I'm Still a Rookie - Loveland Lake to Lake Olympic Triathlon Race Recap; June 23, 2012

Being a rookie has many connotations associated with it: young, inexperienced, immature, newby, etc. etc. While I don't often consider myself a rookie in the triathlon world (most of the people I associate with would think of me as experienced and knowledgable in this area - but those people are not triathletes, for the most part), I have only been doing this sport for 2 seasons, 2012 being the 3rd. I've done 5 olympic distance, 2 sprints, 3 70.3s, and only 1 full IM in those 2.5 years. I have another 70.3 and a full IM left this season (and another Marathon). The reason I call myself a rookie is that I still find myself making significant improvements race to race; which is typical of a rookie - to make leaps and bounds in the first few years until you get to that point where something new needs to happen in order to continue to see gains - and they will be small gains at that point. I must admit - it is fun being a rookie.

Who doesn't want to see great improvements and new PRs (personal records), at every race. If that is what being a rookie means in the tri world, can I stay a rookie forever?!

The Loveland Lake to Lake Olympic Triathlon is a phenomenal race, one of the best run races I have been a part of. With the fires near Ft. Collins the bike course had to be changed just a week before the race, then the construction messing with the run course did not get completed on time and the run had to be changed. Even with all those complications and last minute changes it still all went off without a hitch - great organization that runs that race! And for me, personally, on a 100 degree day, a shorter bike and run were fine by me! The bike is usually 30 miles and when changed it became less hilly, and only 24 miles. The run is supposed to be a 10k (6.1 miles), but when changed it became 5.1 miles.

With the long training I have been doing, an Olympic distance triathlon is short. I wanted to see great improvements over this same race last year (where I had a great race in 2011). The course changes bugged me a little bit because, except for the swim, there would be no apples to apples comparisons.

As we did last year, Bill and I went to Loveland Friday night to stay the night in a hotel the night before the race. We went to eat at a mexican place and I at a large grilled chicken burrito with rice and peppers in it. Even staying near the site, we still got up at 4:30am to get ready and get to the race. I ate oatmeal, and drank a gatorade before we left the hotel. I at a PB&H while setting up transition and took a gel right before starting the swim. My swim wave (and Bill's) was going to be the last to start, at 6:50am. I don't like being the last to start, but not having the power to change it, well,  I just had to get over it ;).

We arrived at the race about 5:30am, set up transition, got body marked, did the usual business and socializing, and got into the water to warm up. It was already warm, due to be over 100 in Loveland that day! I was hoping to be done shortly after 9am, and it was forcast to be in the mid 80s by then! UUGH!

SWIM: 28:40 1500M
When my wave started, the first guys of the elite wave were just getting to the shore (they started 20 minutes ahead of us). I got into position just behind the front line, started my watch, and started swimming. I was swimming hard, and trying to find someone at the right pace to draft behind. Maybe it's mental, but I really do feel a difference when I can do that - If they are just the right pace, I can easily stay behind them and it feels easier. Of course at each turn, I had to re-evaluate and find another, or maybe the same guy, you never know who is who out there!! I felt good swimming and only corrected my course a couple of times (I have a tendency to pull to the left). I got to the shore and checked my watch (26:49) - I was very pleased with that for a 1500m swim - probably my fastest yet. The timing mat for this race is all the way up by the transition area - so for the race, the swim time includes a 1/4 mile run (approx) - which made my official swim 28:40. Last year I was 30:45! I was stoked on a 2 minute PR for the swim!!! I was 9/58 in my division and 50/231 females for the swim.

T1: 1:26
Stripped the wetsuit off as I was running into transition and finished pulling it off at my bike. Put my shoes, helmet and glasses on and got on my way. This is a 10 second improvement over last year's T1 - I still need to shave about 30 seconds off.

BIKE:  1:08:59    24 Miles      20mph avg.
I got moving on the bike and tried to bring my breathing in check. I wanted to push hard though for the duration of the race, and the first few miles of the bike are uphill, so I did the best I could to calm myself down! I felt great and was passing a lot of riders (being the last wave, I knew that would happen) - most of them were not in my division, but passing is still passing and it is better than being passed! There were 2 girls that I passed on the bike that caught up and passed me, but then I passed both of them again just a little bit later. The course was rolling hills, with most of the climbing in the first half of the ride. I took on 2 water bottles (1 was EFS fluid); and 2 gels while on the bike. My husband passed me between 5-8 miles into the bike (I swam faster than he did on this day). He flew past me and did not get passed by anyone for the rest of his race :). At the aid station halfway I took a water bottle and dumped it on my head. I wasn't hot, but knew I would be getting hotter as the day went on and the water helped. Overall, not one girl passed me on the bike and only a handful of guys did. I have been practicing taking my shoes off before I get off the bike (trying to save those extra seconds in T2) - So I loosened my shoes and got my feet out with just a few hundred yards to go. My bike time was 6/58 in my division, and 41/231 females.

T2: 1:11
Racked my bike, took off helmet, threw on visor and shoes and got on my way. 8 second improvement over last year.

RUN: 38:38   5.1 Miles    7:34/mile pace
The first part of the run was HARD and it made me nervous! I was going just under an 8 minute pace and wanted to be going faster, but didn't know if I could! So I settled in at around 7:45 pace and tried to (again) get my breathing in check. I have slight exercise induced asthma and I wondered if the smoke in the air from the fires was maybe affecting me. I always take 2 puffs on my inhaler before races, so I was hoping that I would be ok. My friend came up behind me and commented that I wasn't even breathing hard. I totally was, I felt, but hearing someone else's view helped me mentally. I began to get into the groove and upped the pace. I took 2 cups of water at every aid station and dumped them on my head. It was about 8:30am by now and was in the mid 80s already! I drank either gatorade or water at every station as well. I began reeling people in, I think one or two guys passed me on the run, but that was it!!! I passed tons of girls and a lot of guys as well. I kept looking at the girl's calf to see if they were in my division. I did not see many. I knew I had passed a couple on the bike and I passed at least 1 on the run, that I saw. I was hoping that meant I was near the top of my division. The run was a loop around the lake we swam in. As I got to less than a mile left I saw my husband sitting on the side of the course, he cheered for me as I went by. I upped the pace for the last half mile and crossed the line at a sprint. Last year's run on this course (similar, but not exactly the same) was a 7:55 pace. I was hoping to be closer to a 7/min pace for this race, but I know I gave it my all. I am hoping the heat and air quality are what slowed my run. All in all I was VERY pleased with my race! My run time was 5/58 in my division and 25/231 females.

TOTAL RACE TIME: 2:18:56,  4th in my division 35-39F, and 28/231 females

Bill and I after the race

Because I had not seen any of my division on the bike or run (that I didn't pass) I was hoping that I would be near the top. Last year I was 6th out of 68, and was only 6 minutes off the winner in my age group. This year I knew I went so much faster and harder and am so much stronger that I was hoping for podium. I told myself as I went to check results to not be disappointed no matter what the outcome, because I had a great race, and this is one of the larger Olympic distance triathlons in Colorado. But still, when I saw I was 4th, I can't deny, I was a little disappointed. I am getting stronger and faster, but so is everyone else!! And this year I was 16 minutes off the leader in my division! You can only control your own race, you can never control who else shows up to race. But hey, I'm still a rookie, so as long as I continue to see great improvements, you won't hear me complaining. ;)