IM CdA 2005 - The Race
World's Shortest Race Report
Pre-race: cool, even showery. I forgot my jacket, and buy a cool
looking bike one with the race logo. Everyone thinks it's perfect for
me; I'm a walking advertisement for the gear tent. Friday night's pasta
dinner is in the big tent. We go with about 10 folks from the SS
Triathlon Club, siting in the back row. Loads of food, loads of jittery
talk. Many first timers, who want to know what they can only learn by
experience.
Saturday: we have the by now ritual lunch with the Manants, fresh from
their dance camp, at the local Greek restaurant. In the PM, I start a
new ritual - a giant sized Jamba Juice for dinner.
Race Day: Oops, it's warming up, maybe into the 80s. Oh well, can't win
'em all (but I'd like to win just once on the weather here).
Sun rises about 5:30 this far north, this close to the solstice. Body
mark, check bike, blah blah blah.
Swim: I head for my special spot - aiming directly for a large post
about 50 yards into the course. It's maybe 70 yards to the right of the
direct buoy line; I figure no one will want to swim towards an obstacle
they'll have to swerve around. Plan works, I'm in clear water until
about 400 yards in, then BOOM, I'm swamped by everyone to my right
heading towards the buoys. Oh well, more chance for feet to follow.
Idea is to cruise the swim, which I do in about 69 minutes, 8th in
division, 1 minute slower than 5th. Third fastest T1and T2. Bike is a
cruise for the first loop, a little work and drafting in the second,
when it rains just a bit and I feel strong. 5:54, 5th in
division, 12 minutes behind 4th. At this point, I'm in 5th place. On
the run, which I do just under 4:30, I pass one guy, and am passed by
another. My time is 3rd, 20 minutes behind second. That's key, as the
guy finishing second is the one who passed me in the run, and I finish
20 minutes and change behind him. I walk maybe 3-4 miles in the race,
which just might translate into an extra 20 minutes.
I'm fourth overall, but I feel ecstatic. For the very first time, I can
actually see HOW I might be able to get the improvement I need to
qualify for Hawaii. The heat didn't bother me this time, despite temps
in the low 80s on the run - a combination of specific heat
acclimitization (run when it's hot!), psychological neglect of the
impact, slower start, and increased hydration have brought my run time
down 15 minutes from last year, with bike and swim times the same.
What I now see is just how slow
I have to go at the start
of the run to be able to (a) absorb enough fluid to stay reasonably
hydrated and (b) run all of the miles, not just 22 of them. I felt good in the last four
miles, enough to hug my wife at the turn into town coming off Lakeside
Drive, and to then turn on some jets for the push through town to the
finish. My mantra at the end of the race is I See How!