Posts tagged mooseman
Posts tagged mooseman
What a day! Despite the hills and the pouring rain for the ENTIRE RACE, I legitimately had a great day. I remember thinking several times during parts of each leg, that there is nothing more I’d rather be doing… 6 months ago if you told me I’d think that while I’m swimming, biking and running 70 miles, I would have said you have the wrong person.
My recap;
Pre-Race: After Saturday’s race checkin, I decided to drive the bike course and check out these hills. Having done most of my training on flat Long Island, I was nervous about the New Hampshire hills… and rightfully so. I could not believe some of the climbs I was going to have to do, I felt like my CAR had trouble! I drove the course and it hurt my confidence, but at least I knew what I was in for the next day so I’m glad I did it. I got a semi-decent night’s sleep in at a hotel 30 mins away, woke up at 4AM, got there by 5, and ready to start already.
Swim: Of all three legs, the swim was technically my best at just under 41minutes. Being this is only my 2nd tri, I mostly kept to the outside of the pack, although mixed it up a few times at the turns and followed some feet along the way with no issues. Felt like I was cruising so smoothly, and nothing felt better than passing a few people from the previous waves.
What an amazing lake! When you turned for a breath, you could clearly see someone probably 20feet to the side, definitely not like any other OWS I’ve swam in (mostly the long island sound).
When I got out for T1, I felt great, ready to get on the bike. I think once I got in the water my nerves of the unknown finally calmed down.
Bike: Ahh the bike, what an experience this was! By this time, it was raining already and at times POURING. My bike experience consists of about 300 miles on relatively flat roads, so I knew I was in for a long one. The Mooseman course was a 2 loop course with a ride up and down from the loop (picture a circle sitting on top of a V).
The “left” side of the loop was crazy. There was about a 3mile climb capped off with a super steep segment, where about 1 in 3 riders were walking their bikes up. My 1st loop I wasnt sure how I’d feel the next time I got back to this spot, so I popped off and walked my bike a bit to get to the top… to see a woman dressed up as the devil, welcome to hell! :D
The “top” side of the loop felt like all downhill which I felt like I deserved. With the pouring rain and parts limited by the officials, it was difficult for me to break 30mph. I just wasnt comfortable having never ridden in the rain and literally closing my eyes at times because the rain was pelting into my face! (I only had dark sunglasses so didnt wear them)
The “right” side of the loop was great, nice big rolling hills on a highway. I felt like I biked this segment great and was able to pass a few people who passed me on the hillls. (who will later repass me for good on the 2nd loop)
Back-around for the 2nd time at about 25 miles in, and I felt surprisingly fresh and was ready for another round. This time I knew what to expect, and pushed through as best I could, and even powered up the devil hill on my bike having more confidence in my legs.
I got a sense of the time at the end of this loop, I was 3hrs on the bike at mile 45. I kept up on my hydration/nutrition and just powered through the last 10 miles, trying to cycle as best as I could. I finished up the bike at about 3hrs 40mins. At the time, I wasn’t thrilled, but all things considered, it was the furthest bike, my 1st time in rain, and by far the hilliest ride I’ve ever done so I got over it quick.
Run: When I got in for the run, my legs felt like they were toast. I stepped out onto the run, and surprisingly… I felt like “I can do this.” By the time I got to the turn around of the 2loop run, I realized my body is game for this run as long as I can keep my mind in it. I never expected to run the whole 13.1 miles, but I did! As with the bike, I never ran this far. I was slow, but running … and clocked in at 2hrs 20mins. I felt like the tortoise in the tortoise in the hair, because there were people who kept walking and running that I’d keep passing over and over. During the run, it was still raining, but I was starting to heat up so I was glad. They did a great job with the aide-station placement so it was easy to stay hydrated and the calories coming in during the run.
Summing it up:
What a day and what a race. I felt like I prepared correctly and was able to manage my energy and nutrition to last for the full 70.3 miles, I truly felt like I gave my last bit of energy on the last mile and was happy to finish, even it was in 6:57:21 (727/840)
I targeted this goal in December 2009 and am so happy I found triathlon and look forward to getting more time in the water, more miles on the bike, and becoming a faster runner.
Over the past 6 months, I went from an occasional runner to a triathlete.
In the process…
All is said, mission accomplished, yah… now time to get back on the bike! NYC Tri Oly coming up 7/18
