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.
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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