I drove to the race Saturday morning and checked
into the host hotel, The Washington Hilton. The expo was right there. For an
Olympic distance race this expo was awesome! There were plenty of vendors and
free stuff! I scored some free gels, tire levers, a souvenir cup and a pair of
running socks!
After the expo I had to get my bike ready to take to
transition for overnight. I fixed my race number on my bike and decided to ride
it to the transition area since it was at least two miles from the host hotel.
Seriously, what a great idea! I rode my bike through DC with running shorts and
run shoes on. But the best part was, I got to maneuver myself and Trekie around
the National Mall! The day before the race I try to get in a 30 minute easy
ride, just to get my legs spinning, and then follow that up with a 10 minute
run just to get my legs turning over. So I decided once I dropped my bike off
in transition I would do my 10 minute run back towards the hotel.
Transition was located next to the Potomac River and
by the Lincoln Memorial. The transition area was huge!! I had no idea how many
people were doing this race, but come to find out it was close to 5,000
athletes!
During my scenic ride to transition my brakes seemed
to be rubbing, so for the first time in my triathlon career I took my bike to
the onsite mechanics. It was bothering me, and mentally I knew it would be
better if I had someone check it out, that way I didn’t have to worry about it come
race day. I have learned this year to make races as stress-free and relaxed as
possible. There is no use in wasting valuable energy. So the awesome dudes at
the mechanic tent fixed my bike, nothing major was wrong, just a little
adjustment needed.
Now I had to find my spot on the transition rack.
Where to start? The best part about this transition was that each row was
numbered. There were huge numbered flags in the middle of the aisle, there were
about 30 rows! I was row 24 and about 3 spots from the end of the rack! I
remember smiling and laughing, thinking if I lose my bike in this transition
there is something seriously wrong! For once this season, I am not going to
lose my bike! Run to row 24 out of the swim, left hand turn down the aisle, run
to the end! Check!
As a pre-race ritual, I walked my paths into T1 and
out of T1, and then into T2 and out of T2. I knew I had a short run into T1 but
a long run out. Short run into T2, long run out.
Swim:
Finally,
it was time to move and time flew now! Next I knew I was in the swim chute and
out onto the boat launch staring up the Potomac! I realized that all athletes
had to SIT on the boat launch and at the sound of the whistle enter the water
feet first. I can’t say that I was a fan of this swim start. However, the best
part about this course is that it is shaped into the Washington Monument! How
appropriate! I knew heading out to the turnaround I would be against the
current, but coming back I had the current. This was probably the most well
marked course. Huge orange buoys, clearly marked by 100 meters and floated
nearly 6-7 feet off the water! If I swam off course, something would definitely
be wrong! It was also really neat to swim under the bridge!
I do have to say that being wave 30 made for a lot
of congestion from the start. I had mentally prepared myself for all the
congestion and stayed relaxed through the swim. And, I didn’t swim off course!
SWIM
TIME: 25:12
T1:
I found row 24 like it was nobody’s business! Left hand turn, ran down the
aisle, and whoohoo found Trekie faithfully waiting for me!
Bike:
This was a two loop course. I headed out feeling great and my legs were ready
to rock! After only being out on the course for a short time, I came upon a
volunteer waiving a caution flag telling cyclists to slow down because there
was a no passing zone coming up. I tried to get ahead of any slow riders before
that zone came but to my luck I ended up behind someone who I believed to be a
novice rider. She was constantly on her brakes. It got to the point where I
yelled at her to keep moving forward and to lay off her brakes! At this point I
realized that I should have gone to the athlete briefings that were offered
throughout the day at the expo. I decided not to attend one because I was
rushed for time. However, note to self, always attend!
Another reason I should have went to one of the
meetings, was that there were many turn arounds on the course. It would have
benefited me to know where they were. By turn around, I mean sharp turns where
my speed was reduced to 4-5 mph. At one point on the course the turnaround was
over a wooden ramp!
Positives to this course: it was very well marked!
Mostly flat. A few inclines. None of the inclines required me to get up out of
the saddle.
Negatives: besides the no passing zones and turn
arounds, I was under the impression that the course would go around the
monuments. The only monument I was ever near was the Lincoln Memorial. So that
aspect of the course was deceiving.
BIKE
TIME: 1:14:15
T2:
I dismounted my bike and started to run into transition only to find another
wooden ramp that I had to push my bike over and run over with bike shoes on! I
was able to find my rack without any effort. Racked my bike, threw on my run
shoes, visor and race belt and out for a 10k I went!
Run:
I had full intentions on giving this run everything I had left in the tank. I
promised myself that when it started to hurt (as it eventually always does) that
I would push through it and run harder. The first mile of the run was uphill,
not tremendously, but enough that my legs felt the incline. As I approached
mile one, it was marked with a huge flag and was very easy to see. At this
first mile aid station, I grabbed a gel that one of the volunteers was holding
out. Yes, I was already hurting and it was only mile 1. But one great piece of
advice I have been given is that when things start to suck on the run, eat
something! You will always feel better. Truth! The gel was a GU Orange Cream.
Damn, did it taste good! I gulped it down and washed it down with a cup of
water as I ran through the aid station.
A volunteer yelled as I passed that mile 1 was the
only hill on the course and that it was all flat for the next 5.2 miles! I
started trucking and he was right. It was a very flat 10k right along the
water.
As flat as the course was, I saw many signs of
weakness from other athletes. Maybe it was the heat? By the time I was on the
run course, it was late morning and I do remember being hot. Other athletes
were walking, breathing heavy, grunting, checking their watches every second,
etc. I smiled a few times and told myself, “no matter what, never show any
signs of weakness!”
I checked my watch at each mile and knew I was
running the same pace and I was feeling great! I made sure to stay up on my
nutrition and hydration, so at every aid station I made sure to grab something,
even if it was a cup of water to hold on to for a few minutes and then dump on
my head. It made me feel better. I only took that one gel at mile 1 though.
After that gel I knew my stomach wasn’t going to handle anything else. I knew
that if I just kept myself hydrated and cool that I would be just fine.
Indeed I was just fine. I ended up finishing with my
best pace off the bike all year and not to mention a new PR by 2 minutes at the
Olympic distance!
RUN
TIME: 52:30
OVERALL
TIME: 2:35:43
2013 has been a truly great year for me. I have
learned so much about the sport of triathlon, about myself, about training and
especially about racing. I have met some inspirational triathletes that I have
the privilege of calling my friends! I have taken all of their advice and I
believe it has truly helped in my performances this year. I have the best
support system and the best training partners. I already cannot wait for 2014!
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