Placed third at Over the Mountain

This is my quick race summary of the 2008 Over the Mountain triathlon. I posted this immediately after getting home from the race. You might also want to read my full race report, which has all the details of the day.

Update: official results are in.
Race distances: 1.5K swim, 45K bike (HILLY), 10K run

LEG    PLACE    TIME 
Swim  2           29:42     
T1                   2:34    
Bike    1           1:27:55  
T2                  1:22    
Run     8          1:01:36         
Overall 3         3:03:08

I wrote this part before knowing my split times:

I placed third in my age group at over the mountain! I’m too tired to write a race report, but here are some quick thoughts:

My swim time was great at about 30 minutes. I came out of the water right behind a woman I know named Kari. (who ended up winning 1st place – she is amazing!)

I chased Kari the whole bike course. I tried soooo hard to beat her on the bike, but it just did not happen. Chasing her helped me make a great time, tho! (the official results show me as #1 bike because she lost her chip in her wetsuit, so her bike split didn’t record – I know she beat me tho!)

My bike computer fell off at mile 5, so I don’t know my average speed. And, I screwed up hitting my lap timer after the bike, so I don’t know my bike split. I keep doing that!

The run was horrible. It was soooo hot. I took over an hour for the run. I tried all my mental strategies to make my body go faster. I’m sure they helped me keep up the pace I was going, but they did not make me go faster and have a good run split. It was a two loop course…the first lap took 30 minutes, the second took about 31 minutes. At least I kept about the same pace for both laps, despite that each step felt harder and harder.

I got passed in the run at mile 5 by the woman who took 2nd overall. At the time, I thought there was someone else in front of Kari, so I thought this pass was putting me in 4th. I tried to make a “breakthru” and keep up with her, but just didn’t have it in me.

I did not have leg cramps or dead legs or pain – just simply no energy for the run.

I still stayed in a positive mood throughout the run…I did not let my disappointing pace get me down!

I was really quite surprised to get third place. Last years top three spots had 3:00 or less overall time. I’m glad I stuck around for the awards ceremony 🙂

When the race was over, I was so thirsty and craving salt. It reminded me that I need to explore taking extra sodium during races. I think I read that you need 1000 mg of sodium per liter of fluid that you sweat. I probably was sweating a liter per hour, at least! So, for a 3 hour race, that’s 3000mg sodium lost. I eat 2 Gu’s per hour, each providing 55 mg. I also add a pinch of salt to my initial water bottle fillup. A pinch of salt is less than 1/16 tsp, which is less than 100 mg. So, I consumed 2x55x3 = 330 in Gu’s plus 100 mg from the pinch. That = 430 mg sodium taken in during the race. Pretty big sodium deficit.

I stopped at McD’s and got a Quarter pounder with cheese after the race (haven’t had one of those in years!). Then, when I got home, I ate cheese and crackers. I am still craving salt!

I can’t tell if my poor run was due to heat, lack of salt, going too hard on bike, just plain fatigue, or all of the above? Or perhaps mental weakness? Maybe I’m not as mentally tough as I think I am?

Even tho I am over-analyzing myself here…I feel really good about this race. I mean, heck, any podium finish is something to be pleased about!

Need sleep now…

HR data:
Overall: 162 avg / 175 max
Swim: 151 avg / 171 end of lap (there was a steep hill to run up out of the lake)
Bike: 165 avg / 164 end of lap
Run: 164 avg / 169 end of lap