Race Report - Las Vegas Tri Club Sprint (Race #3)

I didn't want to go this morning.

It actually started for me yesterday when I started thinking about getting up at 4:45am for the 6:00am start. I haven't been able to get up the entire week and it has screwed my entire day up each day as I fight to cram scheduled workouts in as I am trying to attend meetings, fix the shower and deal the normal things that occur in every weekend warrior's life. I'm just flat tired.

I had actually worked it out with Shawn to go to the other side of the valley and ride in the morning with him out at Red Rock. Late last night I got a text from him saying that he wasn't going to be able to make it. I decided that it was a sign that I should go do the race today.

Getting up after a couple hours sleep, I felt like crap. Bloated and with a queasy feeling in my stomach, I got up, got dressed and started collecting my stuff to get it in the car and get out to the lake. I was already running late and would be cutting it close...super.

Starting out, I look down at the gas gauge and see that the idiot light is on. The funny part is that my wife was asking me a interview question when I got home about, "have you ever run out of gas?" Of course she hasn't, because she always leaves the car empty for me. By the time I get to the gas station and fill the car, I'm seriously going to be cutting it close. I pull into the parking lot at Boulder Beach 6 minutes before race start.

The nice part about a LV Tri Club Race is that it was the feel of a pot luck dinner without having to bring the food. Nobody cares what's going on, they're just happy that you are there. I actually think I made the day for the ladies in the registration area as I came waddling over with all my stuff spilling out everywhere and bike in hand. This giant amongst all the small slim triathletes slogging in for a go. She quickly signed me in and called "217" to the marker, who hit my right arm and calf with her sharpie at a speed that would impress a NASCAR pit crew. I dashed into transition, racked my bike and tossed my heap of stuff on the ground.

Three minutes to start. My next will move that would telegraph that the Rodney Dangerfield of the triathlon world had arrived was to put on my wetsuit. Me and maybe three people are wearing one. I know that the lake is like bath water, but the whole point to this race is to work on transition. I want the pressure of a race environment to get me moving through T1 and T2 and I can't get that alone.

Running down to the lake with my swim cap and goggles in my mouth, trying to get my wetsuit on, I see a woman grinning at me. She obviously got here with plenty on time, methodically got her transition area setup, talked to friends and had a nice warm up period in the lake. Now, to her delight, Curly from the 3 Stooges has appeared to race in a triathlon. Where are Larry and Moe to bonk him over the head with something as he scrambles to get his wetsuit zipped.

I run straight to her and ask her to zip me in. My look is so sheepish, how can she resist? She spins me around, finished my metamorphosis into the world's biggest Kielbasa sausage, and slaps me on the back. I say thank you and we exchange "good luck" and the RD calls "30 seconds".

So now I have several problems:

1. My stuff is in a big pile in transition. The real focus today is to try and be efficient in transition and because I couldn't get my ass out here in a timely manner, I'm going to struggle on the whole purpose of being here. Nice!

2. I wasn't here for the pre-race meeting. The course is usually the same, but they changed the run course last time around. Everyone was looking at the buoy on the right, so I figured we would be swimming there. I'd have to work it out as I go.

3. I didn't have time to go to the bathroom. That might be a bit of an issue later...

Starting out on the swim the pace was a little slow. It makes me realize that my fitness is getting better and I can start to move up in the washing machine a little bit in the future. The wetsuit helped a little too, I'm sure. Moving around the course, I can feel that my form is improving and it is helping my overall speed. I was out of the water 2 minutes faster over 500 yards over the last time I raced this course and I think the course was slightly longer than last time.

T1 was indeed was mess for me. Like pulling up a tangle of fishing line from the bottom of the lake. Perhaps I should give myself proper time to setup in the future...'nuff said.

The bike went well overall. I felt like I paced myself well although I did make a couple of gearing mistakes and was a little flat on a couple of the uphill areas (its a rolling course). I did manage to catch a couple of people along the way. Overall, I was pleased with my performance on the bike. My stomach managed to settle down as well.

The run course is new and includes running out of transition and across a dirt field to a parallel access road. Like the road that leads into the boat ramp (the old run course), it is fairly steep as you work your way up toward Lakeshore Road. You do two laps to make the 5K and people tend to get pretty messed up on the second lap. The problem is that they go out too fast and realize it too late. Once they are committed, they tend to burn up on the second lap. The heat was also noticeable and I think that took it's toll on people to. The aid station (water) is at the top of the turnaround and people suffer up the hill. I was pleased in that I managed to run a small negative split on my second lap, but I definitely suffered along with everyone else.

Overall, I was pleased. Managed to somehow avoid GI problems and talked myself through mental lethargy. While not a PR, I finished in about 1:28 and for me that is a solid number at this point. I honestly expected worse and would not have been surprised if I had died on the run. I was pleased that I got off my butt and dug it out today. Something for the mental rolodex when it gets hard in the future.

I want to also say a huge THANK YOU to the LV Tri Club and the amazing volunteers. These people work hard for us, put on a good event and give us a chance to race. Great people who always have something encouraging to say. I'm proud to be a member, again, thank you!