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Presidential Lakes Olympic Challenge Triathlon - 2013 - By Mike Wojcik

8/23/2013

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Presidential Race Report

Presidential Lakes Olympic Triathlon
DQ Events
August 11, 2013
Browns Mill, NJ
139 competing athletes


Total Time 2:29:21 4th in age group, PR, 23rd overall

I have done two DQ Events triathlons in the past 12 months. I have read on other race reports that all venues seem similar. I am not sure that is true but they are tough to find with both I have done being held in private communities with now actual address provided. I made my way into Presidential Lakes and had one heck of a time finding where to go, even with help from a volunteer. Parking was not supposed to be allowed on the roads so I ended up parking at the designated fire house a solid mile plus from the start.

Swim 28:47 56/139

The swim took place in a lake, one of those famous cedar lakes similar to that of Devilman. It was a two loop square course and wetsuit legal. I made my way in for a quick practice swim and found out just how dark it was, I really could have closed my eyes and had as much luck seeing underwater. That quick practice swim always seems to calm my nerves and I have to make a point of doing it when possible. I am not a strong starter as of yet, I seem to find my rhythm after the first buoy. I did better this time staying with the initial pack. The long straight away after the first turn is tough, you go right into the sun for a long section and the sun and glare made sighting tough but with the practice during time between this and my last race it was much improved.

T1 1:30 27/139

Transition was a quick straight shot into transition. The area is very small and my bike was right near the exit so I decided before hand to put shoes on instead of flying mount. No issue getting suit off but while I was pulling suit off I notices an aero water bottle on the ground similar to mind and thought it was strange.

Bike 1:10:12 16/139 21.8mph (based on 24.9, my garmin and others read 25.5 miles)

Bike course is a three loop course after headed out of park and through a few quick turns and a slight little hill. It is a fast course for sure. So, as I got out of the park and settled in I went to take a sip of from my aero bar mounted bottle..its not there, it was my bottle on the group in transition. I was amazed I didn't notice it and then side swiped a cone since I wasn't paying attention. Awesome. The first 3 miles my hamstrings were really tight so I did my best to keep a easier gear and faster cadence. I was lucky to have them loosen up. I felt really strong from that point on, my brother raced the du and was on the same course, I assumed he would be about 7 minutes or so ahead of me on the course and gave me a good point to chase. The bike's interesting events continued when the visor from my LG Vortice decided to put the screw and fly to the side like a sail. I was lucky to be able to rip it off and continue without stopping. The lack of hydration was hard and I used two gels at 8 and 16 miles to wet my mouth, which is lucky for the this distance I usually on carry one.The turn arounds were hard 180 degree turns and narrow so speeds dropped and many unclipped to be safe. I found my groove in gearing finding a high cadence is where I can get the most speed and still feel really good. I caught my brother by the start of lap three so I figured I was moving good. The deceptive thing is since there are also sprint athletes on the course its tough to know who you really are trying to beat. I didn't feel that confident that I gained spots until after and seeing the results.

T2 1:17 47/139

I hopped off the bike, left shoes attached to bike. Transition would have been a ton faster but I took some time to grab my bottle still on the group to grab some much needed fluids.

Run 47.37 33/139 7:41 pace

The run course is an out and back, leaving the park up a slight hill, through a wooded sanded trail and back onto the paved bike course and back. I got out of transition and felt strong, pushing a 7:17 pace over the first mile, aid station at start of mile two also signals the start of the mile on the sand. I did my best to find the hardest packed route but put a hurting on my time and dropped to a 7:52 pace. As I left the sand I hit another aid station to throw water on my head and back. On the races of olympic or shorted I really don't take on fluids, the dumping/soaking action helps me more than actual drinking. The longer distances its totally different. Once out of the sand I pushed out to the turn and back, dropped back into the 7:20 range. The sand again hurt pacing but still all and all felt good. The last mile run back into the park had a few little inclines that make it a little tougher but still felt ok, I was passed with about a quarter mile left by the guy who would go on to take third in our age group. I just couldn't hang onto him. He beat me by 15 seconds.

Take Aways

There was only a 75 second difference between 2nd and 4th in the age group. My swim was/is about 3 minutes slower than in May prior to Ironman. Honestly, I have hardly swam or trained since Texas in May, only averaging 4 or so hours a week and only making it possibly once a week to swim. Now I have the itch to train and focus again on lowering my numbers. Everyone talks of a post IM let down in training and I didn't believe it but it really affected me. The big positive take away is the past two races I felt like I was actually racing, going in with a set plan and being mentally strong enough to fight through the discomfort and random happenings, i.e. water bottle being knocked off bike and visor coming undone.
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