Great Team Race yesterday at Massachusetts State Triathlon.
Put on by Max Performance, race director Tim Richmond always puts together a fantastic race. Yesterday was no exception. I did this race last year, in very similar conditions- hot, humid, warm water, and with some rough road conditions. However, the team of Max Performance volunteers were at every potential dangerous spot on the course and although the roads were not buttery smooth, the rough patches were marked clearly and there were even cones over any potential hazards.
When I set my bike up in transition, I looked around at the other competitors in my area with similar race numbers. Looked to me like there was a tough set of women in my age group, and many collegiate athletes. I shut out all the "noise," set up my transition area, and took off to warm up on the bike. It was nice and cool in the morning and I felt ready to race my first Olympic race of the season. I came back into transition, said hello to all the other BPC athletes participating: Coach Vic, Lauren Walker, Laura Miyakawa, Jason Gentili, Jesse Wendell, Bret Fortenberry, and Jeff Tassi. It's always great to have other BPC folks at a race, it provides a bit more incentive as a coach and an athlete to do my best.
I finished my last set of details for transition set up, put on my wetsuit and headed into the water to warm up. Boy, that water was so warm, it's a beautiful lake and it was crystal clear. I swam out to the final buoy, and then back to the beach for the final race meeting.
After the national anthem, we headed up onto the grass to wait for the sprint racers to start. I ran into some old friends and we chatted as we waited. I always hate to wait for the race to start, it seems like forever. Finally, 30minutes after the first sprint wave started we were ready to go. We entered the water and swam out to the start line. The ground below the waters was gross and mucky, so we all treaded water waiting for the starting gun. And then the 10sec count down...we were off!
I swam hard to the first buoy. Usually, I can get some clear water and find a slightly faster swimmer to hang with. Wow- not this time. We were bumping up against each other all the way thru the race. By the time I reached the second of 7 buoys, I started passing the men's wave that started 4minutes prior. This gave me some confidence that I was swimming well, as I noticed a small group of women in my heat set off about 50 yards ahead of me. I came out of the water...25:10. Definitely not my fastest 1500m swim, but fine for me today. I ran up into transition area and worked on getting my HR down...I had to remember that this wasn't a sprint race and I needed my head to be clear for the long 25mile bike ride and 10K run.
Out on the bike- Always my best event in triathlon, I was happy to be out on the bike. I am definitely the strongest on the bike leg of the race and usually I end up passing all the people who beat my on the swim. So, I rode carefully, trying to keep my effort in check. My power tap wasn't calibrated correctly, which I didn't notice until my warm up ride, and at that point I didn't want to fiddle with it prior to the race. So, I had to go on perceived exertion. I felt like I did a good job holding my self back, even with the hills that I encountered. What was disturbing during the first 7 miles of the bike ride, so many people were off the side of the road with flat tires! The road conditions didn't seem too bad to me, and I just kept my eyes focused on the task at hand, not worrying about my tires. Last year at this race, my elbow pad holder cracked and I couldn't go into aero for the second loop of the bike. So, I wanted to be cautious, but I knew that in order to be a contender, I needed to do a solid ride, and be aggressive about the descents. I passed pretty much all of the sprinters and many of the men and females who came out of the water before me. I passed the other BPCer's who were out there except for coach Vic. I figured if I passed him, then he must really be having a rough day!
I came into transition and knew that there must still be some women out there ahead of me, since the bike racks were completely empty except for the bike next to mine and a few others in the one next to me. So, I put on my shoes, and headed out for the "dreaded" run. Last year, I remembered the run to feel like a LONG 10K course and the road conditions to be unfavorable. Nothing had changed for this year. Although much of the course is shaded, which was great, since it was about 96 degrees, the footing is just awful and my injured heel was not happy. First two miles in, I felt pretty good, but not that I was able to run any faster. 7:30s so far...ok, I can be happy with that. Then came the first male as I was headed into the sunny section and hilly area of the course (it's an out and back race). Cool- ok, I know that I have about another mile out, so he's about 3 miles ahead of me. Ok, so now I start looking for Vic, because I know that he usually comes in the first 10 people of the race and that took my mind off the race. All of the sudden, footsteps behind me...crap, a 28 year old MIT women passes me. Not good. I NEVER get passed by women in the bike or run...males yes, but not females. I just kept on going, and then I saw Coach Vic, who looked solid and headed up towards the short out and back. Boom- first women passes the other way, ok, she looks about 21 and she's also a MIT racer. Ok, I can handle that. Following her were several other young men, and then 2,3,4 other women, plus I knew that I had been passed. Ok, so now I am in 6th place overall, fine, that means that unless I pick up the pace and get these girls I am out of the top group for the Best of the US. I wasn't feeling like I could run much faster, so I just kept on. The turn around I saw that there were 2 other women right on my heels and that if I wanted to keep my place, I needed to pick it up. Well, I just didn't have it. I was passed by the two other women and that's how it stayed thru to the finish. I knew that I didn't have much left to give when I couldn't even sprint it out to the line!
However the results fell, I am still happy with the race and now know what work needs to be done prior to USA AGE GROUP Nationals in Burlington on August 20th. Congratulations to all the racers, and especially the BPC athletes. We had 4 podium finishes!
Results: Mass State Triathlon
Vic Brown 111 2:14:25 2nd AG, 8th OA
Jason Gentili 2:29:27 10th AG
Ali Winslow 2:32:59 3rd AG
Bret Fortenberry 2:42:00 19th AG
Laura Miyakawa 2:44:20 2nd AG
Lauren Walker 2:44:51 3rd AG
Jeff Tassi 3:12:38 28th AG
Jesse Wendell DNF (flat tire) 26:39 swim- 6min PR!
Other Races:
Fairlee Triathlon
Sarah Filion 3:01:00 6th AG
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