So, they finally posted the 2008 race results for the Buffalo Creek Tri. The results were interesting - at least to me.
Since they nicely keep up the results from over the years (and I'm bad about saving that stuff), I could compare.
I knew my overall time was much slower this year than in 2005. And somewhat slower than I raced it in 2006. I didn't race last year (this one). What's interesting is the breakdown.
------------2008--------2006--------2005
Swim:------40:21--------37:39--------31:17
T1----------3:02---------3:08---------3:56
Bike--------2:22----------2:18---------2:09
T2----------1:07----------2:10---------1:47
Run--------48:21---------49:57---------49:47
Overall-----3:55:01-------3:51:44-------3:36:09
Place-------58th/85-------40th/51------26th/40
By feel, I knew I was going to do worse in the swim - it's just hard to get good propulsion in the water without being able to flex one's ankle. This was reflected, although I didn't do too much worse than in 2006. I did *way* better in 2005. The `05 race was just after a 6 week swim clinic where we focused on efficiency and T pressure and rotation and did about a million drills - in addition to being critiqued. This clearly helped.
T1 transition times - nothing notable here, except that I've gotten a little faster.
The bike leg surprised me a little - not majorly. Biking is the one thing I've been able to do. I think I was more fit in `05. Would have expected better than '06 perhaps but I did also have shoe lace/pedal tangling issues, wiped out once, and had to stretch my back a couple times on the climb back up.
T2 - this year I biked in the same shoes I was running in, since I was using cages - so that time is of course faster this year.
Now the kicker - to me. I figured I did *way* worse on the run this year. I felt like I was just surviving - and walked several of the steeper hills - just had nothing more. Had a hard time lengthening my stride (very short steps). But, I actually ran it faster this year than the other two years I raced! This part was funny to me. Totally not what I'd have thought. Especially since I haven't been able to run!
My only thought is that my running style has improved over the years, and even though I felt slow, I was still actually running better.
So that part was interesting to me. There are more things I can read into these times, but those were the interesting tidbits I thought I'd share.
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5 comments:
Shoot, just finishing is an accomplishment :) Is it the exact same course as the previous years? I think one of the fun things about races is competeing against yourself (like you did here). Maybe you were more relaxed in the run since you expected less, who knows? Either way, great job!
Thanks James :)
Yeah, it is fun competing against yourself - most of the time. Except when there's that expectation and feel like you *need* to beat your previous time or you won't be happy. That I don't like. That's oftentimes when I elect to do something else until that feeling goes away and I can do it b/c it's fun and I want to! :)
I have fun getting out there.
It was the same course. The swim is harder to compare. Are the bouys really placed the same distance apart - how far do you have to run through the mud between laps, etc.
Racing out there with others is really what makes it fun - at least for me :)
Good job! I'm glad that you were able to compete even with a gimpy ankle. I know how much this race means to you.
When I read your description about the fire road all I could think about was the digger that I took at that spot. I'm glad you aren't repeating my mistakes. ;)
Thanks Derek - yeah, I was thinking about your spill on the way down. Also thinking about your personality and understanding why you still pushed so hard to go fast - you're competitive! :)
I was happy to do it.
Welcome home from your bike tour - look forward to hearing about it.
K
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