Event: Lifetime Fitness Indoor Triathlon
Location: Old Orchard Location, Skokie, Illinois
Date: March 6, 2011
Format: 10 minute swim (25 meter lap pool) / 30 minute bike (stationary bike) / 20 minute run (treadmill). Race commences in waves of up to 10 participants each, due to pool capacity constraint. All athletes get a 10 minute transition from swim to bike, and 5 minutes from bike to run.
Scoring: Point system for each leg, based on order of finish. Points earned for each leg are then added to produce a total score for each athlete.
This race occurred nine months ago, and was my first triathlon ever. I had about 1 1/2 months to prepare following my decision to register. Over half of the ensuing training time was spent in the pool. Most of the rest focused on conditioning for the run. Very little time training on the bike. Limited focus on stretching and flexibility. No resistance training. I tapered during the week leading up to the event. Rehearsed transitions at this location too - I'm a member there. Big carbofest with wife and another couple the night before the event (they did not race). Race start was in mid morning.
Swim: Usually two athletes are assigned to each lane. I was lucky that the person who was supposed to share my lane did not show up, so I had my own lane. Took it out slow from the start as planned - perhaps a little too slow but that was my game plan. Was a bit nervous and adrenaline was pumping but had it under control. Steady cadence from there. Built to a faster cadence at about 500 meter mark (20 laps), while guessing there was about 90 seconds left at that point. Had to dig for every bit of remaining energy for a big push in 24th lap. Hit 600 meters upon completing lap 24 and stopped there, at 9:55 mark, meeting my goal with five seconds to spare. Really happy but also felt gassed at the finish - fortunately I don't rely much on legs for swim propulsion so leg muscles were fresh for the bike leg. Finished 1st mens masters, 6th overall.
Transition 1: Had plenty of time to hit the locker room with gym bag in tow, then change out of jammers and into bike attire. Found my assigned stationary bike in the bike studio and made the handlebar and seat adjustments needed. The 10 minute transition also allowed ample time for recovery heading into the bike.
Bike: Participants can set the bike to any resistance level. That means zero for most, including me. Goal is to maximize distance, which is measured by the number of spins of the flywheel. I'd sustained mid 140s RPM in training. Didn't know beforehand how the bike computer would translate that into miles covered for 30 minutes. Went out too fast and faded a bit as time went on. Seat was probably a little too high because I was rocking just a bit, and my biking pants did not provide enough protection to prevent saddle sores - still, that did not seem to impact me - just a bit uncomfortable toward the end. Pushed the cadence up with a minute to go, probably should have done the opposite with run leg to follow. Felt spent at conclusion of bike leg. Covered 18.8 miles - 2nd mens masters, 3rd overall.
Transition 2: Unlike most participants, headed straight to locker room to change out of bike pants and into running gear. Needed just about every second of 5 minute transition to run upstairs to treadmill area for the start. Biggest memory of transition was saddle soreness.
Run: Goal was to run 2.70 miles (7:24 mile pace - requiring an average setting of 8.1 MPH - as I had done in a recent time trial but really wanted 2.75. Started out at a controlled 8.0 MPH setting (7:30 mile pace). Knew I'd have to dial it up mid race to hit goal, and did so at 5 min mark - to the 8.5 MPH setting (7:04 mile pace). After a short while, and paying the price from the energy used in the bike phase, knew I could not hang on at that level through remainder of leg, so dialed it back to the original 8.0 MPH and somehow held on at that setting through the finish. Covered 2.69 miles - 5th mens masters, 16th overall.
Total score: 1st mens masters, tied for 3rd overall (out of 68). Competitively I didn't know what to expect going in, and was really happy when the results were released later in the day. Googled the winner - found he'd finished in top 10 in Chicago Triathlon the prior summer. Hit my swim goal and was just short on the run. A good first race to build from. I'd hoped to compete outdoors following this race but an ensuing bout with tendinitis in both knees shelved that plan.
