NYCTri 2009

Short Version:

Swim: 17:06
T1: 5:17
Bike: 1:20:20 (18.6mph)
T2: 1:17
Run: 47:29 (7:39/mile- 10k PR!)

Total Time: 2:31:28
9/268 AG

Going into the race, I had very low/no expectations. I had one goal: PR the course, but had no clue how I was going to feel. I was able to get ample sleep the night before, even with a 4:15am wake up call. It was POURING rain when I woke up and quickly decided if the race was turned into a Duathlon I would NOT be leaving my house, let alone participating. Great attitude to start off the day. Luckily, the next time I looked out the window the rain has tapered off, and I tried to adjust my winning attitude :)

I don't know what I was doing at home, but felt quite rushed once I got to transition. I basically pumped my bike tires, threw down my shoes, and headed up to swim start. Upon arrival, they announced the start would be about 20 minutes delayed due to the storm that was moving through the area (it was still raining a bit off and on). I couldn't figure out my mood- I wasn't excited, but wasn't dreading the race. Just sort of was ready to start and see what was going to happen.

Swim- 17:06
The NYC swim is notorious for it's current. All I can say that my lack of pool time this season finally caught up to me in this race. My time was fine within my age group, but I just felt OFF. I struggled a bit with my sighting and had trouble finding a rhythm in the first 300-400 meters. I couldn't see many other people around me and had the feeling I was in for a very, very long day.

T1- 5:17
This is the WORST part of this race- about a 1/3-1/2 mile run (way more than the 400m they advertise it as) on pavement, barefoot to get to transition from swim exit. It sucks. But in transition there were not too many girls around me, so I was hoping my swim wasn't as off as it felt.

Bike- 1:20:20 (18.6 mph)
My bike almost ended before it started, as the bike out of transition and up onto the course is a bit hairy- it's a very narrow, crowded chute and I was perhaps being a bit too aggressive, but didn't want to sit behind and go the 10mph pace others in front seemed fine with. I almost took out not only a few other riders (who should have given me space to pass when I called 'on your left'), but I was also almost taken out by someone running towards transition (with only a row of cones separating the bike out and run in (in the opposite direction) from the swim.) She was on the wrong side of the cones, just for the record. Whoops.

I felt pretty strong from the beginning on the bike and the many girls from my age group I was waiting for to pass me never came. One from my wave passed me almost right away (finished 2nd in the age group), and two from the wave behind (also our age group, 2.5 minutes back) passed me with only a few miles to go. I was able to keep my spirits high and only went through a very small rough patch of dead legs. I had two gus on the bike and one bottle of water+nuun. I probably could have used more water if I had it.

I was able to drop 5 minutes from my time on this course two years ago. I think much of that has to do with knowing how to shift/ride my bike (big ring=good). But I also think this course is deceptively hard. It has a few climbs, but also some long, gradual inclines and is subject to some major winds. Being more comfortable on the bike this year let me attack the climbs, as well as the downhills in big gears, which I think made a lot of difference in my time.

(Apparently there was something quite interesting on my tire...)

I was lucky to be in an 'early' wave (ha- wave 11 is 'early') , with a somewhat open course, but the course was a MESS- flats all over the place and two wrecks on my team alone. In talking with our local bike shop after the race, who provided SAG, they said they actually ran out of tubes. Not sure if it was the wet/slick conditions from the early rain, the road conditions or the large amount of first timers/beginners on the course, but I felt lucky to get out unscathed.

T2- 1:17
This felt GREAT. I was able to repass two of the girls in my age group in who has passed me on the bike in T2. I had no clue again what my time on the bike was (probably time get the bike computer fixed!), but I only saw about 4-5 bikes on my rack in transition and freaked out a bit. I think it was this point that I finally realized I was having a GREAT day.

Run- 47:29 (7:39/mile)
I can honsetly say this was the most fun 10k I have ever done- off the bike or ever. I knew that the two girls I passed in transition woudl be hot on my heels, but I stopped and got two full cups of water before the steep climb out of transition. After the climb there was a huge group from my team cheering which put a smile on my face that woudln't leave the entire run. I felt great, my stride felt strong and long, and running across 72nd during this race is perhaps one of the coolest things ever. I think having a smile on my face made it 100% better, people were cheering and calling out my race number and team name and I was waving all over the place :)

I made a conscious decision to not start my watch or wear my Garmin for this run (for fear that it was going to be ugly!). I knew I was feeling good. I decided to walk the aid stations to be sure I was taking in water, as I think that dehydration/lack of fluids has been a problem for me in past races. Around Mile 1, I was passed by someone in my age group- one of the girls I had passed in transition. The hills in the northern end of the park came and went- I felt great. The volunteers were amazing and I kept the smile on my face and thanked them for their support. Around mile 4 I passed two girls from my age group that seemed to be struggling. I passed them at an aide station- the only one I didn't walk to take in two full cups of water. I was able to pick up my pace towards the end and crossed the line feeling GREAT. I had no clue my run time or overall finish place, but I didn't care. It was the most fun I have had racing.

Almost at Mile 1- about to enter Central Park

Post Race:
It took me about 10 minutes to feel like I wanted to die :) I was starving and cold and thankful my jet-lag waited to show up until after I finished. After wandering around and chatting with teammates (and cute pros and their cute agents) I had to sit in the grass for awhile because I really thought I was going to die. After about 45 minutes of being out of it, I had rested enough to walk the mile back across 72nd to transition, stopping for well-deserved PinkBerry (extra kiwi please) on the way.

Looking back, I have a twinge of regret about walking the aid stations- could I have broken 47 on my 10k? Who knows...

As of now, this was the last tri on my calendar for the season. I am hoping to add at least one more race to my schedule, but am going to wait to make any decisions. For now, I am sticking to my marathon training plan and am going to try to stay on the bike a few times a week, and we will see....