Patriot Half Triathlon Race Report

Now that it is over, this was fun! Jen and I drove down together and stayed at the Taunton Holiday Inn. Nice hotel, nice pool but so much chlorine in the pool, it invaded our nostrils the minute we opened the door to the pool room. I skipped my usual night-before swim because I was so tired and the overload of chlorine turned me off!

We had dinner with Dave C. and Paul C. at the Stoneforge Tavern, which was nice, the food was good but my chicken came raw. I had the Mango Chicken pasta. The conversation was great. It is always good getting to know other GSTCers better. We had also invited Jamie Poire to join us too but he behaved himself and went to bed too early. We stayed up too late. I told him we would be drinking and partying all night but he still didnt join us!

We got to the race site early, around 5:15, but we still felt pressed for time somehow, setting up transition! Stopped at Dunkin Donuts on the way, I had no idea I could get half hot cocoa and half french vanilla coffee! I had a cliff bar for breakfast, the hotel didnt have a continental breakfast, and their restaurant didnt open til 6:30. For punishment for the hotel, Jen and I rode our bikes back and forth on the long, carpeted hallway outside our rooms. When we went downstairs to see if they had a microwave to heat yesterday's coffee, the disheveled, sleeping man behind the desk replied that they had one, but not for the public?! Well, I told him that we weren't public, but we were customers. He and the security guy didnt seem to react when, for punishment for that comment, I rode my bike across the beautiful marble floors and out the automatic doors. That was fun!

I digressed! This race supplied everything I needed. I couldn't find my bento box, and hadn't been able to get the bike tube I needed, but there, both of these things were free! from IBC, the on-site bike peeps there! The weather was nice also! Overcast, occasional light rain, around 71 degrees but humid. The air felt very heavy on the run especially

The swim was nice, 77 degree water, brackish and a bit of veggie stuff at the end, but nothing bad. I think I was second in my wave. I was drafting behind the first girl for awhile but she started zig-zagging so I thought I could do better without her. I am pretty sure I saw her up ahead later so I shouldve stuck with her. I did a lot of zigging myself so I had to start siting more often. I wanted to know her name so I could look for her and try drafting her at future races, but I couldnt find anyone in my heat, that was faster, but some splits were lost. Or she did zig out of the way. We had white caps so it was hard to see them after a bit, everyone's splashing looked white. The swim was warm. I did think at one point that I was really warm, almost, but not quite, too much. I really enjoyed the swim. It was 32.14 for 1.3 miles. Pace: 24.47 minutes/mile or 1:24 per hundred. Not great, but in my normal range.
The bike: I made a friend, Kim from Kennebunk, ME. We went back and forth a few times, talked a bit, I was ahead of her most of the time but at the end she soared ahead with a group and beat me! I was getting tired, so maybe she didnt get faster but I got tired! I had about 12 ounces of coke with 1.5 scoops of perpetuem and 8 ounces of water. In hindsight, this was NOT enough. I shouldve put perpetuem in the water as well. For 3 hours, I should have 4.5 scoops of perpetuem. I also had cuts on my thighs and serious saddle sores! I think the nose of my saddle is too wide. But the new cassette was amazing! Total time for bike was 2:57:15 which is a pace of 19.97! Wicked fast for me! I dont need a new bike, I just needed a cassette! Later, I figured out that the saddle was crooked, and I thought my right thigh was fatter than my left! SO much for getting the saddle on straight after working on the bike to put on the new cassette.

The run felt good...at first. My hips and shoulders felt immediate relief from the pain they were in on the bike. But then every mile seemed forever! I kept telling myself I was in no pain, and I wasnt! But it was so hard! I really think I needed nutrition. Around mile 5 I nursed a tropical hammer gel for 3 miles, I never finished it, I had some water at every stop, drinking a bit, pouring the rest over my head, which just made my shorts wet and rub more on my horrible saddles sores. This was the only actual pain I felt, serious crotch area burning! But that didnt keep me from running well, I just had nothing left. At mile 10 I stopped and stood for awhile at the table. The lady there looked worried about me. She asked if I could keep going. I told her I didnt know. After an animal cracker and a pretel and some water, I realized I at least shouldve been walking. I took some pretels and set off at a jog, licking the pretzels and enjoying the salty taste in my mouth. I used the inhaler early on but I dont think anything acame out and certainly didnt get any in, as I was breathing in and out fast. I had the gasX too but never really needed it. At some points I wasnt sure but I skipped it. I kept thinking I needed a portapotty but then I realized that it was just pain, I didnt have to go bad enough to stop, so I didnt.
I ran a 2:05:39, a pace of 9:35 amazingly, qualifying me for SOS! (for better or worse) So I accomplished what I came for.

My overall time was 5:39:32, 25 minutes faster than Timberman and this was a longer race. Jen and I had thought this race would take us 20 minutes longer than Timberman! Also earlier in the season! So, I am very happy with the results. I only wish I had fueled more and not died on the run! Fifth in my age group....not too shabby.