Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Race Week: Devil's Challenge Triathlon

Well, while the rest of the world is generally taking a well-deserved break, resting and basking in their Ironman-ness, I'm happy to still be meandering right along. While I impatiently await myriad race reports, I'll keep you posted (literally) on my continued goings-on...I have a report of my Ironman volunteerism in progress (did you see Teach's succint yet meaningful post of her day? If only I were capable of that kind of brevity. Alas, you know me, I am nothing if not verbose...) - I'll get that posted in the next few days, I suppose.

Meanwhile, it's Race Week! Again! Whahoo! If you missed last week's adventure at Lake Geneva, scroll down a bit for the goods. This week is my "A" race - and by that I guess I mean the race I've been most focused on this summer since I was able to focus. This one's a genuine Sprint - .25 mile swim, 15 mile bike, 3.1 mile run. By any accounts I can find this one is, I think, a generally well run, well organized affair - which after last week, seriously the triathlon could be held in mid-day traffic with all of us required to stuff raw hamburger in our trisuits and be chased by basset hounds and it would be better organized than last week.

My legs are actually pretty well shredded after a tough, hilly run on Saturday's race and then a lot of standing on Sunday (I feel bad even mentioning that my legs might be sore from standing on Sunday, considering...y'know...the 140.6 miles traveled by some...), so I've been resting these last two days and tomorrow I'll start some light, taper-ish workouts before Saturday. The weather right now looks a shade chilly, actually - 60 degrees but sunshine, which I think might be just about perfect, but maybe I'll toss a jacket on for the bike. We'll see.

Goals: I watched some video Amy shot of last week's race, and noted that while my sighting in the water was much improved, my form went to hell everytime I lifted my head to do it. I need to remember to keep my elbows up. Beyond that, I hope to again have the kind of effort I had last week - work hard, be strategic if I can, and go as fast as I can. I hope I can improve my T1 time...nothing to do about that but get more time in taking off the wetsuit, etc., so we'll see. I'd like to push the bike harder than I did last week, but I don't know anything about this course, so that'll dictate a lot. The run: Well, my sub 7:00/mile goal is still at hand. Again, without knowing anything about the course, we'll see just what's possible, but that's what I'm shooting for.

My buddy Mike's coming to town for the race, and I thnk Cuz'n Erin (who seriously is the Queen of Kicking Ass, you should all meet her in person sometime, maybe she'll come to a JLT dinner sometime) is I think coming too (yes, Erin?) and as it's her BIRTHDAY this weekend I think I'll dedicate my efforts to her. So, we should have a finely assembled Team to share the day with as well, and that's always a blast.

By the way, where is TZilla, you ask? He's around - he told me the other day he was waiting for some of my races and the Ironman stuff to dissipate before he comes back with his stories of womanizing and drunken nights. But he's got a Du scheduled for next weekend, so you know he'll bring some love soon.

So - there you go. Stay tuned for more!

9 comments:

teekayes1 said...

I'm about 99.9% sure you lube up (hehe) well with the body glide but just in case, I'm remidning you. I cake the stuff on, especially down by my ankles which is I think where you said you had problems getting your wetsuit off last time. Luckily, I have yet to have any problems getting the bizzle off ni a race. Maybe it's cuz mine is like the cheapeast one you can get and a Quick John, I dunno. Just my thoughts. Moral of the store - lube it up!

I feel the 7:00 minute miles this week, for real! I know you got it in you.

JekuL said...

The bike is HiLLy. Think Garfoot road out of Mt. Horeb, but first you have to climb an old Sauk Pass 1/4 mile out of transition. It's also got a super-downhill in the middle of the course where I set some bike speed-pr's. (45.0 mph one year followed by a 45.6 mph the next).

The run, relatively small hills on the out and back, but flat for the first/last 3/4 mile. (the campground section is where the hills are).

Swim, clear clear clear. The first year I was swimming along with water in my goggles, about 1/2 way through the swim. I was looking directly at the bottom of the lake, so I though I would stop and empty my goggles...oops. With no wetsuit I went to stand up and was immediately 3' over my head. Just an FYI in case you plan to do the same thing.

Overall, my favorite sprint.

xt4 said...

Dude, thatnks for the AWESOME recon! No excuses now, baby!

xt4 said...

PS - How did IRONMAN GO?????

CznE said...

Dude- I'm here- Getting caught up now, starting with the Geneva mess. What a mess. So, yeah! I'll be there this weekend. Order up some nice rays at least, will ya?

CznE said...

And by the way- that Isthmus stuff is some cool stuff. I'm telling you Chris, publish this stuff.

JekuL said...

Race was fantastic. I'm starting up a blog so hopefully I can add a race report in there.

xt4 said...

Sweet jekul - let me know when it's up so I can become a voracious visitor...

JekuL said...

It's partially up right now. I'm finding that I'm a little more long-winded than I thought.