100 Triathlons
Go to the early blogs to read how I got into triathlons. Click on any picture to enlarge it. "It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood...who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly." Theodore Roosevelt 1910


Saturday, October 28, 2017

#152 Great Floridian Triathlon 1/3 in Clermont

October 21st was my 3rd time at the Great Floridian Triathlon, doing the 1/3 distance.  This year's race was a repeat of the 3 loop full, which makes doing a single loop easy; .8 mile swim, 38 mile bike, 8.8 mile run.  This year was 70' at the start, very different than last year's 50s and windy.  I got there plenty early and was well rested for this race.  I did miss my training week at Longboat Key due to the office move/vacation cancellation.

Swim start was late, at 9:00 AM, due to the other distances going first.  Water temp was 77.5' so I did not wear a wetsuit (unlike many others).  Swim was fine and I was 2 minutes faster than 2016 at 36:01.  Quick exit and I jumped on the bike just as the wind was picking up.  I do wish I'd worn my thin Hammer jersey to protect my back from the sun, as I got a nice sunburn despite the sunscreen.  The 38 mile bike leg is very hilly and the wind added to the fun.  Buckhill's many climbs were a definite challenge with Sugarloaf Mountain looming ahead.  I began the big climb up Sugarloaf at mile 23 and it was quite hard.  I did manage a smile for the photographer near the top though.  Max speed off the hill was a bit slower at 39.2 as the wind was stronger by then.  I did pass 2 "big wheel" aero bikes on the way down too!  After hitting 42.7 mph going down Rocky Ridge, my right hamstring cramped climbing another hill getting back to town.  I just pedaled easy and it subsided quickly.  Got back to transition with a disappointing time of 2:23:35, six minutes slower than last year; average speed 15.3 mph.

Began the run easy and only had 1 cramp (right hamstring again) at about mile 1.  Stopped and stretched and began running with surprising ease.  Matt Mahoney caught me around mile 2.4 and I just let him go. We've been racing each other for years and he's a fast runner.  By now it was 1:00 PM and the sun was merciless with temps nearing 90.  I caught another competitor at mile 4 and passed another just before the second turnaround.  I pulled away but kept glancing back to see if he recovered but my worries were groundless.  I hit the finish line at 4:44:02 for a 5th place out of 7.  Last year I was 5th out of 13 with a 4:27:32, so I lost more time on the run.  This was the toughest race I'd done in several years but in retrospect, I did well.  This was my last race in 60-64 as I "age up" to 65-69 on January 1, 2018.

Ready to go!

Four races in one day!

Moulton SST is ready.

Bike Friday in transition; never met the owner.

Climbing Sugarloaf Mountain.

More people climbing Sugarloaf.

Bike ride profile for the full-iron distance; 3 laps.

Bike leg done!

Relaxing with Hammer Recoverite.