My first triathlon of the year (and also my first open water swim of the year... yikes). Although, I only did this only as a training race after a hard week of training (including 50 miles on the bike the day before), I ended up taking 3rd overall!! All of the distances were long (per their website and my Garmin both) so my splits were "longer" than usual... swim was >1500m, Bike 26.2mi, run 6.5mi.The swim started well and I settled into a good rhythm. I found some feet that I thought would be good to follow, and pace-wise, they were... however, the guy couldn't navigate to save his life, and I had to go it alone half-way into the first loop until the end. That cost me being with the lead group. I had no idea if I was swimming well or not, and when I got out of the water and saw 28:XX - I thought it was a bad swim, but quickly reminded myself that I've had shorter times and placed worse - that each swim is unique, and it is only time relative to the rest of the field that matters in the race when you are fighting for the podium. Turned out I was about 20% in the swim (which for me is higher- I'm usually 30-35%). I did let this affect me in transition, though... feeling a little frustrated thinking it was a bad swim and losing a little drive for a fast transition.
On to the bike. Legs were definitely feeling tired from the get-go. I just focused on getting into a good rhythm and pushing it. The course did have one out and back section where I could see who was a few minutes in front and behind me. I could see a couple in front for sure, and a bunch behind. Better than the other way around, I suppose. Kept pushing it, but just wasn't feeling super-fast. Some of that was the rolling bike course - didn't "feel" as fast as just hammering along a flat road. I averaged about 23mph (which turned out on this rolling course to be 3rd fastest bike split). As tired as my legs felt, I started worrying about having nothing left on the run, but like always on the bike - I wanted to get all I could on the bike and let what happens next just happen...
Coming into transition, I started to get more excited about my placement, seeing only a few bikes on the rack (5 I think) before me... I was in reach of a podium spot if I had a good run!
Heading out on the run, it was kind of a crazy serpentine through the parking lots, then uphill. I got my legs going under me and the turn-over felt pretty good. Surprisingly good. I caught a couple people and one guy I followed out of transition was pulling away from me (he ended up 2nd overall). First mile split (uphill) was 6:50... good start. But could I hold that for the next 5.5 miles?
All winter and spring, my run has dogged me. 3 months of inactivity after Rev3 Full last fall, followed by starting to quickly and getting plantar fasciitis, then 2 months of hot/cold training with a new coach, my run fitness and confidence was suffering coming into the season. One big problem, was my mental fight and will was nowhere to be found... in training I would stop, rest or walk way too often... and my only race experience this year was the Cleveland Marathon debacle... I was very pessimistic about my ability to fight on - but wanted to find out.
Mile 2 was heading toward a marina, with some out-and-back... I saw a couple guys in front of me. Good sign perhaps. 6:45 mile... so I was holding pace... but not breaking any records. Mile 3 was the return of the out-and-back, but I didn't realize it. I saw like 10 more guys who I thought were in front of me (actually they were heading out while I was heading back)... that got in my head and I thought I was more like 13th place than 3rd place... Mile 3 was about 6:30. Coming back into the main lot, I asked Eric Gibb and Patty Banks (who were watching the race) what place they thought I was in and they said they couldn't tell either... kind of confusing course and all...
I just focused on keeping my run pace going, as I was finally running well... back uphill to do the 2nd lap and I was about 6:45. It was then that I had figured out the pack of guys I saw were behind me and I was truly in a top 3-5 position. That helped provide the drive to keep pushing the legs and not back off or give in to the pain of pushing it - which has been my mental problem all winter/spring.
The last 2 miles it was now clear that I was probably in a podium spot, and I lifted the pace even more... knowing the pain would be over in 12 minutes or so. Mile 5 was about a 6:30... mile 6 was a 6:10 (downhill)... I was flying into the finish! last 0.5 miles of flat, serpentine was also about 6:10 pace.
I finished strong, and after the final results were posted confirming my 3rd place overall - I was happy.
What I was most happy about was the fact that I started the run on tired legs, questioning what position I was in the race, and kept pushing the pace faster and faster on the run, and the mind finally cooperated!
