Due to the short/shallow swim course, my wife decided Nahant was a perfect venue for her triathlon debut. Primarily a runner, she added swimming/biking to her training regime in preparation for the race. An admittedly difficult pupil, Michele likes to do things "her own way," and much like a hippie, she likes to train based on "feel," rather than following a training plan. But apparently this strategy works for her, because she finished 2nd in her age group & was the 9th female finisher overall. Very impressive. Now it's a family affair!
SWIM (1/3 Mile Ocean Swim)
Ocean swim = BRRR. I wore a full-sleeve wetsuit, but didn't get a chance to warm-up in the water before the race. I was in the 1st wave and executed a run/dolphin-dive strategy into the water. Once submerged, the cold water ripped at my lungs, causing me to gasp for breath. Due to the cold/traffic in the water, I never really got into a rythm during this short swim and I was concerened the entire time about how Michele would fare in these conditions. I was thankful to see the last buoy.
Swim Time: 9:35 (1:39/100 yards)
Tried to execute the bike start while keeping my bike shoes clipped-in on my bike, this did not go smoothly. I had to stop & make some adjustments - I'll need to practice this. Historically, the bike has been my biggest weakness in triathlon, so I've been really focused on turning that into a strength since IMLP. Lots of trainer sessions focused on building bike strength & muscular endurance. I started hammering the pedals & the thrill of ripping through the field kept me motivated for the full bike leg. No one passed me on the 2-lap course! The ground was wet and there were several sharp turns, so I had to be cautious, but I really pushed it on the bike. I came flying down the last hill into T2, so I didn't have a chance to pull my feet out of my bike shoes - I slammed on the brakes and jumped/fell off my bike - fortunately my shoes unclipped in mid-air!
Bike Time: 33:38 (20.5MPH), Avg. Power: 197 WattsIt turned out that the leader was already out on the course, 2nd & 3rd place were just leaving T2, & 4th place was still in the transition area.
RUN (3.5 Miles)
As every triathlete knows: it all happens on the run. I started running out of T2 and up the first hill, clocking a 6:48 first mile. Solid, but it came at a price...I was gasping for breath and my HR was through the roof. Since my return to training after IMLP, I've been focused solely on getting my aerobic base back - I haven't done any speed work at all, so holding this pace for long was unlikely...I was on borrowed time. I battled, but started hemorrhaging time...I was passed by three people during the run and had several more on my heels. At mile 3, I told myself "that's it - no one else passes you in this race...if they try, make them earn it." A pursuer was coming up on me - I could hear him breathing - I gave it one last burst and dusted him...I turned the corner to the finish chute, gave my nephew a high-five, and coasted across the finish line.
Run Time: 24:28 (7:00 min/mile)
Total Race Time: 1:09:52
9th Place Overall
3rd Place 30-34 Age Group
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