Race Result

Racer:	Jamie Roberson
Race:	Worldgate Sport&Health Spint Tri
Date:	Sunday, April 27, 2008
Location:	Herndon, VA
Race Type:	Triathlon - Sprint
Age Group:	Female 45 - 49
Time:	2:19:08
Overall Place:	126 / 126
Age Group Place:	9 / 9
Comment:	Beating the Bonk

Race Report:

I usually wake up at about 5:15 to the sound of Farley, my Old English sheepdog, whining to be let out and fed breakfast. Race-day morning for Worldgate was different, though: with a 6 am start and a new T2 set-up system, I had to be up at 4 and out the door by 4:30. The big woolly boy was so groggy that he could barely lift his head when I coaxed him to go outside before I left.

I managed to get down a blueberry Clif bar as I grabbed a water bottle and headed to the race site. This was a good sign, since I have never been able to eat solid food before a race. As it turned out, it wasn't enough. Note to self: the extra calories in a sport drink or soy milk would be helpful here.

This year's setup was also a bit different, as we set up our own T2 sites - just like Reston - before heading back to Worldgate for the race start. All went smoothly and was well-organized and well-staffed by Brian Crow and his enthusiastic volunteers. I also was happy to meet Angela, a volunteer and new triathlete who was gearing up for her first race, the Homegrown, in just a few weeks.

Swim - 8:09.41
I like the beginning of the swim at Worldgate, since we wait in line around the pool, according to race number. It's nice to look around and see each of the competitors, greet old friends like Mike, and meet new friends like Stacy and new-RAT Jeff, but it was painful to see Neal standing with the fast swimmers, but no Terry. I realized that the last time I saw Terry was at this race last year. God bless you, Terry. I said a little prayer, and it was time to go.

The swim was the same - snake swim of 300yds. There didn't seem to be as much bunching in my area, though I had to stop several times to let faster swimmers "play through". I was right on my target pace, but fell short when those who were faster than expected were behind me. I ended up almost 35s slower than last year, but expected to make it up on the bike. No worries.

T1 3:54.12
I generally have pretty fast transitions, since I delay catching my breath until on the awy on the bike, but this was much, much slower than I like.

With the separate transition areas I had decided to carry everything I needed for the bike and leave nothing behind to pick up later (or lose). I had left my street shoes in the car and padded barefoot to the pool. The goggles and swim cap were going to go in my trisuit pocket or bento box. But I had also left a rain jacket on the bike when it looked like rain, and now it was getting warmer. Do I wear the jacket - it's getting warmer! - stash it in the bushes and get it later - it was not cheap! - or something else? Jacket on, jacket off, on, off, hem haw... I ended up wearing it, which was a good decision, as I realized later, but my indecisiveness cost me precious time.

B 1:27.31

The bike started well enough. I had just replaced the chain and gears and had a detailed bike fitting. The bike felt smooth, and I felt strong, having spent the winter in the gym on Friel's Triathlon Bible training plan. This was the first year that I had completed the plan, and was hoping that my 800+-lb. leg press would translate to bike speed.

It wasn't meant to be today, though. Problems started about a mile after we hit the W&OD. I just felt like I was grinding, even though I was spinning in a higher gear. I scarfed down some Sharkies (tasty organic energy treats) and took some long pulls of water from my Aerobottle (I call it my sippy-cup), but to no avail.

Then it started raining, if you could call it that. It aws more of a thick, fog-like drizzle that dripped off my helmet and permeated my jacket. I was chilled to the bone, which says a lot, given my body composition, since there's a lot of distance between skin and bone. :) I can't remember being this cold. The only thing that made me feel a little better was the fact that I had kept my jacket. I really felt sorry for the no-body-fat elf-boys and elf-girls flying by in trisuits. That, and the fact that I usually fly on the false flat downhill after the turnaround at Partlow's.

That didn't happen, though. If anything, I was slower. Maybe I hadn't consumed enough fuel, and maybe the rain was sapping my mental strength, but the effect was that I was bonking - not hard, I wasn't seeing little green men - but I was just out of gas. I seriously thought of giving up after T2, but put the thought out of my mind and decided to revisit once I got off the bike and take it one pedal stroke at the time.

T2 2:09.39

As much as I hate T2 (the temptation to "just walk the whole thing" is always strong), I was reenergized by the volunteers. Seeing Kevin and Angela was a boost, as was the fact that I successfully took my feet out of my still-attached cycling shoes for the first time ever. I slugged down a Gatorade, traded the bike helmet for my IronGirl visor and trudged off for the 2-mile run in the rain.

R 37:56.9/30:59.9

I'm glad I didn't quit. Maybe it was the fistfuls of Sharkies, maybe the ego boost from the volunteers (thank you Clarice!), but I managed to step it up a bit and run a little more than half as much as I walked. The finish line appeared, and it was over before I knew it.

Total 2:19

So I didn't make my elusive goal of breaking the 2-hour mark at Worldgate, but I did win the Turtle Award, given to the slowest finisher, for the third year in a row. Mostly I got the satisfaction of knowing that I had gotten past the temptation to quit when things were not going my way. Coach Debi has encouraged me to go beyond the barrier of discomfort to see what is on the other side. I got a taste of that today, and am looking forward to pushing this again.

Something else that made me feel better: as slow as I was, I arrived home before Farley woke up.

Post script:
I'm trying a new diet. Another Coach Debi saying: "less weight = free speed". I had given up meat for Lent and felt pretty good about it, so I've decided to make that permanent, along with other changes:
* No chicken, beef, pork
* No hi fructose corn syrup or corn-based sweeteners (sorry, Gatorade)
* Seafood, eggs, and cheese are okay in moderation
* Tofu, beans, and protein powder are my friends
* More colorful fresh fruit and vegetables
* Bike to work as much as possible

We'll see how this goes...