Parvin State Park Triathlon
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elkid
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Joined: 18 Nov 2002
Posts: 8353
Location: hiding out in Philly
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 Posted: 06/26/04 - 19:43 Post subject: Parvin State Park Triathlon
Sprint Tri: 1/4 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 5K run. I KICKED ASS!
At the urging of Dancer and my friend Stephanie (a 9 time Ironman), I signed up for a baby tri to try to conquer my fear of open water. I also was using this race to get practice with transitions (since those at The Debacle of L2L were untimed), and see how fast I could go on the bike. I held back at the last tri due to the 92.1 mile length and the intense pain, and biking around the 'hood I have to stop for a light or a stop sign just as I get going. As per my Forerunner I've been averaging 14-15mph but suspected I could go faster. Despite only swimming twice and biking twice after a 3 week layoff.
I get up at 4am after very fitful sleep. Funny how a little baby tri can scare me more than a half or even the marathon.  Due to last night's rain I was forced to fight with the trunk bike rack at 430. In the dark. Grrrr. Got it on as best I could, then stopped at Dunkin' Donuts for breakfast, and on the road at 5. The ride down to this south Jersey park was uneventful, except for me thinking repeatedly please don't let my bike fall off the car with the rack. I arrive at the race way early, and slowly feel my pulse start to climb. I am absolutely terrified that I will suck as badly this time as I did at my first tri attempt. I manage to look around and pick up a few tips I'll try for my next tri. Like bringing a towel to sit on, and later shower with.  I chat up with a few people who notice how freaked out I am. One guy pumps up my tires which were at half of what they should've been; gotta get me a pump with pressure gauge thingie. Another guy shares some candy with me. A woman rubs my shoulders, hoping to ease the tension. Man, are tri-ers nice people.
I'm scheduled to set out in the third wave behind the first two initial male waves of 39 and younger. Not too many women in the pack, so that age group for us is one wave. I'm sweating in my wetsuit before we take off and choking. My wetsuit was big before, but now it's uncomfortably so because I've dropped weight since L2L. I was choking because it was literally pulling itself down me. There was only, um, one area where it fits, and that wasn't enough to keep the blasted thing from sliding down. Off we go, and for the first half I manage to freestyle. I think this isn't too bad. Water doesn't taste so good, but at least it's not sludgelike and slimy like before. I start choking too badly, which makes me hyperventilate a little. End up backstroking half the second half, then more freestyle, then I stand up and run/walk. Could've gone a bit faster, but I was trying to catch my breath. My times was great for the swim, T1 a little slow.
On to the bike. Open course through scenic farmland. Oh yeah, great sights and smells for Ms. Ultra Urban.  Decide to not push it to the max, to save a bit for the run later and the race tomorrow, but go at a comfortable strong pace I can hold. I start passing people like crazy. Some women in my swim heat, but a lot of guys. They had a huge lead on us, and I was catching up and passing them pretty quickly. One guy in a YooHoo jersey and I were nudging for slots. Finally I turned my head and said with a wicked grin on my face, "Hey YooHoo - enough already: let's go. BRING IT." And here I was, she who hates the bike, who was so terrified of it less than a month ago, actually challenging a dude to a race! I am extremely proud to say that within minutes he gave up and I left him in the dust. Along with a lot of people.  The end of the bike leg sneaks up on me, so no time to spin my legs out. Gotta get me a bike computer that works. I actually was disappointed: I wish the bike had been longer because I was really strong, and felt great. I dismount, and lose a few seconds because my left foot wouldn't unclip. T2 slow, but faster than the first.
Ahhh ... the run. Even if it's a 5K, I want to run. I lost some ground with the run; some of the people I'd overtaken on the bike overcame me. The first .75 mile is on a hodge podge of sand and trail. Blech. Then we hit the paved trail. My legs felt very weird. I've done enough bricks to recognize this as a different feeling than "off the bike" feeling. I felt like I was running backwards. So I knew I was either going way too slow, or really fast. No mile markers, so I just go. Stop at the water station and walk for a minute to drink. I had tried to drink Gatorade on the bike, but only half of what I squirted out of the bottle managed to make it into my mouth. Hit the turnaround and then walk through the same water station for a minute. I'm starting to feel really good, and I'm smiling. I'm high fiving a bunch of people, and then the finish line sneaks up on me from behind a huge tree. Manage only a little tiny sprint at the end with an overall time that completely surpassed my expectations.
I was jumping up and down, screaming W00TY W00T! over and over. I walked back to the bike racks still screaming. Called The Paramedic while I went back to the car to get dry clothes. I don't think he knows what I said, as I was still screaming. Met up with a few of the people who took care of me pre-race, and they were all very excited for me (and yes, I was still screaming). Finally YooHoo rolled in from the run. He came up and said, "Wow, you are one hell of a cyclist. I really tried to stay with you there, but you're just too fast. With your power and style you are a born rider." Holy crap. Me? A born rider? She who hated her bike so much she named it Nemesis? She who was terrified of it even on the day of her first tri? That conversation, my friends, was worth the high price ticket of this event. I then wanted to shower but realized I had forgotten my towels, so I just cleaned up as best I could with my face cloth, packed up my stuff, and headed back home.
Oh wait, the best part ... my times despite 76 degree, 64% humidity weather (my watch time, can't find chiptime results online yet):
swim 9:22
T1 3:04
bike 39:11
T2 2:14
run 30:42
For the swim, fastest pace yet. For the bike, 18.4mph, fastest pace yet without really pushing it too hard. For the run, 15:59 out (1.6), 14:42 back (1.5): 9:54 pace, only 31 seconds slower than last week's 5K, and only 48 seconds off of my PR despite walking a full two minutes. I don't know where I ranked, but know I beat a ton of people. I don't know how these times ranks in terms of tris or against others, if this is fast or not, but I know that today I did extremely well for me.
Hot damn I'm on fire lately, and I'm only training for fun. This tri was the race I was meant to have after being so bitterly cheated with the first. After that, my first thought was who the hell thinks that crap is fun? After today, my first thought was I can't wait to do this again! So much fun, from start to finish. So much support from my fellow athletes. So much food for thought about how much better I can get at this, because I have a damn good starting point.
And I'll need to get better. My next tri - Diamondman half ironman in September.
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kattzoo
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Joined: 28 Feb 2003
Posts: 3813
Location: Happily at the back of the pack
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Posted: 06/26/04 - 19:49 Post subject:
Nice, nice job! I am way impressed with you.
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Cappy
Excelent
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Joined: 16 May 2002
Posts: 27368
Location: Spreadsheetylvania
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Posted: 06/26/04 - 19:58 Post subject:
Congratulations. A good performance all around.
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shelee
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Joined: 23 Oct 2002
Posts: 2409
Location: IN
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Posted: 06/26/04 - 20:00 Post subject:
Great! Sounds like a splendid time.
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kobyj
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Joined: 24 Jul 2002
Posts: 2370
Location: Lake Pine
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Posted: 06/26/04 - 20:09 Post subject:
Awesome job!
1 race down, 1 to go for the weekend.
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JACKED UP
PRESIDENT
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Joined: 06 Jun 2003
Posts: 21238
Location: www.johnnydu.com
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Posted: 06/26/04 - 21:55 Post subject:
Great job, congrats.  As always, nice read too. 
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Sahara
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Joined: 17 May 2002
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Posted: 06/27/04 - 00:34 Post subject:
Rock on! A good one to convince you that the September tri is a definite go, huh?! Congrats on today
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rolling rock
The Pinball
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Joined: 15 May 2002
Posts: 16218
Location: unknown zone
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Posted: 06/27/04 - 07:24 Post subject:
Way. To. Go.
duh queen is on her way. nice go elkid. very nice.
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Kimba90
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Joined: 03 Dec 2003
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Posted: 06/27/04 - 07:53 Post subject:
That's so impressive! What a way to bounce back after the way you felt with your first attempt!
You are on a serious roll! 
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bpdou
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Joined: 09 Apr 2004
Posts: 1713
Location: Louisville
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Posted: 06/28/04 - 09:11 Post subject:
Nicely done!
Sounds like we need to get you a new bike rack tho? One that you KNOW won't fall off? Who needs that to worry about? 
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HYPERASHEL
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Joined: 18 Nov 2003
Posts: 15397
Location: The South's Sauna, Atlanta
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Posted: 06/28/04 - 10:00 Post subject:
Hey Kid, Great. Glad you had a much better and enjoyable Tri this time. you got back on that horse and rode it well. WAY TO GO. you born rider.
So does Nemesis get renamed now?
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gretriever
Hipster Doofus
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Joined: 16 Jul 2003
Posts: 19385
Location: A moving target in a firing range.
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Posted: 06/28/04 - 10:09 Post subject: Re: Parvin State Park Triathlon
Wow. What a report. I'm happy for the results you had, and that you used it to help overcome your fear. We're proud of you, and you may well have found your sport!
Though I must resist the urge to answer | elkid wrote: | | This tri was the race I was meant to have after being so bitterly cheated with the first. After that, my first thought was who the hell thinks that crap is fun? |
with, "a proctologist."
Congrats to you! 
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mickeyvw98
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Joined: 03 Jun 2004
Posts: 2010
Location: Upstate NY
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Posted: 06/28/04 - 10:17 Post subject:
Congrats!!! Awesome race report too!! 
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TriBob
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Joined: 29 Aug 2002
Posts: 5771
Location: Lost in Transition
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Posted: 06/28/04 - 11:52 Post subject:
We'll make you a triathlete yet.
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Noley
AZhat
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Joined: 16 Aug 2003
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Posted: 06/28/04 - 13:10 Post subject:
Excellent Job Elkid!
What a race! This is what you needed to give you a boost! You have been training hard and this was the pay off. Great job!
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