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Race Result

Racer: Dan Grove
Race: Reston Triathlon
Date: Sunday, September 9, 2007
Location: Reston, VA
Race Type: Triathlon - International Distance
Age Group: Male 55 - 59
Time: 2:51:12
Age Group Place: 5 / 12
Comment: My 20th year in triathlon!



Race Report:



This was my 18th Reston Tri, and 15th in a row. My first tri ever was Reston 1987, so this was also my 20th year in the sport. To celebrate, last fall I abandoned my old Bike Nashbar steel bike, with friction shifters and 6 cogs on the back, and bought a used Kuota Kalibur carbon fiber bike, with indexed shifting and 10 cogs, from David Glover. My bike times haven’t improved much – the engine really is more important than the bike – but my grin is much wider now!

On race morning, I ate my usual bagel with peanut butter and banana 3 hours before the race. This time I added some Endurolytes, because I’d had cramping problems at Luray three weeks earlier. Ate a gel 30 minutes before my wave, sipping water slowly. Drank a 16-ounce bottle of Gatorade on the bike.

I set up at T2 early, under a gorgeously grinning new moon, and biked over to T1, set up and chatted with the gang.

I was in wave two this year, earlier than prior years, which was great – I got on the bike and run courses in time to see more of the race unfold around me. The water was quite warm, and I was hot in my wetsuit. It was hard to find the Zen-like calm that I like, and I didn’t enjoy the swim as much as I usually do. Time 32:59, about the same as always. T1 3:04. Exiting T1 is a high point of my day every year at Reston - Ann is waiting there to give me a good luck kiss!

The bike course was crowded and the cones were dangerous, on Glade in particular. Coming down South Lakes Drive in the aero position at over 30 miles an hour, a bike ahead of me hit a cone and sent it skittering to the right where I was. I swerved just enough to miss it, and a voice to the left called out “Good dodge, Dan!” – it was stv, cranking, with Cascio and Orton not far behind. Those guys can fly! The Kuota feels great, bike 1:12:38.

T2 1:21. Ann was at the far side, and I get another kiss!

The run didn’t feel good, even though I trained well for it. The thing I didn’t train much was running off the bike, so more bricks next year. I walked on some uphills going out, before my legs adjusted. On one of those Kristen DiDomenico, an old spinning coach, yelled at me, giving me a pep talk as she flew past in the other direction on her way to 2nd place overall. I decided I’d better follow her advice… ;-) Run 1:01:11.

Total time 2:51:12, a bit faster than last year. I changed clothes, put the gear in the car, and grabbed some food. Ann & I sat in the RAT section for the awards, then went to Sean and Julie’s for his birthday/post-race party. Great time, thanks! The tri community is spectacular, and here in Reston the race leaders shout encouragement to MOP guys like me – beyond cool!

The race directors, volunteers, and spectators were amazing as always, my sincere thanks to all.