. Yea that one hurt just a little. He stayed ahead of me, but within sight the entire bike stretch, sometimes close, sometimes he gained on me. Later in the bike portion, I had a total of 3 other riders pass me and the 4 of us and Mountain Bike guy finished the bike ride pretty much as a group. Later, when talking to some of them, I learned that 2 of them where from the 2nd wave of athletes. The bike ride was a pretty steady uphill, with some flat spots and also some small downhill sections. Max speed was 33mph for just a bit, and avg was in the 18.9mph area. Was not a hard bike, but not easy as it was generally uphill.
Leaving transition 3rd and about 10 seconds after the 2nd place racer I got into a decent rhythm early and passed the leader out of the water shortly after the 2nd place racer did. Riding in 2nd
place for several minutes we turned out of State Park and headed up Rt280. I was passed by 2 competitors early in the race, one on a fully aero, carbon Cannondale with Zipp’s and an aero helmet (he ended up way ahead) and the other on a Wal Mart special Mountain Bike, riding with gym shorts, no shirt and no helmet (yea…not a USAT sanctioned event!!!), holding his iPod and working his head phones. Yea that one hurt just a little. He stayed ahead of me, but within sight the entire bike stretch, sometimes close, sometimes he gained on me. Later in the bike portion, I had a total of 3 other riders pass me and the 4 of us and Mountain Bike guy finished the bike ride pretty much as a group. Later, when talking to some of them, I learned that 2 of them where from the 2nd wave of athletes. The bike ride was a pretty steady uphill, with some flat spots and also some small downhill sections. Max speed was 33mph for just a bit, and avg was in the 18.9mph area. Was not a hard bike, but not easy as it was generally uphill. T2
Racking our bikes to the right of the bike finish, there was a line of bags with race numbers on it to the left of the bike racks. I found my number (39) and tore the bag open and put on my shoes and grabbed my visor and off I went on the run. T2 felt pretty fast, minus the part where I had to look for my bag.
RUN
3 miles, all uphill (moderately). Here I finally and for good passed Mountain Bike guy. The run felt very good. I had no pain anywhere. I was passed by a couple other guys before I caught up to one that was about my pace and the two of us pushed each other to the finish. 3 Water stations provided adequate cooling and hydration. Although the event had started off relatively cool (60 degrees) by this time in direct sunlight I was sweating pretty good.
3 miles, all uphill (moderately). Here I finally and for good passed Mountain Bike guy. The run felt very good. I had no pain anywhere. I was passed by a couple other guys before I caught up to one that was about my pace and the two of us pushed each other to the finish. 3 Water stations provided adequate cooling and hydration. Although the event had started off relatively cool (60 degrees) by this time in direct sunlight I was sweating pretty good.
FINISH
The clock read 1:15…something…when I finished, and being in the first heat, I would imagine that was the correct time. They were having some issues with the printing of times and did not have results posted when I left in the shuttle to the start to collect my truck and head home to work in the afternoon. Results should be posted (hopefully) soon online. Overall I felt good. No pain anywhere. I was pretty beat at the end; I don’t think I could have pushed much more without adverse results. I thought it was a fun race and had a good time!
The clock read 1:15…something…when I finished, and being in the first heat, I would imagine that was the correct time. They were having some issues with the printing of times and did not have results posted when I left in the shuttle to the start to collect my truck and head home to work in the afternoon. Results should be posted (hopefully) soon online. Overall I felt good. No pain anywhere. I was pretty beat at the end; I don’t think I could have pushed much more without adverse results. I thought it was a fun race and had a good time!
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