Pre-Race Routine and Warm-Up:
Ate some steel cut oats and then headed down to the park. Stopped at the potty on the way to transition and then got my spot set up. A bit tight in transition this year with the reconstruction of Jean Klock Park. Hit the potty one more time and then made the mile trek down the beach to the swim start. Got there just as my wave was lining up in the holding pen.
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Swim
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33:08 | 1.2 mi | 1:44 min/100 m |
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Performance Comments:
I was off to a good start, but the further from the pier we got, the wavier it got. We were also swimming into the sun and I am TERRIBLE at sighting when we swim into the sun (anyone else remember my Ludington Tri experience?). I had to stop a few times, take my goggles off and figure out where I was. I'm sure I added a few tenths onto the swim course. :-)
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What Would You Do Different?
Put some anti-fog drops in my goggles before the race. I meant to do so, but ran out of time/forgot.
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T1
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2:09 |
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Performance Comments:
Strip off the rest of the wetsuit, throw on my helmet and sunglasses, grab my bike and go. Transition was tight so I had to do a lot of jumping over bags and stuff. It was entertaining to watch, I'm sure.
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What Would You Do Different?
Nada
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Bike
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2:55:53 | 56 mi | 19.1 mph |
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Performance Comments:
I felt great heading out on the bike. Some of the roads were a bit rough, but the scenery makes up for it. There were some great tailwinds at times and I was loving the 26 mph my computer was displaying during those times. However, you have to go into the wind at some point. In this case, the last 18 miles were into the wind. I pushed a little harder than I should have into the wind and up the hills...was feeling it on my run.
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What Would You Do Different?
My gears weren't adjusted properly with my race wheels on. I couldn’t shift into my smallest gear, which would have been nice to have in those last 18 miles.
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T2
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1:58 |
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Performance Comments:
Yipee...time to run! Dropped off my bike, put my shoes on, grabbed my watch and hat and I was out of there.
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What Would You Do Different?
Nothing
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Run
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1:59:44 | 13.1 miles | 9:08 min/mi |
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Performance Comments:
My stomach was not too happy with me when I headed out on the run. I thought maybe I could run it out, but that didn't happen. So I had to stop at the port-a-potty on the 1st loop through Whirlpool HQ. After that I felt better, but just couldn't get my pace back under 9 min/mi. I was so happy to see Shannon, Dave and Evan at the end of the first loop. The second lap was so much more bearable knowing I was going to see them again! The last 2 miles seemed to drag on, but once I saw Kevin at the beach, I knew the end was in sight!
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What Would You Do Different?
I did a higher concentration of Heed on the bike than what I'm used to and I think that's what caused the stomach to turn on the run. I also didn't do as many bricks as last year, which I could feel.
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Post Race Activities and Cool Down:
Grabbed a water and Gatorade and then went to find the all the fam. After getting out of my shoes, Mom, Gary and I watched Cal, Paul, Jim and Dave finish. It was raining by the end, so we quickly got our things from transition, made a bee line to the car and back to the motorhome. We finally got something to eat, showered, loaded up the car and started the drive back to FL.
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Event Comments:
I LOVE this race! Michigan is so beautiful...in the summer, that is. It was great to have so many people from our gang racing and so many first timers! It was also wonderful to have so much of our family there to cheer us on! It truly makes all the difference in the world! I hope to see more everyone, and more there next year.
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Would You Do This Race Again?
See you next year!
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