Square Lake Triathlon Race Report

We'll start this off Thursday before the race.  The Flaming Bonobo kickball team, commonly known as the greatest and best looking kickball team ever, basically made another team cry to the tune of the mercy rule.  After this butt kicking, the team went to Legends, where I was to meet up with Jeffy Madness, my college roommate of 37 years.  Too many beers later, I was home.

Friday, one of my other college buddies, Clausen, was in town and we went to the Flying Mango, awesome food and a few beers.  Slept in a little bit on Sat. a.m. and watched the Hawkeyes destroy the lame Cyclones.  Picked Princess up and we were shortly off to Minneapolis for the race.  She was going to see Mary Poppins Sat. night.  I was going to meet up with the Warrior and his better half for dinner and a couple beers.  We ended up going to what we thought was a bar/restaurant.  This place had great food...and a little pricey. Oh well, I finished off with some solid dessert.  

Race Morning:  5 a.m. wake up call to Bone Thugs & Harmony on the cell phone alarm.  Great way to start the day.  The few days leading up to the race, was nothing like my first half earlier in the year.  I was pretty nervous for Kansas.  For this one, it 

was kind of like another training day.  

We got to the race start, eventually (british garmin lady kept going off course and really, really foggy).  Sort of got my transition set up and needed to use the restroom.  Lines were too long, but luckily I made it.  My stomach was feeling full (after restroom usage, yes, some of this stuff is gross, but I'm really good looking, just remember that).  Not really sure how the swim would pan out.

The pic below is the walk back to my bike after realizing that I may not have time to use the restroom.  Obviously, I'm keeping my cool and looking fly.

Swim:  The swim ended up really well for me.  My goal was to take an easy pace and try to stay smooth.  I wanted to go at a pace that I may try to rock for the Ironman.  I ended swimming 30 minutes, which was at least three minutes faster than Kansas.  Side note, the lake reminded me of Okoboji, so I had good karma going in.  Below is a picture of me exiting the swim.  You can see those less good looking still in the water.

Next up was the bike.  I wanted to stay smooth and strong as well.  I needed to not go out too fast.  Took off at the pace I wanted and it was really, really foggy.  Went into the small chain ring up a huge hill and as I was cresting the hill, I transferred to the big ring, so I could keep pedaling on the downhill.  Well, that was the plan.  My chain came off and got wrapped around my pedal.  I stopped and got off the bike to fix it, and it cost me some momentum.  I quickly got back on the bike and was feeling good, but obviously looking better.  

About mile 35 a pack of cheating drafters went by me.  I saw the first few, stood up on the bike to let them pass, so I wouldn't be in the draft zone and they kept coming.  Including about 10 people that I had already passed.  Pretty much pissed me off.  Then, after a few of them dropped off the pack, I re-passed them.  Including a couple that I easily passed.  For those that don't know, you gain a huge benefit in speed with much less energy sucking someone's wheel.  The pictures below are me getting ready to head out on the bike.  Take note of the guitar hero stickers on the helmet.  Hammerhead and Nacho Libre also rock this look.  It makes us fast.  The other pick is me finishing up the bike.

Now onto the run.  Usually my nemesis.  Today it wasn't...until mile 8.  Then it sucked.  I wanted to take it easy early on, shoot for about an 8:30 pace, give or take depending on the crappy hills.  Also, it was getting hot.  I'd guess mid to high 80's, but the kicker was no wind and no shade...at all.  I was roasting, as were most of the other competitors.  Anyways, by mile 8, I slowed way down, walked the aid stations, took a cup of gatorade, a cup of water, another 1/2 cup of water and dumped the rest on my head to try and cool down.  I also yelled at the Warrior as I took off on the run to see if he saw the $@$@$@#% drafters.   The pic. below is me yelling this.

Above...the end is in sight.  Thankfully.  Thanks to the Warrior; The Thundering Herd and Princess for coming to spectate.  That helped a ton, especially on the run.

I finished in just under 5 hours and 15 minutes.  My swim was 30 minutes, bike pace was 21.2 miles per hour and my run pace was 9:27/mile.  The run pissed me off.  Oh well.  It was a decent race and I'm glad to get it out of the way.  I need to figure out hydration and nutrition.  After the race, I went and layed in the lake.  I also urinated what looked like ecto cooler.  Yes, it really did.  The water was clear and this is what it looked like.  Can you say dehydrated?  Yep.

I kind of threw this together, so it may be lame.  More training posts/pics and my general thoughts of awesomeness will follow.  Less than three months away!