4.4 MILE Run

Ran 4.4 Miles tonight after work in 44:10.  Not that fast, but at least I upped the distance.  And at least I ran.

3000 Yard Swim

Swam 3000 yards in 1:11.  I was going to do the Lake T tri, but they were forecasting vicious thunderstorms, so at least I swam.  3000 yards is 1.7 miles.  I need to work up to 3.  I got a vicous calf cramp in the last 10 yards of my swim.

2.4 Mile Run

Ran my route tonight in 23:18.  Legs were tired.  It was a beautiful night to run.  I didn't feel like working out all day so I finally forced myself.  I wish I enjoyed it more.  My left hip felt some stiffness.

20 Mile Bike

Rode 20 miles this morning.  I had to abbreviate my normal route due to paving, but I did a second loop.  Good for me.  I did not go fast and my back and butt hurt some.  I need to keep going at these distances.  Plus I need to ride much more reguarly.  I do like it once I get out there.

2.4 Mile Run

Ran 2.4 after work tonight in 22:58 again.  It wasn't quite as humid and was much cooler so i should have run faster

30 Minute Bike/1 Mile Run

Did a hard bike for 30 minutes at the gymn and then ran 1 mile on the treadmill.  Would have gone longer, but had to have a bathroom break.

2000 Yard Swim

Swam 2000 yards at the pool today.  I need to gradually increase my yardage up to 3 miles.

2.4 Mile Run

Didn't get up to go to the Amica Race.  I didn't sleep well, and was still tired.  I think it was for the best as I got to rest some today.  This evening, I ran 2.4 miles in very humid conditions in 22:59, not bad for the conditions.

I did sign up today for the Niantic Triathlon in early August.  I will hopefully do a Lake T race before then.

Pat Griskus Sprint 7-11-2012

I have wanted to do this race for a number of years, but it always sells out before hand. This is one of the oldest triathlons in the state and I have nothing but good things about it. I signed up a couple weeks ago. The race is held at the Lake Quassy Amusement Park so I brought Chevaughn, Ashley and Zoey with me so they could do the park while I raced.

 I was in the last wave for the swim. It seems I am always in the last wave. The swim course was very interesting. They broke the waves into two, half swam down the left of one set of red buoys and the other swam down the right side of another set of red buoys, at the end, once you passed the final and yellow buoy, you swung around and everyone swam down the middle lane. I used the wet suit again, the water was even warmer than for the Quassy Mile. I swam easily, but did feel a little tired. There weren't too many collisions. I passed many swimmers who didn't look like they were going very fast, lots of people doing breast stroke or stopping to hug safety buoys. When I came out of the water, we had to run a fair way barefooted across pavement which was hard on my tender feet.

I chose a spot in the transition against the side, a little out of the way, but it enabled me to sit on a saw horse to take off the wet suit. I also dried my feet, put on socks, and my cycling shoes. I had a hard time getting out of transition as another clydesdale was walking with his bike quite slowly and blocking any chance to get by him, and then once I got on the bike, he swerved in front of me, causing me to almost fall. I had to clip out and use my feet to keep balance on the bike.

The bike was very beautiful, but seemed longer than the 10.5 miles. There were several hills, that while I never had to drop into my lowest climbing gear, still left me panting. I did pass quite a number of bikers on the hills and throughout the course. On one hill, there was a peleton of people walking with their bikes. At one point there was also car going slowly up the hill, and the car combined with the walking peleton made it very hard to keep going. There was one dangerous spot on the course where there is an S curve. I had heard about it, but just expected I would be warned in advance. As I climbed a small rise, I was passed by two speeding bikers, who suddenly and inexplicably slammed on the their brakes and started wobbling as we went doiwn a hill. I hit my brakes too, and wobbled as well, and sure enough we were on the S curve. I managed to stay on the bike and get through okay. Overall, I was happy with the bike, even though I am still holding back some.

In t2, I used a race belt for the first time, which enabled me to swim with my tri top, thus sparing me the time loss of putting my top on a wet body and getting it snagged like always happened. The run scared me at first because it began with a long, steep downhill, and all I could think about was having to run back up it, but running back up it wasn't that bad.

I was glad to finish and glad to have raced. I would rate this race very similar to the Niantic and Dave Parcells races in that they are great first timer and back of the pack races. Where I am normally in the 90% range, for this one I was at 70%.

Here are my times: (427 racers)
 Swim 19:25 (200)
 T1 2:31 (299)
 Bike 43:25 (314)
 T2 1:23 (300)
 Run 31:57 (339)
 Total 1:38:46 (303 of 427) Clydesdale (16 of 25)

 Results

Black Fly International Triathlon 7-07-2012

Results

Went up with the family for the weekend of races.  I was thinking about doing all three events, but not quite feeling back to normal, I opted for just the International race.  I admit I was greatly dreading the bike course, not the first downhill part, but the 10 mile uphill at the end.  While this year, I did not have the blissful ignorance of the course, I did have an earlier starting time which is key in the time trial format so instead of going off last, I went off reasonably early.

The swim went fine.  I did not use a wet suit.  The water was initially cold, but I soon adjusted to it.

 My T-1 transition was very slow.  I couldn't get my tri shirt on.  I must buy a racing belt, so I can swim with the tri top.  It took me forever to get the shirt down on my wet body.  I ended up taking more time then to dry my feet and put my sox on, as well as bike gloves.

I took it easy on the bike downhill, wanting to conserve energy.  I never went into the drops, coasted a lot, and only briefly used my big third gear.  The ride back was a bit grueling, but not as bad as I remembered it.  I only used the low gear twice.

 

I was better in transition 2, and then ran at my usual slow but still running pace.  I tried to take time to enjoy the scenery.

As soon as you cross the finish line, they hand you a driping ice cold wet towel to drap around your neck.  It is better than any medal.

I ended up a little slower than last year, but almost all of that was due to the T1 time.  I was thirty seconds slower in the swim, my bike was a minute faster and my run was the same time.

Next year, I hope to do all three events -- time trial, international and short course.


Notes on climb: 1278 foot climb, 2555 elevation change. 

12 Mile Bike/2.4 Mile Run Brick

Got up this morning just as the rain was ending.  Rode, but could not do my normal route as part of the road was freshly chewed up by construction, so I changed the route some.  I may have gone more miles, but my goal was to go at least 12.  I don't have my computer on the bike now so it is all estimate.  On returning home, I did a medicum paced transition and ran 2.4 miles.  From starting out riding with cool temperatures, by the end it was hot humid with steam rising off the pavement, and I was soaked.  Overall though I felt good.  I think I will be all right on the bike at Black Fly, while it is ten miles of uphill, it is a gradual uphill and gradual is easier than steep.  The run I will be slow, but hope to be able to go without stopping to walk.  I may permit myself a walk at the water stations.  Glad I got out this morning. 

2.4 Mile run

Ran in the heat and humidity tonight after 12 hours of work.  Did the route in a sweaty 23:38.