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04-28-08, 03:43 PM
Did the Sprint Distance version of this race (.75mi./16mi./4mi). I live in Sacramento so I decided to pack up all my stuff in a backpack and ride to the start. Worked out well, a nice easy 6 miles from my house, no need to hassle with the rack or worry about parking. Besides, whenever I drive my bike, it seems like I tend to forget my helmet or shoes.
This was a two-transition race so you had to stake out a place at T2 to leave your runnning shoes and hat, and then pack up your bike and wetsuit and head over to the swim/T1. Seems like I arrived a bit late to both spots, which was an advantage at T1 (my bike was up against a fence right next to the road) and a disadvantage at T2 (had to run pretty dang far on concrete with my bike shoes).
When I did this race a few years ago, the swim and T1 was in the ship turnaround bay of the Deep Water Harbor. This year they moved it to barge canal access. Same murky green water, just slightly upstream. I was out of the water in 12 minutes, which is off-the-chart fast for me. I'm not too sure it was the advertised .75 miles.
Grabbed my bike and headed out on to the River Road. I ride this road all the time so I figured I had a hometown advantage. The pavement is downright terrible in some spots so I tried to pick a smooth line. Wind can be a factor on the River Road, but none today. My goal was to keep it above 21 mph on the way out and then full throttle on the way back.
Because the course was absolutely pancake flat, there was no need for variable gears and just for fun, I decided to ride the fixed gear:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/CalOso/Spring08016.jpg
And to do everything I could to pass as many Zipps and disc wheels as I could. I ended up averaging 23.5 mph. I might have gone a little faster on the geared bike, but it wouldn't have been as much fun.
The run was slow (34:27), which wasn't helped by having to take a nature break. I focused on the ages marked on the calves of those passing me. If they weren't in my age group, I let them go.
Finished in 1:33:18 (self-timed) and it looked like I was 9th in my age group. Not too shabby for the first tri of the year, especially considering that the male 40-49 group looked like the overall fastest group. Even faster than the 20-29ers. What's up with that?
This was a two-transition race so you had to stake out a place at T2 to leave your runnning shoes and hat, and then pack up your bike and wetsuit and head over to the swim/T1. Seems like I arrived a bit late to both spots, which was an advantage at T1 (my bike was up against a fence right next to the road) and a disadvantage at T2 (had to run pretty dang far on concrete with my bike shoes).
When I did this race a few years ago, the swim and T1 was in the ship turnaround bay of the Deep Water Harbor. This year they moved it to barge canal access. Same murky green water, just slightly upstream. I was out of the water in 12 minutes, which is off-the-chart fast for me. I'm not too sure it was the advertised .75 miles.
Grabbed my bike and headed out on to the River Road. I ride this road all the time so I figured I had a hometown advantage. The pavement is downright terrible in some spots so I tried to pick a smooth line. Wind can be a factor on the River Road, but none today. My goal was to keep it above 21 mph on the way out and then full throttle on the way back.
Because the course was absolutely pancake flat, there was no need for variable gears and just for fun, I decided to ride the fixed gear:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/CalOso/Spring08016.jpg
And to do everything I could to pass as many Zipps and disc wheels as I could. I ended up averaging 23.5 mph. I might have gone a little faster on the geared bike, but it wouldn't have been as much fun.
The run was slow (34:27), which wasn't helped by having to take a nature break. I focused on the ages marked on the calves of those passing me. If they weren't in my age group, I let them go.
Finished in 1:33:18 (self-timed) and it looked like I was 9th in my age group. Not too shabby for the first tri of the year, especially considering that the male 40-49 group looked like the overall fastest group. Even faster than the 20-29ers. What's up with that?