Wasa Lake 2009

420/504 225/245 35/36 M3034OLY - 471 33:59 - 366 1:24:31
- 409 1:02:30 - 3:00:58.3

Woke up early packed up camp in record time and drove to the race site. Mike /Jen were car parked #2 and I was #5 followed shortly by Sue / Lawrence and the fast lady that ran with Coach's crew yesterday. It's always a good sign when the parking lot is empty as it causes one less stress to pop up.

Found an acceptable transition spot, got marked, set up my spot. walked around transition to get a good mental image of what was where, Waved at the Master Steve King. Looked out at the swim markers and thought to myself that it didn't look as scary as Sylvan as I could see all the markers.

Got the wetsuit on about 25min before my scheduled race time. Shelly gave me the best wetsuit fitting of my triathlon life, it didn't feel like a vice grip on me and I was actually walking around without looking like I had gorilla arms. Got in waist high and got my face wet and met a lady that was so happy someone else was wearing a Neoprene Swim Cap as they do keep your head warmer. I even got my head under the water without hyper-ventilating like normal. I was picking at my fingernail that had just decided to bother me just as I heard the word GO and the people jumping around me. Guess the nail can wait.

SWIM - was good and relatively straight along the left side of the course. I kept my pace as constant as I could. I did get bumped a couple times as I decided to seed myself a bit higher than usual. I did have a guy swim against the flow and crash into me. He must have sighted and turned around as he cut me off a second time, at least this time he didn't hit me. That's the second swim I have been in where someone gets so turned around in the middle of the pack of people. Got to the first turn and kept wide of the right hander and got around nicely. Hit the lap button 14:32, thought that would be when the ladies would be starting behind me shortly, got to the next marker at the top of the triangle 2:47. Still no issues and I got a bit excited as I did race math in my head and my brain was telling me I was on a record pace (note I did a 41& 52 min Olympic swim in the past) So either my training is going increasing well or the swim was short. Despite the rumors I am putting my money on my training. I finished the last leg of the swim in 15:45. by my watch I swam in 33:04 which included a good run from the beach to the parking lot. My goodness that was different.

T1 - I kept my head on straight and my prescription goggles on till I was infront of my spot. Mr King pointed me out and talked about how my swim has improved from when he first saw me 3 seasons ago at the sylvan half when my sister and Mother convinced him to let me go onto the bike course as I was WAY past the swim deadline. They said I biked up a couple mountains in France. That was good enough for me he told the nurse to let me keep going. I will always remember what he said into his mike as I got out of the water. "Ladies and Gentalmen that is our last swim finisher, he biked up Ventoux and Alpe d'Huez last year so we know he has cycling power, lets see what he can do after swiming 2km" Remembering him say that still brings a chill up my spine.

Back to this race. It was a quick Transition I think I hit the lap button on my watch and I think my time from the timing mat to the end of my changing was 1:59. Mind you it was a long run to the bike. I got to the mount line and something different happened. I thought I was locked into the left pedel and swong my right lag over the bike at that moment I looked down and realized I was NOT in the left pedel properly and I was sliding off it. I almost caught the bike seat in the manly jewels not good in any way. I hit the pavement and landed my left knee on the chainring. I now have 4 poke marks from the teeth and one good scrape as I tried to stand up. Not my most fav moment of the event.

BIKE - I got rolling and took it easy for the first bit to bring my HR down to Zone 3ish. I saw the first place guy riding towards me when I was at about 8km he was going fast! I tried to stay in the Aero Position as much as I could but I did notice my back was hurting a bit. Mind you sleeping on the ground for a few nights might have affected it. Got to the turn around and the fast Ladies were right behind me. I knew the course wasn't perfectly flat but it slowly rose to the turnaround so I really enjoyed the downhill once I got turned around.

RUN - as I looked at the map I was confused as to where this route would take us but I had faith that the volunteers would guide us well. I wanted to practice my run walk plan I used in the marathon just walk the aid stations only. I do think I did that there was only one spot not in an aid station that I did walk in so I am happy with that. I was running behind a guy in a bright Jersey and the fast lady went past me around K-3 and said "Come on Randy Push it" I took a deep breath and pushed it and kept up with her for a few moments. I looked at the garmin at one point and it said my pace was 5:30, I don't remember it ever saying that!

I got back to the transition area and turned onto that sand path. I never really ran on sand before and I realized it was something I should have tried in training, oops. It was a bit cruel to have to run past the finish area with about 2.5k left to run. I did the second turnaround and by the time I got to the little fence where the volunteer said "200 meteres to go" I was in very much tunnel vision mode and going all out. I thought I heard my coach yell something out to me as I passed but I have no clue what was said.

FINISH crossed the line and the clock said 2:40:00 and I was estatic as I couldn't beleve it. Then I looked at my Timax and it said 3:01:29. Natalie appeared from somewhere and I still don't know what was said becasue my brain was still foggy. Apparently she was sitting next to Coach and his family watching me finish.

NUTRITION - I had a Cliff Bar in my pocket and I had broke it into 3 and tried to eat at 10, 20, 30 km of the bike. Drank a bottle and half of Nuun as well. On the run 1 water 1 gatoraid at the stations. Gels at 4 and 7k I think.