Race Report: Highland Biathlon
May 29, 2006, Highland, Illinois
The three-day weekend gave me a rare opportunity to clean my bike and rest up prior to a race. I felt semi-rested for a change. The temperature was very warm and there was a slight breeze.
The biathlon (5-mile run, 15-mile bike) is run simultaneously with a run-only. Look for the folks with running shorts to determine the runners-only.
When the gun went off, many of the youngsters with running shorts charged to the front. The pace was quick early-on, but the heat took its toll. Some of the Big Shark riders who were in the team competition were warming up along the run course and giving encouragement. In the last mile, I ran a slower pace, bringing me into transition slower than last year. I noticed several guys ahead of me run through the finish chute as I went to mount my bike. I thought I might be in the top 10.
As I pulled my bike off the rack, Ryan was changing his shoes only seconds behind. Early in the bike I passed a few of the speedy runners and tried to settle into a good tempo. A few miles in, Ryan cruised by me looking strong as usual. I stuck to my own race. Sliding forward onto the nose of the saddle, I gripped the aerobar shifters tightly. My legs felt good and I was starting to think I was near the front of the race. I thought there might be a handful of guys ahead of me and I thought I was gaining on the guy up ahead. "Keep going," I told myself, "you may have a shot at the podium."
I was sliding even further forward on my seat to get as much power with every pedal stroke. I must have gotten further forward than I ever had because my seat made a loud creaking noise and angled downward. Uh-oh. It didn't affect my position or power and I plowed forward, gaining ever so slightly on the racer ahead. He did a nice job holding me off as I couldn't muster a sustained effort to catch him. I raced to the line 7 seconds behind him, besting my time from the last year by about 45 seconds. Due to the hot conditions, most people's times were slower than their previous bests. In the end, I just missed the podium, coming in 4th overall, 2nd in my age group. Good job by FOA Ryan, #2 overall.
The three-day weekend gave me a rare opportunity to clean my bike and rest up prior to a race. I felt semi-rested for a change. The temperature was very warm and there was a slight breeze.
The biathlon (5-mile run, 15-mile bike) is run simultaneously with a run-only. Look for the folks with running shorts to determine the runners-only.
When the gun went off, many of the youngsters with running shorts charged to the front. The pace was quick early-on, but the heat took its toll. Some of the Big Shark riders who were in the team competition were warming up along the run course and giving encouragement. In the last mile, I ran a slower pace, bringing me into transition slower than last year. I noticed several guys ahead of me run through the finish chute as I went to mount my bike. I thought I might be in the top 10.
As I pulled my bike off the rack, Ryan was changing his shoes only seconds behind. Early in the bike I passed a few of the speedy runners and tried to settle into a good tempo. A few miles in, Ryan cruised by me looking strong as usual. I stuck to my own race. Sliding forward onto the nose of the saddle, I gripped the aerobar shifters tightly. My legs felt good and I was starting to think I was near the front of the race. I thought there might be a handful of guys ahead of me and I thought I was gaining on the guy up ahead. "Keep going," I told myself, "you may have a shot at the podium."
I was sliding even further forward on my seat to get as much power with every pedal stroke. I must have gotten further forward than I ever had because my seat made a loud creaking noise and angled downward. Uh-oh. It didn't affect my position or power and I plowed forward, gaining ever so slightly on the racer ahead. He did a nice job holding me off as I couldn't muster a sustained effort to catch him. I raced to the line 7 seconds behind him, besting my time from the last year by about 45 seconds. Due to the hot conditions, most people's times were slower than their previous bests. In the end, I just missed the podium, coming in 4th overall, 2nd in my age group. Good job by FOA Ryan, #2 overall.
posted by JPD at Thursday, June 29, 2006
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