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Race Result

Racer: Steve Smith
Race: Reston Triathlon
Date: Sunday, September 7, 2003
Location: Reston, VA
Race Type: Triathlon - International Distance
Age Group: Male 30 - 34
Time: 1:55:52
Overall Place: 2
Comment: Working my way up ... 4-min PR



Race Report:



Prologue
========

20 seconds ... 30 seconds ... 15 seconds ... 50 seconds.

Who to believe? I was running hard, pushing hard (but was I pushing as hard as possible?) and getting constant updates (taunts) from the runners on their way to the turn-around, the runners behind me. I hadn't seen him, the leader, until just before I hit the turn-around. About 30 seconds ahead I figured (but it's always so deceiving, isn't it?) ... When I'd raced out of the bike-run transition someone--someone with a watch, someone not running in the opposite direction--someone said 50 seconds. After the turn-around, the on-coming runners called out their encouragement. They called off all sorts of things: he's just up ahead! 20 seconds! 30 seconds! 100 yards! I pressed on, laboring unusually in my breath, but finally feeling like my legs were moving as quickly as I wanted.

Curve after curve, turn after turn, I looked through the trees. If I could only see him! I hit the last tunnel. Almost home and still no sight of him. Gawd how duathlons are nice, when I'm in front, and I know *exactly* where the leader is :) Over the wooden bridge and up that short-but-evil hill that takes us out of the trees and onto the high school grounds.

As I crested the hill, I craned my neck to see the long, 200m straight as soon as possible. Last year I was passed there, behind the stadium wall and out of view from the spectators. I was passed there and went quickly from 2nd to 3rd place by a mere 8 seconds (what seemed like 2 minutes). This year there was no chance of that. The two of us are well enough ahead to ignore the rest of the field. Up the hill I pushed ... and ... I saw ... nothing. Nothing but asphalt. My shoulders sagged ... if I could see him here, everyone was in for one hell of a finish. But there was nothing but asphalt and I accepted 2nd place. After a brief loss of speed, I picked the pace back up to finish strong, but not as strong as I was bracing myself for. I looked at my watch and realized I'd have a sizeable PR, 2nd place, and a beautiful day of racing.

There was a hodge-podge of emotions for me after the race. I couldn't really get a handle on them. Obviously, I was satisfied with a 4:00 (exactly) PR on this course. I'd moved up one podium slot and cut my margin of loss from 2:29 to :49 to the same guy, Marek Dvorak, that had won the race in 2002.

The problem was I really wanted to win this race. It's my hometown race. The town "RESTON" has not appeared next to the male winner's name for many years (however, Reston did claim places 2-5 this year!). The club finally had some racing togs; the club itself is growing and becoming a useful organization. It was the 20th anniversary race. I was coming off two-for-two wins (in duathlons, mind you). It was a beautiful day. The script was so perfect.

Oh well. It's just a race. Win, second, twentieth, a mechanical, last: it's just a race. In a day or so, I'll believe that again, but it is a little different on your home turf, with only a handful of seconds in the way of a perfect story :)

A comparison of 2003 and 2002
=============================

2003 swim 1mi bike 22.5mi run 6.2mi
Name OA place/time place/time place/time

Marek Dvorak 1:55:03 2/20:23 3/55:41 1/37:24
Stephen Smith 1:55:52 6/22:29 1/54:33 2/37:27
Michael Orton 1:57:41 1/19:09 30/59:30 3/37:52


2002 swim 1mi bike 22.5mi run 6.2mi
Name OA place/time place/time place/time

Marek Dvorak 1:57:03 2/20:29 3/55:31 3/39:01
Michael Orton 1:59:44 1/19:24 8/57:18 16/41:42
Stephen Smith 1:59:52 22/24:23 1/54:35 4/39:10

There are some commonalities: nearly identical swims for Marek & Mike. Nearly identical bikes for Marek & Steve. A bad leg each year for Mike (run '02, bike '03), almost identical run splits for Marek & Steve, equally faster in 2003.

One thing that really stands out is my swim. And thank goodness, 'cause I've spent enough time working it. The other thing that stands out is about Mike: when he puts a good race together, he is an amazing triathlete. When he gets out of college and finds some time to bike he'll be even tougher.

Marek turned pro back in July, but there's not much comfort in that (I've considered the jump myself). He spent 7 weeks training in Boulder at the end of the summer--as a school teacher, he can do that. He had a blast & I'm sure he trained like a fiend out there. Just before the swim start, someone asked if I was going to win. I said I had a good chance, that I'd try.

"But you're so much stronger this year," he said. "It's not like those guys have been sitting around eating bon-bons," I said.

No bob-bons indeed.

In looking at 2003 vs. 2002, the other interesting note are the run times. I'll have to ask Marek about his running next week when we start swimming again. Me? I was sick the entire week before Reston in 2002, so that didn't help. It finally cleared up on Friday, but only after ample antibiotics. But more importantly, I've had far less trouble with my hip this year, allowing me to train at 100% and with far fewer ice packs.

The Swim
========

Chatting away in the water, I was caught off guard at the start. Damn, two or three people back in the pack, I couldn't sprint free of the mess (I have more speed than endurance in all three sports, swimming in particular). After trying unsuccessfully to squeeze thru, I opted to swim left to the cable and then use that to sight. The Reston swim is an out-and-back swim that follows a cable, but we start a 100m or so to the right of the cable. The straightest line (i.e. shortest distance) is to swim at an angle to pick up the cable about 1/2-way before the turn around. That is, if you can swim a straight line. I am not the best open-water sighter.

Before the race I wasn't sure how I would handle this. I was hoping I could hold the feet of the 3rd or 4th fastest swimmer (Rob Cole was my target, I knew Mike & Marek were beyond my capabilities). But given my poor starting position, I went with the safe option: Bee line for the cable and just breathe left. I quickly had a lot of space to myself and I got into a good rhythm. About 100m before the turnaround I got some company, and I started passing folks.

After the turn around I probably passed four more guys. When I approached the turn before the swim exit, I spotted Dave Cascio; Dave is a consistent swimmer (especially in this race, which he has done a bazillion times) and, before the race, I knew if I could split the same as him I would be in good position. I think I took the long way to the turn-around given the number of people I passed, but it was the best decision for me. I think my time would have been worse if I'd tried to work through the pack.

The Bike
========

A couple of folks called out the time differential as I exited transition ... last year I heard 5-minutes and almost laughed. This year the deficit was 3:20 ... not quite 3:00 as I'd hoped, but definitely a good sign! I got on the bike & hammered. And hammered. It was a cool morning, and after getting the chills on my post-swim Saturday ride, I was a little worried about the being cold for the first few miles. No chills; instead, my arms & legs felt like they were on fire ... so cold they burned. But it felt good, invigorating, and I was happy that my teeth weren't chattering.

As usual for me, it was a lonely bike. Well, at first. Reston is a 3-loop course, so after 18 minutes or so I had plenty of company. I was breathing hard for the first 1.5 loops. Part adrenaline, part something else. I didn't really hit a groove until the second half of the bike. Once there, however, I felt really strong. I passed Mike Orton, much to my surprise, soon after starting the third loop (about half-way between Twin Branches & Soapstone, for those familiar with the course). There was a bit of congestion on the course, and I wanted to get by it all, especially Mike, before the up-coming turn.

While I had the fastest bike split of the day at 54:33, gaining 1:00 on Marek & 5:00 on Mike, Roger Masse came in just behind me by 1 second. Since I had FAR fewer people to worry about after leaving the water, I really have to tip my hat to Roger for an outstanding ride.

The Run
=======

I knew if I botched the swim and zigged & zagged I could not win this race. Before the race I figured 22:15 was the absolute most I could swim, so I was cutting things close, a tad behind actually. But while I could lose the race with a poor swim, I figured I would have to win the race on the run (the swim-bike being a combined toss-up). And, to be honest, I thought I could win the race with a sizeable run margin. I know these guys have been training hard too, but I figured I could get a 36-low run time, or better.

37:27.

So what gives? That's an excellent question. My suspicion is a continuation of my last duathlon analysis: My bike fitness, while good, is missing the edge that I need to run strongly off the bike. I was able to run strong off the bike last week in my duathlon because the bike was only 14 miles. At 22.5 miles, even though I rode faster (by my computer, measuring 22.8 miles, I averaged 25.2 vs. 24.7 last week for 14 miles), the longer ride took more out of my running legs. Sure, I need more track work & running miles too ... but I think the scale is tipped heavily in favor of more biking. With some really strong biking I think I can raise my average speed by maybe two tenths and, more importantly, come off the bike with a more complete run.

Still, there was something else going on during the run. I usually breathe 2-1; that is, breathe in twice, breathe out once. I found myself continually falling into a 1-1 breathing pattern, something I generally reserve for all-out sprints.

My lungs felt overly taxed ... too much so for the early pace I was running. Maybe it was the pollen, maybe it was overextending myself on the bike. But somewhere around mile 4, I just accepted the 1-1 breathing and things were much better (even though I wasn't sprinting). So that's a small lesson learned: listen to the body.

One annoying thing was that my ears were clogged, almost like I had water in them, but not quite. It's hard to describe, but I'm sure others have experienced it: echo-y sounds from hearing more sounds from inside your body than sounds from outside of your body. While it did not affect my exertion at all, I did find myself wondering about it when I should have been otherwise focused mentally. Oh well, if it happens again it'll be less of a novelty.

Lastly, one of my strengths is that I race exceptionally well when racing with competition nearby. I can push myself hard, but I can push myself harder in the presence of better athletes. It's what I love most about racing. But I need to improve my mental toughness, my ability to push myself regardless of my surroundings or competition. Some of this is trainable. I haven't started my hard track workouts, where the intervals are so hard and the rest is so short that to start each interval is a test of will power as much as it is a test of endurance.

Some other things
=================

People: So many friends & family came out to watch the race. While it may not seem like it while I'm racing, it's a huge boost. There were RATS jerseys and RATS t-shirts everywhere, and that was a comforting sight. I'm amazed at the number of RATS, almost 30, that came out to volunteer for the race. Congrats to all the RATS, especially to the first time finishers and to everyone who PR'd. Specifically, it was good to see Steve Giorgis put down a good race, including a good swim. Steve coaxed me into the Bubble over the winter for those 4:45-6:45 a.m. workouts with The Kids. If it wasn't for the lot of them, I would have never had a chance (some of the kids can kick my ass in the pool; see earlier comments about better performance in the presence of better athletes).

Nutrition: Pre-Race dinner. Pizza and ice cream (but in better moderation this week). I didn't eat too much pizza and had some energy bars before dinner. I ate a breakfast of coffee and oatmeal, tuna & raisins at 4:30. Before the race I popped a couple of Endurolytes. Saturday I sucked down several small cans of V-8, and one more on Sunday morning. On the bike, I used about half of my Accelerade and half of my water. I keep water around because it's easier to deal with inaccurate feedings. I keep the Accelerade around for a few calories and something with taste.

Weather: You could not ask for a more beautiful day. It could not be warmer, it could not be cooler, it could not be more sunny. It could be less sunny, but the bike has a lot of shade and the run is almost entirely shaded, so who wants clouds? The only minus I can think of is that the pollen count was high.

Transitions. Funny, after the race I chided myself about losing time in transition. No particular reason, they just felt slow. It turns out they were spot on, 21 seconds faster than last year. I think the fact that they felt slow helped them move more quickly. Also, as is now standard for me, I put the shoes on and then clip into the pedals. Instead of using a towel in transition, I grabbed a neon-colored race shirt and used that in T2; it was easy to spot.

Summary
=======

In the end, first place went to the better athlete, or at least the better swimmer. It went to someone who trained just as hard, or harder than I did over the last year. It went to someone who wanted to win just as much, or more than I did. Of course, I had the better script ... at least until Marek moves to Reston :)

I think there's at least 1:00, if not 1:30, that I can shave from my swim by next year, so next year could get even more interesting. But I will have to improve my biking a tad and deliver on the run I know I have within me, because I doubt there will be a shortage of bon-bons in northern Virginia over the coming year.