It had been a difficult week. Worries about the renovations of the house we will move to, a lowball offer on our current house, and then the budget of the program I run at work was drastically cut (that is only part of my job so my job isn't threatened). I was feeling so low last night I just went to bed early.
I got to the swim meet around 10, not knowing the exact schedule. I had signed up for the 2k, which turned out to be scheduled for 11 and didn't actually start until 11:30. I had done this meet two years ago and I thought I had done the 2k then, but now that I look back at my blog I see I did the 3k that time. I was feeling fairly relaxed about it, as I swim more than 2k in practice.
It was a beautiful day with little wind and the 2k was a small group. There were people around me for a little while at the start and then I settled in to the long lonely haul. I tried to focus on keeping up my effort. The last part out to the turnaround there was more wind and a lot of wake from passing boats, so it felt easier once I had turned around.
Someone swam with me towards the end and asked me if I was ok. Do I look that incompetent? Actually I was feeling a bit discouraged, as the number of buoys ahead of me seemed to stay the same. I passed a buoy and realized people were yelling at me to turn. Only then did I realize that what looked like a row of buoys stretching ahead of me was actually buoys piled on a dock beyond the finish. So I had a very short last push to the finish. I came out feeling pretty tired, though not shakey.
I didn't ask my time; I thought I would see it on the clock which was a little ways up the beach. But just after I finished they started the 1k, so the clock had been reset by the time I got to it. The results aren't posted on the web site yet. But however I did, I am feeling less depressed.
Update: My time was 1:09:31
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Belated race report: Clemson Triathlon, May 16, 2009
Swim 750 meters 25:15
T1 03:15
Bike 11 miles 46:01
T2 02:29
Run 5k 43:37
Overall time: 02:00:36
photos
I picked up my friend Pam and we biked from my house to the race, as I wanted to leave my car for my daughter and my mother to come (though in the end they didn't). We had one fairly heavy shower before the race, then on and off light showers. The race was a week later than usual and the water quite warm--I'm not sure it was worth wearing my wetsuit, though most people did. It did help for the in the water start, as I could float upright waiting for the start without expending any energy.
The water was warm but I didn't settle in very comforably to the swim. Not for any good reason; it was even easy to see the buoys with the sun not out. My swim time was 2 minutes slower than last year.
I had left my transition things in a plastic bag instead of laying them out and I was happy to put on dry shoes. Clemson attracts a lot of people doing their first triathlon, and on the bike I passed a number of people on mountain bikes. It hadn't rained that hard and so there weren't many puddles.
I did the walk-run thing for the run and was happy that my time was slightly faster than last year. The funniest moment in the race was on the run when someone going the other way (ahead of me on an out and back course) said in a tone of great surprise: "Professor Mack!" I was passed by a 67 year old in pink tri shorts on the run and I said I want to be her when I grow up.
I didn't stay long after the race because we needed to get to North Carolina for my son's awards ceremony that evening and then graduation Sunday morning. But I had fun.
T1 03:15
Bike 11 miles 46:01
T2 02:29
Run 5k 43:37
Overall time: 02:00:36
photos
I picked up my friend Pam and we biked from my house to the race, as I wanted to leave my car for my daughter and my mother to come (though in the end they didn't). We had one fairly heavy shower before the race, then on and off light showers. The race was a week later than usual and the water quite warm--I'm not sure it was worth wearing my wetsuit, though most people did. It did help for the in the water start, as I could float upright waiting for the start without expending any energy.
The water was warm but I didn't settle in very comforably to the swim. Not for any good reason; it was even easy to see the buoys with the sun not out. My swim time was 2 minutes slower than last year.
I had left my transition things in a plastic bag instead of laying them out and I was happy to put on dry shoes. Clemson attracts a lot of people doing their first triathlon, and on the bike I passed a number of people on mountain bikes. It hadn't rained that hard and so there weren't many puddles.
I did the walk-run thing for the run and was happy that my time was slightly faster than last year. The funniest moment in the race was on the run when someone going the other way (ahead of me on an out and back course) said in a tone of great surprise: "Professor Mack!" I was passed by a 67 year old in pink tri shorts on the run and I said I want to be her when I grow up.
I didn't stay long after the race because we needed to get to North Carolina for my son's awards ceremony that evening and then graduation Sunday morning. But I had fun.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
house renovations
The house renovations have started and today they cut a large hole in the roof for a new dormer.
Pray that it doesn't rain.Friday, May 08, 2009
This character was in our road. It turns out she had only 3 legs--missing her right hind leg. But she seemed to be getting around fine. We put her onto a lawn where she wouldn't hit a fence.Sunday, May 03, 2009
My first swim meet
I asked our coach whether to sign up for the meet or whether I would be too slow and hold things up. He said I should ask the person running the meet, he didn't know what the times were like. She encouraged me to sign up, so I did. I didn't want to lose my whole weekend, so I said I would volunteer early Saturday morning and swim Sunday only. I signed up for the 500 yard free, because that is most like a triathlon, the 100 IM (25 butterfly, 25 backstroke, 25 breaststroke, and 25 freestyle), and the 100 free.
When I got there Sunday I was a little nervous, but a teammate was much more nervous so I took charge of figuring out what we needed to know. I asked our coach what to do for a warmup (what he suggested was more than we could have done, but it gave us a starting point). People were really friendly.
The 500 free was swum with the fastest heats first so we were in the last heat, but I didn't fully focus on the starting procedure, I just knew I was going to start in the water. I forgot I was jumping into the deep end and and came up sputtering, and then it was the start. I started out awfully fast (1:05 first 50) because I was excited, so my main goal became not to fade too much. Mostly I tried to stay just below getting too out of breath. My time for a 1500 meter triathlon swim last week was 46 minutes so I had said I just wanted to beat 15 minues. When I looked at the scoreboard after finishing I saw a 15, because my last lap time was 1:15. Only after I got out did I realize that my time was actually 12:46, which I was very happy with, even if the 74 year old woman doing her third swim meet ever beat me. I got second in my age group (out of two).
There was a fairly long break and I ate a nut bar but didn't do any more warmup. The shorter events were organized slowest heats first, so I was up quickly for the IM once the next part of the meet started. That for me was the most exciting event because I did feel competent in the butterfly (which I don't always) and was in a tight race with the person swimming next to me all the way through the event. She was always a little ahead and I couldn't gain on her in the freestyle, but I tried. I was very happy with my time of 2:29 (first 50 in 1:13). I was sixth in my age group.
The most interesting event to watch was the 200 butterfly--the youngest person in the race was 49 and the oldest was 65 (the 82 year old didn't enter that one). The 65 year old won it.
My last event was the 100 free. I worked really hard and I had the start a bit better figured out, but I was disappointed by my time. I didn't stay until the results were posted, and now I don't remember if it was 2:20. Maybe I was tired, or I just pushed too hard and lost efficiency. My first 50 was 1:04, second was 1:16.
I stayed to cheer teammates in the mixed relay and still got home around noon, very hungry and with that good feeling of having pushed myself.
When I got there Sunday I was a little nervous, but a teammate was much more nervous so I took charge of figuring out what we needed to know. I asked our coach what to do for a warmup (what he suggested was more than we could have done, but it gave us a starting point). People were really friendly.
The 500 free was swum with the fastest heats first so we were in the last heat, but I didn't fully focus on the starting procedure, I just knew I was going to start in the water. I forgot I was jumping into the deep end and and came up sputtering, and then it was the start. I started out awfully fast (1:05 first 50) because I was excited, so my main goal became not to fade too much. Mostly I tried to stay just below getting too out of breath. My time for a 1500 meter triathlon swim last week was 46 minutes so I had said I just wanted to beat 15 minues. When I looked at the scoreboard after finishing I saw a 15, because my last lap time was 1:15. Only after I got out did I realize that my time was actually 12:46, which I was very happy with, even if the 74 year old woman doing her third swim meet ever beat me. I got second in my age group (out of two).
There was a fairly long break and I ate a nut bar but didn't do any more warmup. The shorter events were organized slowest heats first, so I was up quickly for the IM once the next part of the meet started. That for me was the most exciting event because I did feel competent in the butterfly (which I don't always) and was in a tight race with the person swimming next to me all the way through the event. She was always a little ahead and I couldn't gain on her in the freestyle, but I tried. I was very happy with my time of 2:29 (first 50 in 1:13). I was sixth in my age group.
The most interesting event to watch was the 200 butterfly--the youngest person in the race was 49 and the oldest was 65 (the 82 year old didn't enter that one). The 65 year old won it.
My last event was the 100 free. I worked really hard and I had the start a bit better figured out, but I was disappointed by my time. I didn't stay until the results were posted, and now I don't remember if it was 2:20. Maybe I was tired, or I just pushed too hard and lost efficiency. My first 50 was 1:04, second was 1:16.
I stayed to cheer teammates in the mixed relay and still got home around noon, very hungry and with that good feeling of having pushed myself.
Saturday, May 02, 2009
swim meet
I'm swimming in our local swim meet tomorrow only. This morning I went and helped for a couple of hours. I talked with one lady who is 74 and swimming in her third swim meet. She will probably beat me tomorrow (she said she was a swim instructor for many years, just didn't compete). I'm pleasantly scared about tomorrow: I've said to several people that I am doing it because it is something I never thought I would do in my life.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Race Report: Langley Pond International
Short form:
swim 1500 meters: 46:26
T1 (including a long run from the water to transition) 00:06:18
bike 24 miles: 01:39:22 (14.5 mph)
T2 02:28
run 10K 01:32:12 (pace of 14:50)
total 04:06:43
I'm actually very happy with that result, because I really wasn't trained for the distance. I did about half and half power walking and running, so I was happy to end up with a run pace of under 15 minutes per mile. My last international distance, almost two years ago, was 3:59. And it was hot today: 79 degrees by 11 am.
I didn't pack for the race until right before I left, but the only thing I forgot was my Garmin. I had found a cheap hotel ($55 with tax) about 10 minutes away, so I got to sleep until after 6. I had my usual microwaved frozen quiche for breakfast and a banana about 15 minutes before the start. It was 63 degrees at 8 am--I didn't need my wetsuit to keep me warm. But I wore it--the water temperature was 70 degrees. I had swum in the lake up here on Wed. and the water was cold enough to make it hard to settle down and breathe, but the water felt a lot warmer in Langley Pond and I was comfortable from the start. I felt rather alone the second half of the swim, but I wasn't the last one out of the water. Having forgotten my Garmin, I didn't even wear a watch, so I had no idea of my times.
I had driven the bike course so I knew that there was a long hill in the first quarter and then some small rollers, but the big hill wasn't too steep. It was a two loop course and during my first loop I was passed by a lot of people doing their second loop. I took two salt (Succeed) capsules and ate a gel and a half a peanut butter sandwich. I was glad I had the gel--I started to flag fairly early on and the gel fixed that. I usually prefer one loop bike courses but this time I liked knowing what to expect the second time around.
My legs were pretty sore after the bike and it was beastly hot. But I ate a gel with caffeine and started out power walking and once the road turned downhill I was ready to run. I would run until I felt my legs were tiring and then walk fast until I felt like running again and that worked amazingly well. I was immensely grateful to a man who sprayed me with his hose in the part of the course with the least shade. I knew I was last but the water stations stayed out for me. At the prerace meeting they had told us the trains wouldn't run until noon, so I was happy when I heard a clock strike noon shortly after I crossed the railroad tracks. I was also happy when I saw the finish clock--I had expected to be slower.
I was the last finisher by about 25 minutes, and they had finished the awards ceremony when I finished. But I asked, and I was third in my age group. They didn't have an award printed up but they said they would send me one. The food wasn't quite gone--I got chili, chips, and salad. There was no line by the time I went to take a shower, so I got the pleasure of driving home clean (about 3 hours). I'm a bit sunburned and chafed and my legs are very sore. But I'm happy that doing this race despite not being well prepared worked out so well.
Pictures are here (link goes to 3 of 5--it should be possible to page through all 5).
swim 1500 meters: 46:26
T1 (including a long run from the water to transition) 00:06:18
bike 24 miles: 01:39:22 (14.5 mph)
T2 02:28
run 10K 01:32:12 (pace of 14:50)
total 04:06:43
I'm actually very happy with that result, because I really wasn't trained for the distance. I did about half and half power walking and running, so I was happy to end up with a run pace of under 15 minutes per mile. My last international distance, almost two years ago, was 3:59. And it was hot today: 79 degrees by 11 am.
I didn't pack for the race until right before I left, but the only thing I forgot was my Garmin. I had found a cheap hotel ($55 with tax) about 10 minutes away, so I got to sleep until after 6. I had my usual microwaved frozen quiche for breakfast and a banana about 15 minutes before the start. It was 63 degrees at 8 am--I didn't need my wetsuit to keep me warm. But I wore it--the water temperature was 70 degrees. I had swum in the lake up here on Wed. and the water was cold enough to make it hard to settle down and breathe, but the water felt a lot warmer in Langley Pond and I was comfortable from the start. I felt rather alone the second half of the swim, but I wasn't the last one out of the water. Having forgotten my Garmin, I didn't even wear a watch, so I had no idea of my times.
I had driven the bike course so I knew that there was a long hill in the first quarter and then some small rollers, but the big hill wasn't too steep. It was a two loop course and during my first loop I was passed by a lot of people doing their second loop. I took two salt (Succeed) capsules and ate a gel and a half a peanut butter sandwich. I was glad I had the gel--I started to flag fairly early on and the gel fixed that. I usually prefer one loop bike courses but this time I liked knowing what to expect the second time around.
My legs were pretty sore after the bike and it was beastly hot. But I ate a gel with caffeine and started out power walking and once the road turned downhill I was ready to run. I would run until I felt my legs were tiring and then walk fast until I felt like running again and that worked amazingly well. I was immensely grateful to a man who sprayed me with his hose in the part of the course with the least shade. I knew I was last but the water stations stayed out for me. At the prerace meeting they had told us the trains wouldn't run until noon, so I was happy when I heard a clock strike noon shortly after I crossed the railroad tracks. I was also happy when I saw the finish clock--I had expected to be slower.
I was the last finisher by about 25 minutes, and they had finished the awards ceremony when I finished. But I asked, and I was third in my age group. They didn't have an award printed up but they said they would send me one. The food wasn't quite gone--I got chili, chips, and salad. There was no line by the time I went to take a shower, so I got the pleasure of driving home clean (about 3 hours). I'm a bit sunburned and chafed and my legs are very sore. But I'm happy that doing this race despite not being well prepared worked out so well.
Pictures are here (link goes to 3 of 5--it should be possible to page through all 5).
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