Dragonfly Triathlon
June 14, 2014
June 14, 2014
0.5 mile swim/ 18 mile bike/ 4 mile run
This was one of my favorite races so far. It was a little over an hour from my house so I had to leave by 5:50. It was mid 60s at the start of the race and clear skies. Couldn't ask for anything better. I think I heard the water was 77 degrees. It was a beautiful race site, too, but I didn't get pictures since Nathan was working and I left my phone in the car.
It's fun to know quite a few people in the running and triathlon communities because I saw a lot of them at the race.
The swim start was a little bit tricky because of the position of the first green turn buoy and the sun. I swam past the orange buoy that's placed between the shore and the turn buoy for sighting without any difficulties, but then I couldn't see the green buoy anywhere. I was surrounded by swimmers so I figured I was at least somewhat on course. At one point I stopped swimming to look around and a girl next to me did the same. I asked her where the buoy was and somehow she saw it and pointed me in the right direction (which wasn't where I had been headed). Once we made that turn it was easier to see the rest of the buoys. My swim time seemed long for half a mile, especially since I was passing people (I rarely pass people in the water!) A lot of people were saying their times seemed longer than usual, too, so I'm wondering if we all swam off course a bit before the first turn.
The bike course was flat for the first (and last) 8 miles. There were hills in the middle leading up to the turn around point. I think this is the first time I didn't ride my brakes all the way down the hills!
Around mile 15 I looked behind me to see if anyone was passing and noticed a girl drafting behind me. Drafting in triathlon is illegal, and if race officials catch it happening the person gets a time penalty. Of course there were no race officials around. I kept speeding up a bit, but she always managed to come back up and sit on my wheel again. I was getting mad and I kept looking back at her and she wasn't taking the hint. After a mile or so I shifted into a bigger gear and took off, and finally lost her because she couldn't keep up with me.
My legs felt horrible for the first mile of the run, but I didn't let myself walk. At this point I was feeling competitive, which is unusual, and I wanted to push myself as hard as I could. I think it was because this is probably the last triathlon until the 70.3 next April (I'm really sad about this!) After the first mile we entered the woods for 2 miles of trails. With all the rain we had been getting recently I thought the trail would be really muddy but it was actually in pretty good condition.
Around mile 1.5 my heart rate was 175 and the trail was beginning a slight incline. I slowed down to a fast walk until my heart rate went back under 160 and started running again. The next mile was fun jumping over roots and running down hills. Around mile 2.5 the trail had a steep hill that everyone I saw was walking. I tried running up the hill but ended up walking it, too. After that there was another half mile before we exited the woods and ran the last mile along the same road as we did for mile 1. I was running my fastest pace during that last mile and although I wanted to slow down I convinced myself to keep pushing the pace.
I came in 3rd in my age group! By under a minute. The girl in 4th place was faster than me in both the swim and the bike, but I made up for it with the run. I'm so happy I pushed as hard as I did on the run even though my heart and legs were begging me to slow down. This was the first time I ever placed!
The only races left for the rest of the year is a 10 miler in November and the St. Jude Half Marathon in December. I'm really bummed out and keep looking for more triathlons to squeeze into the summer. The only one that would have been able to fit, the Annie Oakley Tri, was cancelled. I've been in a bit of a funk for the last few weeks with my training since nothing is in my immediate future, however, registration for Ironman 70.3 Texas opens on Thursday and that might be the motivation I need!
Around mile 15 I looked behind me to see if anyone was passing and noticed a girl drafting behind me. Drafting in triathlon is illegal, and if race officials catch it happening the person gets a time penalty. Of course there were no race officials around. I kept speeding up a bit, but she always managed to come back up and sit on my wheel again. I was getting mad and I kept looking back at her and she wasn't taking the hint. After a mile or so I shifted into a bigger gear and took off, and finally lost her because she couldn't keep up with me.
My legs felt horrible for the first mile of the run, but I didn't let myself walk. At this point I was feeling competitive, which is unusual, and I wanted to push myself as hard as I could. I think it was because this is probably the last triathlon until the 70.3 next April (I'm really sad about this!) After the first mile we entered the woods for 2 miles of trails. With all the rain we had been getting recently I thought the trail would be really muddy but it was actually in pretty good condition.
Around mile 1.5 my heart rate was 175 and the trail was beginning a slight incline. I slowed down to a fast walk until my heart rate went back under 160 and started running again. The next mile was fun jumping over roots and running down hills. Around mile 2.5 the trail had a steep hill that everyone I saw was walking. I tried running up the hill but ended up walking it, too. After that there was another half mile before we exited the woods and ran the last mile along the same road as we did for mile 1. I was running my fastest pace during that last mile and although I wanted to slow down I convinced myself to keep pushing the pace.
I came in 3rd in my age group! By under a minute. The girl in 4th place was faster than me in both the swim and the bike, but I made up for it with the run. I'm so happy I pushed as hard as I did on the run even though my heart and legs were begging me to slow down. This was the first time I ever placed!
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| My trophy! (And- appropriately- a can of peanuts in the background) |
The only races left for the rest of the year is a 10 miler in November and the St. Jude Half Marathon in December. I'm really bummed out and keep looking for more triathlons to squeeze into the summer. The only one that would have been able to fit, the Annie Oakley Tri, was cancelled. I've been in a bit of a funk for the last few weeks with my training since nothing is in my immediate future, however, registration for Ironman 70.3 Texas opens on Thursday and that might be the motivation I need!
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