Island Lake Triathlon

I hesitated for a moment before submitting this one but then realized I promised myself not to sugar-coat any of my Ironman experience. Warning, brutal honestly to follow.

Race Report: Island Lake Tri - Olympic Distance (1.5k, 40k, 10k)

Executive Summary:
22:15 swim
1:01 bike (24.0mph)
39:34 run (6:22s)

Total: 2:06, 4th overall, 3rd in AG.

Mind Spill: (you've been warned)
It's been almost 5 years since I've raced a local triathlon. This is primarily because I've always used the American TTT as an early season gauge/race. Between this and a summer Ironman, it was enough to keep me busy training and there was little time to focus on any other local 'tune-up' races. The local tri seen has changed quite a bit since I first got into the sport 8 years ago. Previously it was a relatively small community with a very small number of races over the course of the summer. All the same guys would show up, because there were no other races around, and they would duke it out once or twice a month. They all knew each other and could look forward to battle every other week.
Enter the 2012 Metro Detroit Triathlon scene! Masses, upon masses of local tri clubs sponsored by bike shops, deluxe fitness center team and university clubs. 

We don't discriminate here in the "D"

There are team colors and team tents and team photos and yes, even team pre-race cheers and chants! Don't get me wrong it's all kinda cool and great for the sport but definitely different. With this triathlon explosion also comes a half a dozen event coordinators that basically compete and cover the weekends from Memorial Day thru the Fall all hoping to get their share of the booty. There are even weeknight races now!

My main issue with this new "which race should I pick" format is that there is no guarantee that the competition will be tough. Now don't get me wrong the 3 guys that whooped me on Saturday were clearly phenomenal athletes and on my best day I probably couldn't have hung with any of them, but my main concern is my 4th overall finish. For the effort I put forth, the race I had and how I felt while racing...no way I would have finished 4th back in the day! This local explosion has caused a incredible amount of dilution between all the truly fastest athletes in the area and the "great" races from just the okay ones.

And this just might begin to describe how deep this competitive nature runs in me. I had some good splits and placed 4th in a local race, big deal. I know a dozen guys that could have crushed me and knowing that, 4th place is meaningless. (sounds kinda like my spring 1/2 marathon results, huh!) After being exposed to this latest local phenomenon, I am continuing to define my "why Ironman" addiction. You're forced to sign up 1 year in advance, you pay out your ass for it and there are Kona spots riding on the line. Those 3 characteristic guarantee that your competition will be top notch and all the marbles will be riding on the line. You show up, and race fast and beat 95% of the field...now that's something to talk about! Call me elitist....this is just my opinion.

Sorry about that...diarrhea of the mind, I've obviously been thinking a lot about all of this lately....and how that for setting the tone!

SWIM:
If your a good swimmer or if you think you are; search out the people on the starting with Swedish goggles. Swimmers/former swimmer are the only ones crazy enough to wear these unpadded plastic eye cups. 

There's a clear reason for this - they're so fast, they've never gotten caught up in or smashed in the face during the scrum of an AG swim start. Seek them out and try to hold on. That's exactly what I did and held on until the first turn. 

 They all made underwater fishy faces at me as they swam away and left me in no mans land for the last 1000m. I worked harder than a 22min swim but it's about what I had expected after only getting in the pool a month ago. (to be improved).

T1  
I walked up the beach, mostly because I was exhausted but also because the sense of urgency wasn't there.

BIKE:
I hopped on the bike not quite knowing what to expect. The bike was surely tricked-out but I hadn't been feeling "it" in the legs the past week or so, so I really had no idea what to expect. Luckily the bike naturally is really fast because the rider wasn't feeling any pep. 24.0 mph avg was shocking, especially on 245W! Seriously, if I can generate some motivation for the rest of the summer and get my FTP back up where it should be (275+), I'll be serving pain on a platter in Madison. If not, all won't be lost because I'll look really fast and will be able to mentally squash most of my competition before the wheels even start moving!

Fast even when the rider isn't feeling "it"

On a serious note, I fueled with a EFS Hand grenades for the first time! (read: 2 serving EFS liquid shot, 1/2 scoop pre-race, water). WA-HOOOO caffeine is a godsend!

T2:
The caffeine helped and I moved though T2 a little quicker, though still not truly in race mode .

RUN:
The S/B/R were all looped courses so I had a decent idea where the race leaders were. I came off the bike in 4th OA and held on throughout. The guy that won was a former pro runner and he laid down a 32min 10k and ran down #2 and #3 like they were standing still. I ran a pretty even 10k, neither gaining or losing ground. 3rd place finished about 3min ahead. At the finish I felt exactly how I'm writing now...eh. Glad to be finished, glad I didn't blow up and glad to have a decent 'shake the cobwebs out' race of the season! (hopefully it's my only one)

No rest for the weary.

T3:
My race ended but the work was really only getting started. I came home to 5 yards of top soil sitting in the driveway to begin to finish our massive patio project. Maybe my planned afternoon activities had an effect on the pacing of my morning activities?





The Grand Rapids 1/2 IM is coming up next weekend, stay turned for hopefully a (forward) progress report!


Train Safe.