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Race Result
| Racer: |
Dario Tirado |
| Race: |
Little Pepper |
| Date: |
Sunday, June 17, 2007 |
| Location: |
Culpepper, VA |
| Race Type: |
Triathlon - Sprint |
| Age Group: |
Male 35 - 39 |
| Time: |
1:22:51 |
| Overall Place: |
27 / 323 |
| Age Group Place: |
4 / 32 |
| Comment: |
Good to just be racing again |
Race Report:
Swim: 14:32
T1: 1:21
Bike: 43:09
T2: 1:00
Run: 22:51
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I hadn't raced a tri since April's Kinetic Half, plus the Little Pepper is only my third ever tri so I couldn't wait to get on the course regardless of my race fitness. I tore my hamstring five weeks ago so my training has been tailored for recovering and not racing. I've been swimming the last four wks with some easy biking the last two wks but today was the first time I've run (better described as jogging/shuffling =) in five wks.
My ortho wanted me to wait eight wks b/f running again but he said it would be OK to try some very easy jogging a little earlier depending on how the hamstring was feeling. My goals for Little Pepper:
1. Get in a good clean swim
2. Keep a higher & easier cadence than normal on the bike to protect the hamstring
3. Execute solid transitions to the bike and run
4. Finish the running leg, even if I have to walk it.
Swim
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Really enjoyed the swim and was able to do a good job of sighting the markers reguarly for a good line. I started off in the back and noticed that this isn't a good strategy b/c I tend to wait for folks to spread out and I really don't get into my swim pace for a while. I came out of the water feeling like I just did a really good warm up. I feel like I'm wasting time hanging out in back of the wave at the start. I feel strong enough that I should start out near the front of my wave and sprint out for 50 to 100 meters b/f settling into a race pace. I'll have to try this at my next tri.
T1
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I was able to get a clean transition to the bike and I felt good about my sequence of moves through transition. My moves aren't automatic yet but I'm sure with more reps I'll be able to move faster through the transitions.
Bike
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The bike course was rolling and a lot of fun - I tend to like rolling and hilly rides. I was tempted to push the pace but I stuck to my game plan. As a result, I came off the bike with really fresh legs.
T2
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I lost some time when I went down the wrong row looking for my transition spot. A very rookie mistake which cost me some time in an otherwise clean transition.
Run
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My legs felt really good and fresh as I came onto the run course and I thought about throwing in a race pace effort but I didn't want to lose my entire season by pushing on the run. I have an IM distance tri in September and that's where I want to be able throw down a solid race effort.
I stuck to a jog and just enjoyed the day. I made sure to thank volunteers on the course and I offered encouragement to other racers during the run. I saw a couple of racers with RAT tri suits and made sure to yell "GO RATs!"
By the second lap I really wanted to drop the hammer but resisted the temptation. There was a slight dull soreness starting in my hamstring but overall my legs still felt ridiculeously fresh and I wasn't breathing hard. It helped that Aly, my girlfriend, was on the run course yelling encouragement and reminders to me to take good care of my hamstring =)
Overall, the hilly course was fun - it reminded me of some of the challenging and fun x-country courses from back in H.S.
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