5430 Sprint Distance Tri (Boulder) 2009

Boulder, CO
Date: Sunday June 21, 2009
1 of 3 in the 5430 Series

Roof Mounted Bike Racks... Hitch Mounted Bike Racks... The silhouette of Time Trial/Triathlon Style Gear shifters were my view as I watched the many cars in front of me...

...the air temperature was 53 degrees ...the time was 4:45am as I left Highlands Ranch, CO in route to my first triathlon of the season: 5430 Sprint in Boulder, CO!

Sprint Distances today:

Swim: 750M
Bike: 17 miles
Run: 3.1 Miles

Relative to traditional Sprint Distance races, this swim is a little shorter, the bike a little longer and the run the normal distance 5K!

Perfect weather for a Triathlon! Sun was bright and air relatively cool... I set up my transition area for Wave 10: Men 60+; Women 50+; Athena

I raced Athena, the weight class category for Triathlon Events. Women racing in this category must weigh over 150lbs.

My wave was scheduled to start at 8:15am, the final wave of this Sprint event. I had ample time to get oriented to the water and check my goggles for proper seal. All was well! I was ready to go! And this time I would remember to start my watch since I had forgotten to do this just two weeks ago during our race rehearsal.

Barry Siff, the race director and our announcer gave the ten second warning and then we were off!!



** The Swim **

Swim: 00:17:14.6
Run to Mat: 00:01:22.3
Total: 00:18:42.0

I was positioned to swim the Clock-wise course starting "Center/Back". I wanted to position myself in line with the buoy's because it was difficult to see them in the sun glare. I also wanted to position myself toward the back to avoid aggressive swimmers who might swim over me.

When I swim, I naturally breathe to my left and I often find it slightly more challenging to swim and sight to my right but that was the course "on tap" for today. The game plan was to swim strong to the first turn, settle in, then "Head down and pull hard!"

The water was calm today... no winds... no white caps... just me against the water... I gracefully glided through the flailing arms and legs as we swam into the sun.

Approximately 200M from the swim start I felt disoriented. I could not see the first buoy and I lost some time as I stopped swimming to tread water long enough to sight which direction I should be heading.

Finally I found the buoy! It seemed to take forever to see it... however, I felt better about being able to see my actual target rather than following the other swimmers that seemed to arbitrarily navigate their path of travel.

The adrenaline of the race rushed through my veins... "...just settle in..." I thought to myself... I usually realax soon after I reach the first buoy, but today was a little different. I had reached the first buoy... then the second... I turned and headed toward the third... unfortunately I could not relax... could not find the rhythm that I know I can have in the open water... fourth buoy was on my right... and the finishers arch just ahead! So about 200M from shore, I felt myself begin to relax. I relaxed long enough to remember to pull hard, keep my head down and to streamline my legs.

Next thing I knew, my hands were hitting sand and it was time to stand up and run to the swim finish mat just up the sandy hill. 00:17:14.6 was the elapsed time to the shore, and 00:18:42.0 would be logged as my swim split which included my run from the shore to the mat.

One leg down, two to go!



** T1: Transition from Swim to Bike - 00:03:33.1 **

I tip toed through the transition area... the ground course on my feet. I found my bike and began the sequence of removing my wetsuit. I balanced myself as I put dry socks on my wet feet... first one, then the other. Shoes on and shoe straps velcro’d. Transition went flawlessly! No strange kinks in my socks or sand between my toes... Helmet on and buckled, Glasses on, bike in hand and ready to go! I trotted toward Bike start and Mount Line! We're off!



Bike: 1:11.4 - Avg Speed 13.5 MPH (Max Speed: 37.2)

My legs felt good out of the swim and on to the bike. My E9 was in a low spinning gear! I managed to get clipped in and headed out of the Res' toward 51st street! Bike leg underway.

While the course is relatively flat, I am sensitive to the slightest incline... so I felt myself laboring along Hwy 36 as I made my way to Neva Road.

Now Neva Road is my cycling fantasy as it is a curvy down hill stretch! I hit top speed of 37.2 MPH, exceeding the posted speed limit! I whizzed by several cyclists that passed me on the gentle climb of Hwy 36 and I rode out of the saddle to the top of the roller that followed the down hill! Weeeeeeeeeeee!!! I was definitely in my zone here!

My legs spun at a fantasy cadence... 'round and 'round they went! My arms lay gently in my aero bars... the derailleur lead as my bike chain danced across my rear sprockets... my head was relaxed and eyes were forward! -- I just love the gentle down grade slope on that back road... I cornered like a pro as I turned from Neva Rd on to 63rd... maintaining top speed. I reeled in two more cyclists on my way to the Diagonal.

On the home stretch, back into the Res'... the photographer snapped my photo just after the hill climb! 17.2 Miles Done! Lap Time: 01:11.40.0 - 13.5 MPH Average Speed!

Two legs done, and one to go!



** T2: Transition from Bike to Run - 00:02:55.9 **

I found my transition area easily in the many rows of racked bikes... Helmet off... visor on... cycling shoes off... running shoes on... Wrist GPS switched to running mode! Final leg awaits... ready to go!



Run: 49:27 - Avg pace 15:58

I ran parallel with the Finishers shoot... I was cheered on by many present and past team mates from CWW as well as Colorado Athletic Club! My pace was a stellar 00:11:20 which is super fast for me. I was excited that my legs wanted to move that fast... and I was hopeful to meet or exceed my race goals for my run!

Well the fantasy pace was short lived... the sun was high in the sky and the toll of my day's efforts descended upon me. My pace slowed to it's normal 14+ minute mile... which is ok... I kept a supportive mental attitude as I labored to reach the half mile point.

When I run, I love to greet and encourage those who are one their way "Home"... "Way to go"... "Keep it Going" I shouted to the oncoming stream of traffic... trying desperately to distract myself from my slower than desired run pace. I trotted onward... finally reaching Mile Marker 1 my GPS displayed the 00:14:21.1 mile pace... not too bad... if I could just hold on.

I drank water from the aid station and tried to settle in for the next half mile to the turn around. It was a beautiful day... how wonderful to just be there... how wonderful to see friends that I only see at races... and how wonderful to be supported by so many friends who were also on the race course!!

Run Carla, Run! I thought to myself... my original slogan from my fund raising efforts of 2001! I had reached the turn around, "Thanked the Volunteers"... and was now heading "Home".

"Just hold on" I thought to myself... dropping to a walk every few steps... "Just keep moving"... I was tired... and had no energy to push any harder... so I walked on... running when I could and accepting fate when I could not.

Mile Marker 2 - 00:16:32.4... a tad disappointing... my race goal was to run sub-14 min miles... and this was far from it. "Win the mental game!" I thought to myself... so no negative thoughts... "...just finish up..." ...so I trotted forward!

I spotted my friend Carol who was on her way to the turn around... "Catch me" I yelled to her... and that she did. With three quarters of a mile to go, Carol had caught me... "Nice Work" I said as she passed me and I continued my own effort to get to the finish line. Somehow she slowed down or I speed up and I caught her at the half mile mark... we ran together for a bit... and just when we had a quarter mile to go... she picked up the pace... so I picked up my pace... it all seemed "in fun" yet a little early for the "Vanity Sprint Finish" that I always "save myself" for.

Well, the faster she went, the faster I went until we finally hit the top of the Finishers shoot and it was "ON!" She ran FLAT OUT and I ran FLAT OUT!! It was FINISH LINE or BUST!! I could not see where she was... how close or how far... I just ran with everything I had toward the Finish Line!

The announcer saw us dueling it out and announced our names over the loud speaker! The crowd roared in support of our competition! I snuck in a "Win" under the wire!!! She just behind me!

5430 Sprint DONE!!

Big Fun in the Sun!!!

Swim, Bike, Run!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mile Splits:
-----------
Mile 1 - 14:21.1
Mile 2 - 16:32.4
Mile 3 - 16:49.3


Total Triathlon Time: 2:26:20

(s.b.l.7.3.2..3.4)