HARRYMAN TRIATHLON - MAY 21, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011 at 04:14PM +++++++++++++++++++++++
A handful of TT'ers showed up for an early season test of fitness at Harriman State Park to compete in the HarryMan 1/2 and Olympic Triathlons on Saturday May 21st. Steve Zambito and Lyn McCabe were there doing the 1/2, and Hugh Davis, Katha Diddel-Warren and yours truly were signed up for the far more civilized Olympic distance. Apologies if I missed anyone, but that is all I saw out on course.
After the fog burned off, we were rewarded with an absolutely gorgeous morning with perfect air temperatures and bright blue skies.
Things got underway smoothly, with a rather chilly swim in 60 degree Lake Welch.
Unfortunately, Tiorati Brook Road was still closed (as it had been for the Bear Mountain road race the weekend prior). After finishing the cold swim, and a short visit to T1, racers were headed directly downhill at 50mph while still dripping wet. This course always calls for some serious braking, with a full U-turn prior to the end of the descent, but instead of making a right on Tiorati Brook Road, we instead about faced and went up the same road we just descended. Overall the bike course was either up or down, with very few flat sections. The few semi-flat/rolling sections kept you on your toes with some large expansion joints that demanded attention. The up and down nature of this course made it difficult to strike into any real rhythm or pace. I for one was happy to get off the bike, especially after seeing the dismal average speed I was maintaining. (Especially after calculating that I would be racing about 30minutes longer than I had intended.)
The run course was also hilly and for me caused major leg cramping. Big rookie mistake, thinking that I would not need salt tabs, just because the morning started cool and crisp. By the end of the race temperatures were in the 80's, and I was overheating badly. My pacing (and I am sure for others too) went out the window, as it became a battle with time loss management, than actually going race pace.
Since most of us viewed this as a good opportunity to gauge fitness, or as preparation for future races, let's just call it some very solid "training with a number on."
Heck, we even have some results to show for it.
1/2 Distance Result Highlights
Steve Zambito (1st in AG/44th overall)
Olympic Distance Result Highlights
Jonathan Baxendale (3rd in AG/7th Overall)
Hugh Davis (15th in AG/62 Overall)
Katha Diddel-Warren (1st in AG/10th Overall)
Nicely done everyone!
Results Online
http://www.compuscore.com/cs2011/may/harryhlf.htm
http://www.compuscore.com/cs2011/may/harryoly.htm
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Thanks,
Bax
Reader Comments (1)
Awesome stuff