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Race Result
| Racer: |
Matt Taylor |
| Race: |
Spud Short Triathlon |
| Date: |
Sunday, June 15, 2003 |
| Location: |
General Smallwood State Park, MD |
| Race Type: |
Triathlon - Sprint |
| Age Group: |
Male 25 - 29 |
| Time: |
1:42:00 |
| Overall Place: |
109 / 381 |
| Age Group Place: |
14 / 26 |
Race Report:
I could not have asked for a smoother first race experience. In
fact, it went so smoothly I can only imagine what fate has set up for
me in Bethany.
My arrival time was 5:40 am and a parking spot was scored right near
the transtion area. I walked my equipment over to discover that
there were only a few bikes scattered across the designated sprint
racks. This being my first race I immediately thought there was
something I did not know, and a helpful volunteer told me to grab a
spot wherever I wanted. I grabbed a pefect end spot on a rack in the
middle of the area, easy access in and out of the bike and run
starts. I setup my gear and started to stretch and warm up. I was
considering myself lucky so far and was wondering what would be
waiting for me.
Race time was schedule at 7:30 am. In the water at 7:20 for a quick
warm up. Unfortunately they were running behind and the start did
not take place until 7:50. This left me more time for nerves
and "what if" scenarios that can drive you insane. Finally the count
down and we're off.
I was determined to run my race so I started in the back of the swim
start to avoid conflict. I soon discovered that I was not as
unprepared as I thought, because I was not only running into people,
but passing some as well. A quick thank you to the unknown swimmer
who knocked my goggles off in the first 100 meters. It got that
expectation right out of the way, and it allowed me to adjust and
settle in to my swim. The rest of the swim was smooth and uneventful
and my .5 mile was over in a consistent 16 minutes.
Ok out of the water on to the bike. I am feeling great and excited
to continue. Only a small problem getting my jersey on, a
combination of a wet back and my arms being tight were not allowing
me to pull the back of my jersey down. I am sure someone got a
chuckle out of me desperately reaching around my back and over my
shoulders trying to get to my jersey, much like the itch you cannot
reach. The bike course is very rolling at spud and I had driven it
the day before. It actually reminds me of riding in Reston, so I
kept this thought in my head. I was determined to continue to ride
at my pace and not pay attention to anything else. The ride also
proved to be uneventful except for two things. At about mile 5 a
young woman in the sprint blew by me as if I was a spectator, at the
time I was going about 20 mph. It was very impressive. I later
found out that she had passed most of the men in the second wave in
the swim as well. At mile 11 there was fantastic down hill where I
accomplished a new personal land speed record of 37 mph. It made the
entire ride worth while, and got the adrenaline flowing again. The
short bike was actually 16.5 miles, not the 15 stated, so the end
point was a little misleading. 55 minutes and I am off the bike.
Ok into transition and on to the run. Still running my race, and
feeling good. The designers of this race I think enjoy the fact that
this area is so hilly, because they kindly set the run course to
climb the same two hills the bike leg started on. This was a little
shocking to the system and I was detemined to keep moving. After the
5K turn around point, the course takes you through the camp grounds
of the park. I had not spent anytime investigating this area, and
this proved to be my only mental mistake. I had no concept of the
distance left once I entered the woods, and at every turn I was
looking for the wooden bridge which represented the finish. At the
same time I was laughing, because scenes from the movie "Meatballs"
was popping into my head, where Bill Murray is telling the kid he is
a "wascaly wabbit". But I digress. The trail through the park takes
you by the ropes course, and again if you are looking for a wooden
bridge, this appears to be one through the trees. Personally I
thought that was a little cruel but had a little chuckle and kept on
cruising. At this point I could hear a crowd in the distance and got
excited again. I am close. I looked at my watch and saw that I was
only at 1 hour and 38 minutes. Holy crap I can get in under an 1
hour 45 minutes. As a first race I was only hoping for a finish, and
an added bonus of under 2 hours. I picked up the pace and headed for
the finish. Finally the bridge, and a full on sprint.
If you look at the pictures and happen to see a little guy crossing
the finish line in a run/slide with his arms flailing that would be
me. See the bridge was slippery at the end, but the volunteers were
not metioning this...yet. So I started to slip right outside the
finish line, and tried my best to gracefully recover. Needless to
say, everyone after me was warned that the end of the bridget was
slippery, so I am glad I could help the other athletes. My run was
completed in 26 minutes, and an overall finishing time of 1 hour and
42 minutes.
I felt comfortable the entire time and ran my race!!! Thank you to
all the responses I got from other RATs with transition and first
time race advice. It all proved useful. Thank you to the RATs I met
at the race who offered me the additional encouragement. Sorry if
this is long, but I am still charged up. I cannot wait for next
challenge at Bethany.
Matt
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