Triathlon results

[figment]

I was going to edit the earlier post to include this, but decided the tone of it deserved to be segregated into its own post. Results are up and... frankly, I suck. I mean, I finished, but I'm really disappointed in myself. All of my times (other than the overall; note bike was 5 miles shorter) got worse since the Philly triathlon.
Overall: Place: 134 (all places are out of 150 women) Time: 02:02:15
Swim: Place: 114 Time: 00:22:28 (Philly time: 21:07)
Transition 1: Place: 119 Time: 00:04:01 (Philly time: 4:55)
Bike: Place: 144 Time: 00:57:57 Pace (est): 12.24 mph (Philly pace: 14.5)
Transition 2: Place: 30 Time: 00:01:13 (Philly time: 3:08)
Run: Place: 129 Time: 00:36:39 Pace (est): 11:48 min. mile (Philly pace: 11:10 min. mile)

The swim could have been worse. Given that I was dealing with really cold water and a wetsuit that changed what strokes were effective (crawl and backstroke work but the sidestroke and breaststroke really require your legs to be further under the water than the bouyancy of the wetsuit allow), I am not terribly disappointed in losing about a minute. I'm still disappointed, mind you. But it could be worse.

Transition 1, swim-to-bike: I think the wetsuit cost me that extra 54 seconds. I'll have to learn to be better.

The bike was just as bad as I thought. Maybe worse. 144 out of 150, that is awful. I think there's a possibility that the bike I was riding had a slightly flat front tire, but I don't know if there are any excuses out there for how badly I did. I knew during the race that it was bad - I didn't pass anyone but was passed by many, and the whole thing was grueling and seemed way more difficult than it should have been. Look how much my pace changed from the race I did in Philly a year ago! Gah. That is NOT the direction things were supposed to go.

Transition 2, bike-to-run: The only thing that got better! Makes me wonder what I was doing for that extra minute and a half in Philadelphia.

The run... ugh. Even that sucked. At least at the end of the run I felt good and was able to go pretty fast. But that means that I should have spent more of my energy out there on the run - I told myself I could walk the uphills and I maybe should not have.

I feel like my only excuses right now are being way too busy and recovering from an injury, and neither of those seem sufficient right now. At least it's over.

Comments

[kittenmint.livejournal.com]

I agree with everyone here. While you might be upset that you didn't do better, realize that you were working a sort of handicap as well - recovery from an injury which you DIDN'T have last time. Also, while you didn't do as well in most places during your trek/swim/bike, you didn't do THAT much worse either! You are off by a minute here, a second there, and while it might add up in the end, it is freaking awesome that you almost met what you were doing before an injury!!

Not only that, but it is amazing you can DO a triathlon. I can't even imagine doing something like that. You need a huge hug and pat on the back, even if you don't feel like you do, because you are just awesome.

In regards to a comment in your last post: Working on a bike outside is very different than working on a bike in the gym - I totally agree with you on that one. You get exercise both ways, but it is just a lot harder when done outside. *shrug*

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Thanks a bunch. I think I do have to hit the outside-biking a lot more to make a difference - and I will. I am feeling reinvigorated!

(Also, you could do a triathlon... it just might take you a while to work up to it. Everyone has their own crazy hobbies and if you choose to devote the time to stuff like this I think almost anyone can do it.)

[kittenmint.livejournal.com]

Yay for feeling reinvigorated! And the upcoming nice weather should only help (hopefully!) ^_____^ You will get better and better as you go along, don't fret!

As for me doing a triathlon, no can do. I love to bike and swim, but I have bad knees (sigh) which get cranky at me for jogging on an elliptical for 40 minutes, yet I have no problems with a bike (it is weird...). It means, however, that running outside on pavement kills me. =o(

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Crazy but true: one of my friends who did this triathlon has bad knees and walked the whole "run" part. She still finished! (Intended as inspirational not pushy.)

[kittenmint.livejournal.com]

Wow!!! Hmmmmmmm *ponders*