Race Report: Massachusetts State Triathlon 2010

The Massachusetts State Triathlon can be summed up as an important learning experience. As I eluded to earlier in the week, it was not my best race. The week before the race had been filled with the drama from Sam's bike crash and the mood in our house was less than stellar.

We stayed the night before at the designated race hotel, Courtyard Marriott in Fitchburg, MA. I must say this may have been the most comfortable bed I've found in a long, long time. It was just so fluffy and comforting. When the alarm went off at 5:30 I did not want to get out of bed. But, the race was calling so we got up and quickly dressed and hit the road. 

I was surprised at how warm it was outside even at 6am. I probably should not have been considering the forecast was expected to be near 90 degrees. A lot different then the torrential down pour last year (2009 race report)!

When we arrived at the race site I realized the real reason people get to races early - parking! The main lot was full but we were able to park on a side road and it was just a 10 minute walk to the race site. I quickly checked in and set-up in transition. Since Sam was not racing he couldn't come into transition with me so he just wondered around for awhile while I got ready. 

I waited in line for the bathrooms (forever!) and lathered up with sunscreen. Then it was time to head down to the water for  quick warm up swim. The water temp was a balmy 80 degrees so no wetsuits were allowed. I have never done a swim in tri gear without a wetsuit so I wanted to make sure my top felt okay while swimming. I got in a quick warm up and was happy to report the top and shorts felt just fine without the wetsuit.

Dick and Rick Hoyt were participating in this race and it was really amazing to watch them get set up for the swim. Dick races with his son Rick who has cerebral palsy and cannot walk or speak. They have competed in countless endurance events including Ironman, the Boston Marathon and biking/running across the US in 1992. In a triathlon, Dick pulls Rick in a boat that is attached to his waist with a bungee cord, on the bike Rick sits in a chair attached to the front of the bike, and in the run he pushes Rick in a custom running chair. It is truly and inspirational story and I was honored to have the opportunity to watch them start their race that day. 

Rick & Dick Hoyt Starting the Swim

The sprint waves went off first and then the olympic groups started. I was in the second wave of the Olympic group. This is me heading down to the water.

Swim - 1500 Meters (no wetsuit)

27:03 (25:34 in 2009)

2 of 12 Age Group (F25-29) / 38 of 315 Overall

The swim was pretty uneventful. I seeded myself near the start of the pack and was able to get into a good rhythm quickly. After a few minutes I found myself swimming side by side with another girl in my wave. We stayed with each other for most of the swim but separated with about 300 meters to go. I think she came out of the water right before me. About half way through the swim I started thinking about the race last year and then I had a little panic that I had grabbed the wrong cycling shoes from the car and was going to have to wear Sam's. 

Even though my swim was slower than last year by about 1:30 I ranked higher in both the overall and the age group rankings. 

Transition 1

1:48 (2:56 in 2009)

7 of 12 Age Group

As I ran into transition their were volunteers handing out water. That was awesome and much appreciated with the heat of the day. I recognized the girl I had been swimming with across the rack from me and congratulated her on a great swim. I checked to make sure I had the right shoes and headed out on my bike. 

Bike  - 24 Miles

Garmin Data: 24.33 miles, 1:31:05, 16.0 mph average (16.0 mph average 2009)

Race Data: 24 miles, 1:32:28   

9 of 12 Age Group / 266 of 319 Overall

Starting the bike

I was happy with my swim time and headed out onto the bike. Within the first 3 miles I saw a few people from the sprint group walking their bikes up the first hill. I felt bad for them and was thankful that I was riding and not walking. There is one "big" hill in this race at mile 5. It is about a mile long gradual incline. Last year it was a big deal, this year it seemed like nothing compared to the North Country Triathlon hills in June. At the bottom of the hill I tried to shift into the small ring and I dropped my chain. F*ck. I got off my bike and fiddled with my bike to try to get the chain back on. I got it back on but then realized that I was not going to be able to get back on my bike at the steepest part of the hill. So, I had to walk my bike back a about 30 yards to a small side road so I could get on my bike there and then get back on the course. It felt like 50 people passed me during this time. It was really frustrating to watch everyone go by me. I estimated that it took me about 3 minutes, however I paused my Garmin for most of this and compared it to my official time and it was only about 2 minutes. It felt like forever. 

The rest of the bike went smoothly. I got passed by a lot of people (like usually) and I was feeling discouraged and my attitude was deteriorating. There is a portion of the road that is in really bad shape and it was making me angry too. I knew I was being irrational but I couldn't snap myself out of it. 

The course was about 4 miles longer than last year so I can't compare times but my average was exactly the same - 16.0 mph.

End of the Bike

Transition 2

1:21 (1:51 in 2009)

8 of 12 Age Group

Switched out my shoes, grabbed my hat, jelly beans and shot blocks. 

The Run - 6.2 miles

1:04:11, 10:10/mile average

11 of 12 Age Group / 251 of 314 Overall

Run Splits: 9:25 / 10:08 / 10:02 / 10:53 / 10:12 / 10:19 / 3:11 (last .35)

The run just plain sucked. It was hot, I was tired and I just wanted the race to be over with. I tried to focus on just one mile at a time and not think about the whole distance. Everything was making me angry: not enough aid stations, no porta-potties, mile markers were wrong.... Nothing could make me happy out there and I knew that I was being ridiculous but I just could not snap myself out of it. I finally hit the the turn around point and I was glad to know that I was on my way back to the finish. With the number of people passing me I was almost certain that I was in last place (in my deranged mind) so I was relieved to see that there were still people behind me... 

What was very interesting was that I finished the run in the exact same time (to the second) as last year: 1:04:11. My Garmin recorded the run course as 6.35 (instead of 6.2). I didn't have the Garmin last year so I don't know if the course was a bit long last year too.

Final

3:06:50

10 of 12 Age Group / 228 of 314 Overall 

When I crossed the line a volunteer greeted me with a reusable water bottle filled with cold water. It was GREAT. They also had fruit and snacks set up at the line. I ate a few slices of watermelon and then I went to find Sam. He had been sitting around for the last 4 hours so I quickly packed my things so we could hit the road.

As I said before, you win some and you lose some. This race showed me how important mental preparation is for a race. My mind and my heart were not there and it showed with my poor performance. Not every race is going to be your best and you can't PR every time. I would like to think that I still learned a lot during the race and I hope I can put it to good use in the future.