Login
Reston Area Triathletes RATS.net Logo

Race Result

Racer: Tim Strobeck
Race: Pittsburgh Triathlon & Adventure Race
Date: Sunday, July 20, 2008
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Race Type: Triathlon - International Distance
Age Group: Male 25 - 29
Time: 2:40:14
Overall Place: 98 / 308
Age Group Place: 8 / 27
Comment: Awesome race, but run needs work



Race Report:



Swim 23:24
T1: 2:09
Bike: 1:18:36
T2: 1:38
Run: 54:29
Total: 2:40:14
Overall: 98/308
Group (Clydesdale): 8/27

This is my 2nd Olympic triathlon this year and my 3rd triathlon ever, so I'm still very n00b to the whole triathlon scene. After my recent blowup at General Smallwood, I took the time to figure out what I had done so wrong 3 weeks prior. After a couple seminars at Potomac Running with Margie Shapiro, I felt a lot better about what I had to do and what had gone so wrong. Nutrition was the name of the game and up until then, I didn't have a clue it was so important.

Swim:

Mass start, they got us in the water about 6:50 for a 7:00 start, but the rocks were super slippery getting into the Allegheny and it took longer to get everyone out there. Started about 3 or 4 after, and worked our way up the river, made a 180 and cruised about 1100-1200 meters down stream. Found someone who was pacing as fast as me, hooked onto their heels and drafted about 70% of the way. Saw the final bouy and made a hard push to the turn and in towards shore. I held some back to make sure I had enough energy for the rest of the tri but felt solid coming out of the water.

Time: 23:34
Rank: 32/308

T1: No issues, slipped everything on pretty easily and was on my way.

Time: 2:09

Bike:

I had heard about this course from reading race reports on BT from last year and I was a little bit intimidated, but I figured it couldn't be that bad. The course started in between Three Rivers Stadium and Heinz Field and headed up I279 in the HOV lanes. There was some concern that the HOV lanes wouldn't be ready in time, but the DOT assured us that they would be. There was some major construction going on and the lanes had been closed since May. I drove the course beforehand (the highway, not the HOV lanes) and found that it started with a 6 mile climb, then a turn around at the park and ride and back downhill for 6 miles (we made two loops).

As I hit the first climb, I kept telling myself to stay in control, don't hammer too hard yet because there was a long ways to go. I kept my cadence high around 90 and around 12-15mph depending on how steep that part of the climb was. On my first climb I was only passed by two guys on some high-end tri bikes, so I felt pretty good coming down the backside. I kept pace with 3 guys basically throughout the course which helped keep me focused. One thing I did notice was an abnormal number of flats (which I attribute to the excessive gravel on the course), at least 8-10 that I saw. One guy even busted his chain about 4 miles from the finish line and had to run his bike in. I saw him later out on the run trail and he looked exhausted, I felt really bad for the guy. Best thing about the course was coming down the hill the second time, rounding the final bend on I279 at 35 mph and seeing the Pittsburgh skyline under the morning sun, an absolutely beautiful sight.

Nutrition was solid, took down a bottle of accelerade, a water bottle with a Nuun, and 3 servings of hammer gel.

Time: 1:18:36 (19.1/avg)
Rank: 136/308

T2: Again, no issues, talked to one of the guys I was pacing with and he told me he blew a spoke on the last decent doing 30-35 mph. Scary stuff.

Run:

I was worried about my run because at General Smallwood I absolutely blew up (11:10 / mile) and got heat exhaustion, extremely painful cramps and a headache that took 2 days to get rid of. I was under-prepared, but I had to re-assure myself I was ready this time. I did 4 brick workouts the two weeks prior so I knew my legs were ready. My nutrition on the bike was good, I was well hydrated and my legs felt fresh. I came out at about an 8:30 mile and felt like I could hold it there without pushing my heart-rate too high. The course was along the Allegheny river trail, which was nice because it was 70% in the shade. I got passed by at least 30 or 40 people but I didn't care, I was keeping my own pace. I sprinted the final 200m and came across with arms raised.

Time: 54:29 (8:43/mile)
Rank: 146/308

Overall I had a great time, got to visit some friends up there and will definitely do it again next year as hopefully an AG and not as clyde. I'm down to 205 so if everything goes right, I should be well under that by this time next year.


I remembered seeing this guy but honestly I had no idea he competed:

http://kdka.com/local/triathlon.athlete.swimmer.2.777391.html

Make sure to watch the video.