Yesterday I did the Spudman Triathlon in Boise. This has been my goal for the past year.... to complete an Olympic length tri. I wanted to do the Spudman because I did it as a team more than 20 years ago. Boiseans are racers. They are real swimmers, real bikers and real runners. I knew this wouldn't be the typical Eastern Idaho triathlon - where so many hobbyists compete. The race absolutely lived up to those expectations. It was first class all the way.
I have to say I was intimidated, at best, before the race. There were about three hundred participants and about 99% of them looked like triathletes. They were all lean, cut, perfectly proportioned bodies.... and obviously serious about the sport (as attested by their $5,000+ bikes at the transition area). This being my first Olympic length tri, Brent advised me to just set the goal to finish.... and to relax throughout the entire race. That really helped me. Still, my goal going in was to break 3 hours - and to finish.
The mile swim was at Lucky Peak. What an absolutely AWESOME swim. I loved every second of it. I never got cold... nervous... nothing. My arm stroke felt good and was as strong at the finish as it was at the start. The buoys were easy to spot. There were a couple swells that bounced me around, but overall I was comfortable. The water was clean and fresh... and even though others complained about the temperature, I never once thought it felt cold. I finished the swim in just over 21 minutes so I was happy about that...but I know I should break a 20 next time.
Next.. the bike. We started out with a three mile out and back along the reservoir. What a beautiful ride. Then we hopped on Hwy 21 for the ride into town. First the climb to Hilltop... a three mile climb. It was long, but it really wasn't too bad. Don't get me wrong... I was tired and about two dozen people (at least!) passed me, but I kept chugging along and by Hilltop I still felt pretty good. Then the descent. OK. Now I'm bothered. I was flat out FRIGHTENED. I don't go fast on my bike. I don't like to go fast. Those guys who brag about going 50... ??? I brag about seeing my speedometer hit 30.... then about how I quickly hit the brakes to get it back down to a "reasonable" speed. Oh but yesterday! I was on my new tri bike... Damn I wish I wasn't. I was going so fast (38mph) I didn't dare let go to shift. I didn't pedal. I braked the whole way down. The cross winds were throwing me to the right - then to the left - then back to the right. oooo. I was glad to get down into town. Other bikes were SCREAMING by me... especially that BobsBicycles.com with the disc wheel. OK buddy... have at 'r. I'm riding just to finish here and I'm not going to get road rash along the way. Big girls aren't supposed to climb hills and they aren't supposed to ride fast down 'em. Overall ride = pretty lousy. 1:27... or about 16.8 mph avg. Definitely room for improvement there. I should avg 19 mph at least.
I survived the bike... and headed out on the run. A 10K along the Greenbelt and the Boise river. I should tell you that I dislocated the cuboid in my right foot a week ago. Two visits to Dr. Bray didn't really help but I was determined to do this race so I embarked on that run despite the pain. The foot was tolerable... until about mile 3 when the surface turned to dirt and gravel. Ouch. Then my left foot started hurting too... neuroma. Ouch again. I did the whole run walk run walk thing. My time for the run sucked the big kahuna but I FINISHED and I'm a happy camper today. Run time = 1:03. That's a little over 10 minute/mile pace. I need to take off at least a minute per mile.
Time - 2:58.
I know I have a lot of ways to improve on the bike... Could take 10 minutes off that split and could certainly take about 10-15 off the run time. That 25 minutes would make me one of those respectable triathletes at that race. Still, 2:58 is good for me and I'm happy with it.
Blackfoot tri this weekend. Back to the sprint. My goal is to beat last year's time by at least 20 minutes.
I have to say I was intimidated, at best, before the race. There were about three hundred participants and about 99% of them looked like triathletes. They were all lean, cut, perfectly proportioned bodies.... and obviously serious about the sport (as attested by their $5,000+ bikes at the transition area). This being my first Olympic length tri, Brent advised me to just set the goal to finish.... and to relax throughout the entire race. That really helped me. Still, my goal going in was to break 3 hours - and to finish.
The mile swim was at Lucky Peak. What an absolutely AWESOME swim. I loved every second of it. I never got cold... nervous... nothing. My arm stroke felt good and was as strong at the finish as it was at the start. The buoys were easy to spot. There were a couple swells that bounced me around, but overall I was comfortable. The water was clean and fresh... and even though others complained about the temperature, I never once thought it felt cold. I finished the swim in just over 21 minutes so I was happy about that...but I know I should break a 20 next time.
Next.. the bike. We started out with a three mile out and back along the reservoir. What a beautiful ride. Then we hopped on Hwy 21 for the ride into town. First the climb to Hilltop... a three mile climb. It was long, but it really wasn't too bad. Don't get me wrong... I was tired and about two dozen people (at least!) passed me, but I kept chugging along and by Hilltop I still felt pretty good. Then the descent. OK. Now I'm bothered. I was flat out FRIGHTENED. I don't go fast on my bike. I don't like to go fast. Those guys who brag about going 50... ??? I brag about seeing my speedometer hit 30.... then about how I quickly hit the brakes to get it back down to a "reasonable" speed. Oh but yesterday! I was on my new tri bike... Damn I wish I wasn't. I was going so fast (38mph) I didn't dare let go to shift. I didn't pedal. I braked the whole way down. The cross winds were throwing me to the right - then to the left - then back to the right. oooo. I was glad to get down into town. Other bikes were SCREAMING by me... especially that BobsBicycles.com with the disc wheel. OK buddy... have at 'r. I'm riding just to finish here and I'm not going to get road rash along the way. Big girls aren't supposed to climb hills and they aren't supposed to ride fast down 'em. Overall ride = pretty lousy. 1:27... or about 16.8 mph avg. Definitely room for improvement there. I should avg 19 mph at least.
I survived the bike... and headed out on the run. A 10K along the Greenbelt and the Boise river. I should tell you that I dislocated the cuboid in my right foot a week ago. Two visits to Dr. Bray didn't really help but I was determined to do this race so I embarked on that run despite the pain. The foot was tolerable... until about mile 3 when the surface turned to dirt and gravel. Ouch. Then my left foot started hurting too... neuroma. Ouch again. I did the whole run walk run walk thing. My time for the run sucked the big kahuna but I FINISHED and I'm a happy camper today. Run time = 1:03. That's a little over 10 minute/mile pace. I need to take off at least a minute per mile.
Time - 2:58.
I know I have a lot of ways to improve on the bike... Could take 10 minutes off that split and could certainly take about 10-15 off the run time. That 25 minutes would make me one of those respectable triathletes at that race. Still, 2:58 is good for me and I'm happy with it.
Blackfoot tri this weekend. Back to the sprint. My goal is to beat last year's time by at least 20 minutes.
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