Location: Tempe, AZ
Race Type: Triathlon
Distance: 1500 meter swim, 40K bike, 10K run
Participants: 296
Overall Place: 92nd
Age Group Place: 13th
Time: 2:35:43. Swim: 32:06, Trans1: 1:44, Bike: 1:10:58, Trans2: 0:53, Run: 49:59
This was my first olympic distance triathlon. I'd been training for months and had set a goal of 2:35. I knew going into the race that my swim would be the weakest link but the two practice swims that I completed during the Splash & Dash events left me feeling confident that I could get through the 1500 meters.
The race was supposed to start at 7:30 but was pushed 45 minutes due to issues with barricades. Rumor had it that a similar issue had happened during the companies last event. This was frustrating because the day was gearing up to reach the mid 90's and any delay would make the run brutal.
The transition area was located under a bridge by the water. I would have to run up a steep 1/8 mile hill to get there. Luckily I had arrived early enough to pick a premium spot on the bike rack. Once my transition area was organized I sat by Tempe Town Lake for over an hour waiting for my wave.
The water temp was 75 degrees so I was able to wear my wetsuit. I took the swim easy and just focused on getting through it without getting flustered. I saw people from two waves back passing but I didn't let it bother me. At one point someone ran over my legs and my right leg cramped badly. I was able to get through the last 500 yards but it hurt.
The 1st transition went flawlessly and I headed out on the bike. The course was two loops and full of 90 and 180 degree turns. I couldn't get a good pace going and there were points where I had to come to an almost complete stop to do a 180 in one street lane. Ridiculous. On the 2nd loop I took a 90 degree left turn too fast and ran over a cone. Luckily it fell and I was able to ride over it without stopping but it did scare me a little. As for pace, it was good at 21.6mph average.
The 2nd transition also went well. I started the run strong and was able to hold a 7:40 pace. I was pleased with this but it was tough and getting really hot. At mile 4 I started cramping badly on my right side. For the next two miles I was forced to stop periodically to stretch. I struggled into the finish chute just over my run goal pace of an 8 minute mile.
Looking back, I didn't drink nearly enough water. When I got home I weighed myself and I was still down 8 pounds. Another lesson learned. Drink more!
Final thoughts. I enjoyed this race as it was my first of this distance. I felt that I gave it everything I had and that my training had paid off. I learned valuable lessons that I will take to races in the future. Now to the bad. The delay in the morning made the run really hot. This may have been out of the race directors control, but maybe not. The bike course is awful. I hated all the 90 and 180 degree turns and that we had to do the course twice. I much prefer single loop courses. The run was tough because they had us going up and down the steps of the Tempe bridge, twice.
I'm not sure if I'll do this one again. We'll see.
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