Race Report

RACE REPORT - 10/10/10 - TOYOTA US OPEN TRIATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS

You could go here and just use and type in my last name (Bahamundi) and there you will find me, but don't you want to know what all this training, research and money is for?  So go ahead and keep reading, then leave a comment at the end as I will reply to it.

FRIDAY DAY/NIGHT

Friday I had an easy swim that morning of 500y.  Done in about 12 minutes which included about 2-3 minutes of rest b/t sets.

At 1pm I had my pre-race scheduled massage.  A one hour sports massage always makes me feel loose and limber.  I had the therapist focus on my left hamstring b/c right under the buttocks it had been sore.  Not a pull or injury related but sore (probably for about two weeks --- need to stretch more.)  As usual I fell asleep about 20 minutes into the massage (I'm not sure I even get them except for the beginning and the very end when I wake up feeling refreshed and great.)  Once the massage was over she showed me some exercises to do to help stretch the area and she put biofreeze on it as well (read at the end how this turned out today.)

After that it was all about relaxation and getting mentally ready for the race.  One way to do that was to play softball.  Of course I told the manager that I wasn't going to go all out so don't expect anything big out of me.  Of course that didn't happen.  Hit a single to open up the game (yes I hit leadoff and am one of those pesky hitters who just drops the ball in and runs.)  Next two hitters made outs so I was thinking I was in the clear.  Our cleanup hitter hit a rope and fortunately/unfortunately the other team only had 3 outfielders.  The ball scooted to the outfield and I was off and running.  Got to third base in stride and no issues and was told to coast in which I was grateful for.  No injuries and no concerns about the hamstring.  Better yet no issues with a post-game beer either.  Home and ready for bed since I was heading up to the event site early on Saturday after Karen finished her 12 mile run.  I love having an active/competitive family.  Makes understanding about time and training much easier.

SATURDAY DAY/NIGHT

After getting to the hotel around 11am and getting checked in I went back to the room with all my gear.  Bike, clothes bag, swim bag (why did I bring this?), breakfast carrying bag....and now the swag bag as well.

Swim course and Expo

Get up to the room and change out of jeans into shorts and over to the expo.  By the way they do tell you at the check-in that swim cap and t-shirt are outside, but they don't tell you that you need to have your envelope to do this.  Well I just walked up to the swim cap tent and said....hey I don't have my envelope but who in their right mind would want one so can I get mine?  He gladly handed it over.  Same line, same result at the t-shirt tent.  Walked around the expo then went up to the room to wait for Robert as we were going to do a swim practice as well as bike and run.

Is there a buoy out there somewhere?

I put all the stickers on my helmet and bike, checked my bag for everything and waited.  Robert go there just before 1pm and down to the lake.  The sprint course was open and we headed out along with Juan and Eric.  Did the 800m swim in about 18m.  I figured that I could subtract 1 minute or 1.5 minutes from that time since we lolly gagged and didn't really swim it all out.  From that point I figured that I could do the 1500m swim in 35 minutes for the race.

Went out on the bike after we changed and did a light ride hoping to follow the course.  Of course we got lost and rode for 30 minutes and probably did 14 miles but no clue on the race course.  The run was 20 minutes, but I did that on my own.  Covered 2.5 miles and let me tell you this was the 2nd time doing the run course and the initial hill is nothing sneeze at.  Ever hear of the song 'Stairway to Heaven' yup that was what this was but there was no pleasantries going on....no angels, no harps, no pearly gates.....just straight up.

Saturday night I met Juan and Eric for their dinner and to watch the Rangers.  They ate and I watched waiting for Karen and Jackson to get to the hotel.  Once they were done I went to the hotel room for the rest of the game.  I started to fall asleep when the phone rang.  They were on their way.

Crossing finish line with Jackson and post replayed on Sunday

Karen came to the room with a friend of hers along with her friends son and it was dinner time.  I ordered tilapia with steamed veggies and black beans (it was after all a Mexican joint.)  Figured this was all good and I can't eat anything without hot sauce/habanero sauce.  They brought it over and it wasn't one of those tops that you have to shake to get drops out but I didn't notice that.  I turned it over and one entire piece was covered in habanero.  Ate it anyway.  Went to CVS to get some stuff and up to the room for bed time.  9pm out like a light.

SUNDAY RACE DAY

WARM-UP

Phone alarm goes of at 3:25 and I'm expecting the wake up call at 3:30a.....nothing.  Nothing at 4, 4:30 and I was out the door by 5am.....thank goodness for my blackberry with alarm clocks.

Headed down to the transition area to get marked and prepare my transition area.  Had a clean setup and went through the process in my head and practiced the routine.  I was ready to roll from that perspective.

Robert showed up and we did the same run I had done on Saturday.  20 minute warm-up run.  After applying tri-slide I headed down to the dock to get a swim warm-up in.  In the water for about 5 minutes then waiting around and getting cold.  The wind picked up and the temps dropped.  Finally it was our time to shine.

 SWIM

The Swim Finish and ain't she a beauty!!!!!

Dropped in the water and no issues with the goggles.  Let's get swimming.  Remember that my goal was 35 minutes.  I was swimming and every now and again I would hit a foot or get hit, but nothing horrible.  I was actually passing people as well but then.....a leak in my goggle.  I tried to swim through it at first and but eventually the water became a bother and I fixed it.  Get on going and swam buoy to buoy.  Feeling great and the buoys were going by quickly.  Left turn and the chop hits.  The cross-current swim was choppy and I swallowed some of the water but kept going.  Buoy to buoy.  Did they forget to put some buoys in the water?  My spotting was spot on and I felt really good.  Got to to the last buoy and turned left again.....it was on now.  I spotted the finish line and just kept on swimming.  Passing other athletes and not getting passed.  Go to the finish and ran out of the water and passed two more people on that part.....hey it all counts.  I looked at my watch and I forgot to start it so I have no clue how fast/slow I was....oh well.  Run about .25 miles to the transition area....yes a 1/4 mile run UPHILL barefoot and wet.  Got in transition and away we go.

BIKE

First portion of the bike ride is straight up hill but turns left and flat to a downhill then back uphill.....do you get the picture of this course?  Up and down, up and down.

I felt great and was really going.  One thing I never want to be is below 13mph on the uphill so I do whatever it takes to get me to that point if not faster then that.  Of course at one hill the number was below 10 and while I don't know what the speed was I do know it was below 10 b/c it was the only number on the cadence......a STEEP hill.

Once I got past that I was ready to roll.  I just kept looking for riders with a number of 35-39 on their calf.  Those are the guys in my age group and if I pass them here they won't pass me on the run so I'm picking people off left and right and feeling strong.

A couple of people passed me with numbers above 39....good or bad I'm not sure but as long as those guys had disc wheels I didn't count them.  It is all psychological you know.  Then I got passed by one woman who had a 50 on her calf but again she blew by me and so I said.....well she is elite and doesn't count (remember psychological!)

Right around mile 20 the bladder was full....what do I do?  Do I just pee here right now?  Wait until I get to the rack and pee before the run.  Take my mind off it?  I went with the latter and just kept on peddling and pushing.  I would forget about it and then it would re-appear again.  Figuring at mile 20 I only had 5 more miles to go and I would be good. 

The return is all flat and downhill so I took the opportunity to slip my feet out of my shoes which I had never done before.  Out of my shoes and coasting down the driveway of the hotel and got to the dismount line.  Got off and just ran to the rack.  No having to take shoes off or anything.  Great way to get through transition quickly.  Rack the bike, put on visor and grab the race belt to affix as I head out.

RUN

Got through transition really fast and thought about going to port-o-potty to pee but thought just run it will go away.  Sure enough it did for that moment.  Heading up you go....you remember.....'Stairway to Heaven' and I felt like I was going backwards.  One athlete I passed and he pushed to pass me back and he had a 30 on his calf...not my direct competition but still competition.  He passed me and then all of a sudden he had to stop and I had him.  Getting passed on a hill is a killer.  I got to mile 1 in 9:01....good time considering the hill but I wanted to be at an average of 8:00/mile.

From there the course flattens out a bit and you can open up.  Mile 2 done.  At this point I saw Eric and I had told him...'if I see you at Mile 3 I will catch you so you better swim fast and ride fast.'  he was at 3.25 miles and I was at 2.85 miles or so.  I caught him at 3.5 miles and knew he was done.  I found another guy I know not to much further up and passed him.  Again, I knew he wouldn't catch me.  I just kept finding people with 35-39 on their calved and made them my prey.  Catch and move on.  It makes it easier for me to run this way b/c you are not focused on miles, just focused on the next catch.



At mile 5 I knew it was all downhill and I just opened up my stride and let it roll.  I was so thrilled to know that I was finishing my first Oly and finishing it strong.  Passing people on the way to the finish line and yelling and screaming I smiling from ear to ear.  I looked at the time and it said 3:20.....I was about 30 minutes into the water at the start so I figured that I was in at 2:50 or so.  Under 3 for my first Oly.....great results.

Well, here are my results:

Swim - 37:33 for an average of 2:18/100m.....thrilled since 35 was my goal and I know I can shave those 2 minutes

T1 - 2:39

Bike - 1:18:16 for an average of 19.0 mph.....happy but my last sprint was 19.7 and was hoping to be closer to 20.

T2 - 1:20....thrilled.  Getting my shoes off on the ride was key

Run - 53:23 for an average of 8:37/mile.....happy but looking at 8:00/mile since my Hottest Half result was that.

Overall - 2:53:10......very very happy with my results.  Cannot complain about a sub-3 for my first Oly.

I do believe there are 8 minutes I can cut to get down to 2:45.  Those 8 minutes move me up 80 slots but thinking back on the race I am thrilled with my results

POST RACE

Saw Jon Gilchrest at the finish and he is such a great guy.  We chatted for a bit as I was working my way through and apple, a banana, a bagel and water.

Still haven't pee'd at this point either.....must not have been a big deal.

Finally saw my cheering crew......best part of racing is seeing my wife and step-son and hearing 'great job and we are so proud of you.'

Got home and for recovery.....3 Michelob Ultras, a NY Football Giants win, and lots of sitting around.  I will get in the shower soon and then pizza with my family after Karen gets back from her 3 mile run.

Decided to use the spray biofreeze that I purchased last night.  Karen sprayed it on me last night and no issues.  I did it myself today and let's just say that it is called a spray for a reason.  It went everywhere and even places it shouldn't.....please don't make me explain but it is tingly and I hope goes away soon.

Getting a kiss for recovery and not commenting on my stink!

THANK YOU

a BIG Thank You to Coach C for her training, her belief in me, her positive attitude about everything in life and the inspiration and motivation to know that I will be in the gym tomorrow working out again.

To the CH Locos.....great races by and kudos to Juan, Robert, and Eric.

Great race to Jon Gilchrist and to Brent Wade of 24 Hour Fitness and Margaret English.

I will definitely be buying the professional photos of this race and will post them as soon as they are available.

Thank you for reading and if you have tips on peeing on the bike post a comment.  If you don't have tips on how to pee on the bike post a comment anyway as all comments are appreciated and will get a reply.