If you want to be good at something you have to practice – UBC triathlon race report

Finally getting around to blogging about my latest race experience: first race of 2013, first race as a Vancouverite, the UBC triathlon.  I was afraid to blog about goals prior to this race due to my injury that stopped me from run training for the past 8 weeks.  It was a big disappointment because I had felt that my run had improved significantly in the past 6 months, however due to IT band syndrome I’ve had 8 weeks off running, short of 3 dry practices (one of which was a small aquathon) prior to the UBC triathlon.  My goals were simply to PB in each of the three disciplines since my training volume has gone up so much since last year.  Spoiler alert: I succeeded in that J  I was hoping to do the Olympic length race but settled on sprint in case my pain flared up, didn’t want to have to DNF due to a 10km run.

Pre-Race.  No warm up since it was a pool swim, I didn’t even go for a jog, however I did ride my TT bike with a heavy backpack to the race site, so I think that counts.

SWIM – The UBC triathlon was held in a pool since it’s… you know… March… and really cold.  I was a bit nervous about a pool swim, I’m used to open water now, didn’t know how the passing would work, I can’t flip turn and my dolphin kicks leave something to be desired.  However I have been swimming coached twice a week with the amazing UBC triathlon club and often another time on my own.  I was more than prepared for the distance though, and all the training paid off.  I put myself in the 15 minute group thinking that the swim was 750m, but it turned out to be a 700m swim so I placed myself near the front of the line (they set people off 20 seconds apart).  Only 4 people went ahead of me in my heat.  I felt very confident in the water and was able to push myself and easily passed 3 of the people ahead of me.  My swim coach timed me wall-wall at 13:10 for 700m which was better than I could have hoped.  My official swim time which included my run out of the pool and out to transition was 14:03.

T1 – Right out of the pool they hand you a bag with whatever you wanted post swim in it.  It was only around 6 degrees out so I had a wind breaker, my race number, towel and flipflops.  I abandoned the towel and flipflops because adrenaline was running high and sprinted barefoot the 200 or 300m across the pavement to the bike transition area.  I left leg warmers at my bike but abandoned these as well.  I threw on my gloves and helmet and took off, shoes pre-clipped in, and attempted my first ever “flying start”.  Getting on the bike and getting going was no problem, but getting my feet in my shoes was a bit tough since they were wet and a bit numb, but I finally managed…. Good thing I practised my transition a bunch before the race!

transition practice at jericho beach

T1 ready

BIKE – Not much to say, I can’t say enough amazing things about my TT bike.  I love it so much and this was my first chance to really stretch her legs.  I blew by everyone, felt invincible, first time I’ve never had anyone pass me (not even the boys).  Bike time including transition to run was 40:29 for a 22km course, so averaging probably a bit better than 33km/hr (I reaaaaallly need a garmin).

T2 – Since I also managed to get my shoes off while on the bike my transition was faster than ever.  Got in, helmet, gloves and jacket off, my new slip on zoot shoes on (still no socks) and jetted out of there.  I can’t imagine my T2 was more than 1 min. (including putting my IT band strap on)

RUN – Again, not much to say about this.  Usually during the run I can’t wait for the race to be over.  Not this time.  I was a bit tentative for the first 1-2km testing out my knee, once it felt pain free I picked up the pace as much as I thought I could sustain, but once I got to the crowd and the finish I found another gear and absolutely annihilated my previous race PB and came in at 22:40 for the 5km run (average around 4:30/km).

Running with IT band syndrome :P

Finished the race 1/43 for the female 25-29 AGE.  2/151 for all females in the race (until today they had declared me the winner, but the timing chips were all messed up and now apparently a U19 was faster than me :P) and overall 13/330.  Final time 1:17, by far my best finish!

The training is working, my knee is getting better and I couldn’t be happier and more excited for the season!  Can’t wait for VOWSA open water swims to start, planning on running a bunch of running races, bike races and other fun things amidst my triathlon journey so stay tuned for more adventures and training!

Lise and Tiffany, Triclub winners!