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Winter Miles, Summer Smiles
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boysinblack wrote: »Your IRL buddy is racing next weekend as well! The series continues....
He came in one place ahead of me! 0 -
Kurt_Godel wrote: » He came in one place ahead of me!
I seen you's finish! Very very close again!!! Hes delighted been chasing that podium for the year!0 -
Sat Tri the Hook Sprint
As I type I've no idea of position/time, but I may as well do a report while its fresh, since I did this for other reasons.
I've done this somewhat local (<100k) race in 2012 and 2014, mainly because I used to swim these bays as a kid on holidays. Both times I've been left disappointed with hugely shortened swims (250m, 450m) in perfect conditions, and I vowed "never again". I heard from a few that 2015 was a good race, so entered again this year. Build up has been race after race after race- I'm enjoying the competition this year, and fitness is largely carrying through from race to race.
The night before there was all sorts of storm warnings, I decided against going as I didn't want the disappointment of another cancelled swim. However, I always remember something interested told me a few years back in Valentia when its swim was cancelled- "don't let it affect you, race what is on offer, practice transitions, do as good as you can do". So I decided to head down with a "what will be will be" attitude and do my best no matter what the circumstances.
There's a world between deciding and doing however, and I found it hard to bridge that gap. But it was something I worked on during the race, and probably the most positive aspect to take home.
Swim
I was surprised the swim was going ahead, based on past years. While wave 1 lined up, someone ran down to the beach with the two turning bouys:rolleyes: Too late to put them out, instead we were instructed to swim to a yellow kayak, turn and swim to a second yellow kayak, and back to the beach. It was obvious this would be difficult, bearing in mind other safety kayaks were moving along the course for previous wave. Anyway, run in start, dive against the waves, and off. The swim out was "with" the flow, only difficulty was sighting in the swell. I stopped a couple of times to confirm, and had a good enough start, turned in about 4th. On to the second kayak, which was very hard to spot. We had been told to use the large RNLI boat as a marker, but it seemed to have moved (to my mind anyway). Waves were crashing, gobfuls of water, against a flow- this was my type of swimming, and I was relishing being out there. Had to pull back a bit with the excitement; the swim is only a warm-up.
I stopped and sighted a couple of times, bit realised I was sighting off a safety kayak, and had been swimming inside the correct kayak. There were two other lads close, so I swam across them and pointed, and we all diverted course and swam around the marker. Not so for plenty of others who cut a sizeable chunk off without penalty.
Back into the beach, against a strong tide. I'm not sure where I exited, I had been high up my wave but a lot undercut the course, so no real idea. However, I was happy the swim went ahead, and happy with my own swim, and thats all that really matters to me today.
T1
Stripped my wetsuit on the beach and ran the steep climb to the top. Fast enough transition.
Bike
It was very windy out there. A mate recced the course last night and I asked if they had swept the gravel from the tight corners- "They've added to it!" was the answer. I drove it before regging and indeed several of the tight corners were full of grit. Anyway, I was passed fy 4 or 5 during the bike, I did what I could do, and garmin says 33.4kph average, which I'll take for that course. Solid enough bike. Let a roar at one last who passed drafting, and immediately regretted it. None of my business, don't let it affect my race.
Half way through the bike I realised I must be doing well overall AG-wise, so determined to focus on the rest of the race. I can do so for recent club races, but todays race is a bit too mickey-mouse to focus. Nevertheless, focus I must, and I tried to push towards the end, all the while visualising T2, and the run.
T2
No issues, probably could have shaved 10s.
Run
Of the 4 or 5 (from wave 2) who passed during the bike, I caught one in trans. Two other lads were 50m ahead, and I hunted them down steadily over the first 2k. It helped having targets from wave 1, targets are always good. I was happy to see the 3km sign, and looked at 3 lads a good bit ahead, all the while concerned others would catch. Long story short, I held my position to the finish. No idea of pace, but it was a decent enough run. I was met at the line by my IRL-shirt nemesis, who just pipped me today. Neither of us were wearing IRL-shirts, both incognito lest the other see a target on their back. Thats what competition will do for you
Overall
Solid race, I'll need to fill in the numbers after results go up. I feel I raced very well, I expect to podium in AG, although I think the swim cutting will skew overall NS results.0 -
boysinblack wrote: »I seen you's finish! Very very close again!!! Hes delighted been chasing that podium for the year!
Good man, where did he come in AG?
(next up will be Clougherhead
) 0 -
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Kurt_Godel wrote: »Good man, where did he come in AG?
(next up will be Clougherhead)
2nd , would make you third id say !0 -
boysinblack wrote: »2nd , would make you third id say !
Ah, well done PD!
3rd is grand, target was a podium today... must get on to the organisers, I'd say they were very good AG prizes 0 -
Kurt_Godel wrote: »Ah, well done PD!
3rd is grand, target was a podium today... must get on to the organisers, I'd say they were very good AG prizes
Yep you were 3rd. Good job.0 -
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Sun Dublin City Tri 2:15:44, DQ'ed
Hands up, its my own fault, I didn't pay attention during briefing. So long story short is I turned for home one swim bouy too soon.
Swim 16:07
I watched previous waves going off and evryone was having problems with the central dividers, which were snaking all over the place and made a straight line very difficult. I opted to stay left, close to the bank, and got a good start from the off, leading for the first 100m or so. Unfortunately I ran into weeds and a group of about four went by me. I swam out and tried to hook onto legs but they had made 10m on me. Round the bouy, and start swimming upstream. This was a matter of plugging away to get on the feet ahead, and after quite a while I managed to do so (looked like he'd been dropped by the leaders). He must have been tiring though, a couple of touches on his feet and he stopped and started breaststroking, so I passed and swam into fresh water myself. The center divider was causing some issues, you had to swim out from it or you'd be caught with its snaking. After a while it stopped, no divide in the river.
Up to a lad in a kayak, past him, and I realise he's been hiding the next section of divider. I was on the wrong side, so swam back under to correct. I worked from here to the next bouy, and rounded it (this was an error, there was a further bouy higher up). Swam back down, lots of traffic from earlier waves but thats not unusual. Up to the exit, got hauled out, and into trans. I felt like I'd left a solid swim, but had no idea I'd shortened it. Very hard to gauge distance/time when you're pushing in a race.
T1 1:45
No issues.
Bike 1:09:46
I'm very pleased with the bike. Right the way around I was pushing it, keepig an eye on a higher wattage than usual. It was quite congested by the time we hit the course (final wave), but no real issues passing people. Any slower sections were uphills or technical biking, but I liked the course overall and was pleased with how I handled it.
T2 1:31
No issues.
Run 46:36
A few hilly drags, but I paced the run well enough. I was conscious of perhaps having overcooked the bike, so ran the first 5k cautiously enough (22:30). It helped having so many targets to pass, that helps take your mind off things. Wasn't passed by too many during the run myself, so overall I was happy with how it was going. I tried to keep up the pace on the second 5k (22:13), think the course was a little long? Anyway, going down the Kyber second time I was passed by a lad who looked like my AG or thereabouts. He put in 20m, and I was resigned to finish behind him, but once we hit the final 500m outside of the park I started reeling him in. Still in two minds regarding settling for second behind him, but with 200 to go I sprinted the rest, passing him and finishing dry retching from the effort.
Overall
Obviously I'm not happy with having undercut the swim, but overall I had a very solid race, probably one of my best. The bike in particular was just rewards for the effort put in, and the run was about what I anticipated. The swim had been solid enough, I heard afterwards it might have been long, so that would have suited me. In my defence I looked up the swim course last night on google maps, anticipating bends etc, but the course wasn't up on the website. A poor excuse I know, but I'm lamenting all those easy NS points I just dropped. I thought the swim course might have been better marshalled/laid out, but I would say that, wouldn't I? The rest of the race I couldn't fault, great organisation and marshalling year after year. Thanks to those from Pirhana who gave up their days racing so we could.
Need to lick my wounds for a while before Clougherhead in three weeks, last race of the season. And then start planning for next year 0 -
Kurt_Godel wrote: »Sun Dublin City Tri 2:15:44, DQ'ed
Hands up, its my own fault, I didn't pay attention during briefing. So long story short is I turned for home one swim bouy too soon.
Swim 16:07
I watched previous waves going off and evryone was having problems with the central dividers, which were snaking all over the place and made a straight line very difficult. I opted to stay left, close to the bank, and got a good start from the off, leading for the first 100m or so. Unfortunately I ran into weeds and a group of about four went by me. I swam out and tried to hook onto legs but they had made 10m on me. Round the bouy, and start swimming upstream. This was a matter of plugging away to get on the feet ahead, and after quite a while I managed to do so (looked like he'd been dropped by the leaders). He must have been tiring though, a couple of touches on his feet and he stopped and started breaststroking, so I passed and swam into fresh water myself. The center divider was causing some issues, you had to swim out from it or you'd be caught with its snaking. After a while it stopped, no divide in the river.
Up to a lad in a kayak, past him, and I realise he's been hiding the next section of divider. I was on the wrong side, so swam back under to correct. I worked from here to the next bouy, and rounded it (this was an error, there was a further bouy higher up). Swam back down, lots of traffic from earlier waves but thats not unusual. Up to the exit, got hauled out, and into trans. I felt like I'd left a solid swim, but had no idea I'd shortened it. Very hard to gauge distance/time when you're pushing in a race.
T1 1:45
No issues.
Bike 1:09:46
I'm very pleased with the bike. Right the way around I was pushing it, keepig an eye on a higher wattage than usual. It was quite congested by the time we hit the course (final wave), but no real issues passing people. Any slower sections were uphills or technical biking, but I liked the course overall and was pleased with how I handled it.
T2 1:31
No issues.
Run 46:36
A few hilly drags, but I paced the run well enough. I was conscious of perhaps having overcooked the bike, so ran the first 5k cautiously enough (22:30). It helped having so many targets to pass, that helps take your mind off things. Wasn't passed by too many during the run myself, so overall I was happy with how it was going. I tried to keep up the pace on the second 5k (22:13), think the course was a little long? Anyway, going down the Kyber second time I was passed by a lad who looked like my AG or thereabouts. He put in 20m, and I was resigned to finish behind him, but once we hit the final 500m outside of the park I started reeling him in. Still in two minds regarding settling for second behind him, but with 200 to go I sprinted the rest, passing him and finishing dry retching from the effort.
Overall
Obviously I'm not happy with having undercut the swim, but overall I had a very solid race, probably one of my best. The bike in particular was just rewards for the effort put in, and the run was about what I anticipated. The swim had been solid enough, I heard afterwards it might have been long, so that would have suited me. In my defence I looked up the swim course last night on google maps, anticipating bends etc, but the course wasn't up on the website. A poor excuse I know, but I'm lamenting all those easy NS points I just dropped. I thought the swim course might have been better marshalled/laid out, but I would say that, wouldn't I? The rest of the race I couldn't fault, great organisation and marshalling year after year. Thanks to those from Pirhana who gave up their days racing so we could.
Need to lick my wounds for a while before Clougherhead in three weeks, last race of the season. And then start planning for next year
You can't be the only one who cut that swim. Probarly the only one fast enough to get caught!! The middle divider wasn't there. I knew swimming up people would easily make that mistake0 -
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Tue 40 mins easy run
Just a very easy trot, the legs had Sundays race in them.
Wed Rest
Should have jumped on the turbo but the day got away from me.
Thurs 60 mins cardio; Masters swim
30 mins treadmill hill intervals, 30 mins elliptical trainer. It was raining out, and I was wearing my new super flourescent
and I didn't want to dampen the radioactive pink colour, so I did the gym bunny thing.
Swim:
Warm up
10x100 free
(25m kick,25m fist,50m swim) 15s
Main set
All free
1x400m every 100m builds 45s (this took 6:10 overall)
2x300m every 4th 25m max 30s
3x200m breathe every 5 20s
4x100m Dec 1-4 15s (last 100 1:24)
This was a tough little set, but a good one to remind what swimming form is. Coach pulled me up a couple of times regarding a diminishing kick when I get tired, which leads to a big drop in speed/form. Something to work on.
I enjoyed the max 25's, you can't beat that feeling when you're swimming fast and sitting on top of the water.
The last fast 100 I'm content with the time, as I hung a cramping foot at a 90˚angle for the last 50. Its a long way off 1:11, but its a decent starting point.0 -
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