Colonial Beach Sprint: Age Group Win

I haven’t been big on racing sprints, but I might be starting to get the hang of them, including the amount I need to warm up and the effort level I should put out. I did pretty well at Colonial Beach Sprint last month, and while it wasn’t perfect, it was pretty good.

I mean, I did get to stand on top of a podium, so something must have gone well.

Swim (750m in 13:07, 1:29/100y, 1st/12 AG, 5th/143 women)

I felt OK during this swim – the flat water and straightforward triangular course helped. Both made it easy to stay on course, but I still didn’t feel especially speedy, and ideally, I wouldn’t be in the water much more than 12 minutes. Even being a little slow for my taste, I was 4th woman out of the water (one other woman in a later wave was also faster), but didn’t know where I was; I just assumed I was pretty far back since I didn’t feel that fast.

T1 (1:42, 1st/12 AG, 8th/143 women)

I passed two of those women who were ahead of me in T1, because evidently, putting on a bike helmet and shoes and running with a bike is becoming the best part of my race. Everybody needs a talent, right?

Bike (14mi in 40:43, 20.6mph, 2nd/12 AG, 14th/143 women)

I passed yet another woman about half a mile into the bike and became the lead woman on the course, but didn't realize that at the time. All I knew was that when I looked ahead, I only found men. And until mile 11, only men passed me. I was pretty confused, because first, where were the women, and second, why are people not flying past me nonstop? It wasn’t until looking at the splits after the race that I realized I was the first woman on the course for 10 miles.

The goal for the ride was to watch my data and push about 90% of my FTP, and since the course was quite flat, it was able to push a pretty consistent power level. I was close to my power output goal, but had to ease up a couple of times to stay out of draft zones and take turns safely, so I wound up with a few watts shy of the goal. I think I left maybe 30 seconds on the course easing up here and there, but I wasn't about to risk a crash by taking a corner too fast. 

T2 (1:51, 9th/12 AG (ouch), 67th/143 women)

At least two women passed me in T2. Stupid shoes.

Run (5k in 25:23, 8:12/mi, 5th/12 AG, 29th/143 women)

So it was hot. And the run course was on blacktop. That’s the end of my excuse list.

A couple more passed me in the first mile of the run, but I didn't feel like I had much more in me. Turns out that I wasn't even close to my run lactate threshold, even at the end. I guess a sprint is going to hurt a lot more than a longer race, isn’t it?

Overall (1:22:44, 1st/12 AG, 9th/143 women)

After I crossed the finish line and got some ice water, I wandered over to results and was happy to see I won my AG, Won it outright, nobody got pulled for overall or anything. I was even more happy when I found out that I placed top 10 out of over 100 women. I made Jason stick around for awards, where I was given a transition towel as a trophy.

Obviously the field was not very strong given how close I was to the front, but a taste of racing near the front was some good motivation to keep working to get faster.

Especially in T2. Stupid Brooks Adrenaline heel design.