Race Result

Racer:	Mike Tine
Race:	Jones Beach Triathlon
Date:	Saturday, October 1, 2005
Location:	Jones Beach Long Island, NY
Race Type:	Triathlon - Sprint
Age Group:	Male 30 - 34
Time:	1:07:18
Overall Place:	8 / 446
Age Group Place:	2 / 66
Comment:	Perfect day for a race. Hoping for top 5, but very happy with my race.

Race Report:

Swim: 10:05 (1:09/100yds - 4th fastest of top 10, 17th overall)
T1: 1:50 (included a run from the beach - 7th of top 10)
Bike: 34:47 (22.4mph - 9th of top 10 [ouch], 17th overall)
T2: :40 (took Cascio's no socks advice. 2nd of top 10)
Run: 19:59 (6:27/mile - 6th of top 10, 20th overall)

Going into this race, I thought there was an outside chance that I could win it. That being said, I did a weak taper for this event as I have a 1/2 marathon in a few weeks for which I need to train. So, my legs weren't where they could have been. Neither was my fitness as this was a year of relative relaxation in my training.

Now that the excuses are finished, I gave this race everything I had. Swam hard through everything, including getting my goggles knocked off twice by the same guy (had to stop and adjust so I could see again)! I finally dusted him as we approached the finish of the swim.

The wetsuit didn't want to come off, but the run was long enough that it was down to my waist by the time I hit the transition area. I had arm warmers ready, but it had warmed up nicely, so I untied them from my handlebars and dropped them before leaving. A little trouble getting on the left shoe, but overall went well.

The bike was dead flat on a closed road. I passed 2 people and got passed by 2 people (one who was from the 2nd wave - he was smokin'!). I probably could have pushed the bike harder. This is something for which I have to train during this off season. However, my right glute was starting to flare up again, and I was nervous about pushing it too hard. Also, without training much for speed or distance, I had trouble this year pushing my limits on the bike - IM training of last year built my stamina, but not my speed! The winner went 24mph - I should have been able to do that.

T2 went very well, although the tongue on my left shoe jammed down, so that took several seconds to fix. A guy in transition, somewhat correctly, told me that my competition was ahead of me and not behind me. My run was tough. I have had a hard time on running this year, but was hoping for a 6min pace in this race. I know I can do that. It wasn't to be. I had 2 guys in my sights, one who turned out to be from a subsequent wave, so even if I had caught him (I didn't), I would have been 3 minutes behind him. I did, however, catch the guy who was about 200 yards in front of me. I gave it everything I had. I lengthened my stride slightly on the way out, and gradually pulled him in. Then, as I caught him shortly after the turn, I kept that pace with him hanging on my shoulder for the next 1/2 mile. Then I gradually turned up the effort (although maybe not the speed as my first mile pace equaled my overall average), hoping I could hold on until the finish. I dropped him with about 1/4 mile to go, and really dropped him in the last 10th-of-a-mile straightaway. I ended up beating him by 7 seconds. Then I had to sit down. Wow, did that hurt. More than a 6:27 pace 5k should have hurt.

But I gave it all I had, and those in front of me were 1:20+ in front of me, so I had no chance of catching them - on this day. Next year will be a different story.

I am proud of this race, and was very excited that they handed out top 10 awards. It was a beautiful framed photo of the Jones Beach Tower overlooking the Atlantic. I was the only non-NYer in the top 10; trying to represent VA well! Of course, the 3 "virgin" triathletes I brought with me and one other DC guy were the only other participants from south of NJ in the whole race.