NJ State Olympic Triathlon - Race Report

"Dust off the cob webs, hope you are sober enough to race and accept the large piece of humble pie!"

This is the best way for me to start off my first ever race report report I could think of.  This was essentially the thought that ran through my mind Saturday night and Sunday morning.  I am not a newbie to triathlons, but it has been just over 2 years since I competed in a triathlon.  Apparently spectating, reading numerous articles on the latest tri technology and training methods does not replace actually participating, as my body found out.  I am sure that spending a week in Wine Country (Sonoma, CA) drinking/eating and flying in Saturday morning was not the best way to prepare for Sunday, but it was not the culprit for my performance and bodies reaction.  I needed to prepare and train in all 3 disciplines much more than I had in the weeks leading in, so I need to only look in the mirror if I am not pleased with the outcome.
Race Morning:
     - Woke 4:30 (ugh that time change hurt!)
     - Nutrition:  This was not very scientific for me.  I essentially asked Maureen what she was doing and tried to basically mimic, so everything leading up to the start was liquids. (Coffee, Gatorade Endurance, Gu Brew Roctane and Carbo Pro).

Swim (29:05): This was my lightest trained discipline leading into the race, so my strategy was stay relaxed, make sure I maintain consistent breathing and if I come in under 30 minutes that would be OK.  Mission accomplished as I was never winded during the swim and finished under 30 minutes.

T1 (2:53):  Stomach cramps started kicking in after finishing the swim, but I think my slow trot into T1 was offset by utilizing Caitlin's transitions lessons.  My transition spot was very simple and clean with only the things needed for bike (helmet, socks and shades).  I had my shoes already clicked onto my pedals with rubber band,s as we were shown by Caitlin.  This helped a lot because my slow trot was much quicker than those running in their bike shoes.

Bike (57:53. 23.3 mph): Legs were not responding very well.  They just burned and hurt almost immediately. The language in my head became very loud, angry and would not be appropriate to put into written words.  Let's just leave as I was not happy with myself, body and my head was expressing it bluntly.  Got passed by 2 riders in 1st lap early. Towards the end of the first lap I started finding my rhythm, cadence and that noise in my head became more positive.  2nd loop.. Passing a lot of people, feeling good, than WHOOSH!!! I look up and watch Derek hammer past me.  He gives me his unique "thumbs-up" as he buzzed bye.  It was great to see a fellow Devil blasting the field and passing some many riders.  The normal reaction after he passed  a rider was they looked at their wheels (nope your wheels aren't flat), then check their computer (as their mind tries to do the math) and finally watching them shake their head (realizing that catching him was an impossibility). My good feeling took a bit of hit after getting the Derek fly-bye, but I started getting back into my own rhythm again.  I did wonder how I swam faster than Derek, but I'll let him explain. Moments later........ "On your left" I hear from a very soft FEMALE voice.  Oh Sh$t, I'm getting chicked! Sure enough, seconds later I get passed.  Finished the 2nd loop and prepared to dismount.  I tried my newly learned method of getting out of your shoes while riding towards T2.  This worked well when I practiced it, but after finishing the ride my legs were tired and started cramping as I was attempting to work my feet out.  After a bit of working I got them out, but I bailed on the running dismount as I was cramping and was not confident in my legs actually supporting my body dismounting in motion.  The thought of falling like a drunk and launching my bike into the spectators flashed through me head, so I decide to come to a complete stop and take my time dismounting.

T2 (1:14):  running shoes on. Started to leave with belt and visor in hand.  Good transition

Run (48:29):  This was not pretty.  As I left T2 the cramps in my right abdomen began to hit hard.  My original goal and plan was to run as hard as I could and try to hang on.  My idea of running hard is to push my body into anaerobic zone (heavy breathing, legs burning, etc...).  The sharp cramp pains however prevented me from taking my normal stride and I needed to modify it into a sort of quick shuffle.  I walked the water stations taking in fluids and pouring several cups over my body and hoped this would help the cramping.  Unfortunately it did not and continued through all 10K.  Again, that voice in my head became loud and angry, but this time the only salvation was the finish line.  "Every step makes the finish line closer and the quicker I can move my feet the sooner the pain stops".
Finish (2:19.33)

Parting thoughts:  Sunday turned out to be the best day for me.  I made promises to myself during the race, similar to a drunk leaning over a toilet does about never drinking again.  However my promises to myself were to get going with training, have fun and no excuses because you reap what you sow.
Brian - the Other Cullen