John Tanner Race Report

John Tanner Sprint Triathlon
Date of Race: 24/04/2010
Total Race Time = 1h 29m 24s
Overall Place = 377/492
Age Group = Men Novice
Age Group Place = 24/45
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Pre-race: I actually slept well. The alarm went off at 4:30. I got up, let the dog out, and took a shower. I had lain out and packed up everything the night before, so getting ready was a snap. While I feed the dog I posted on facebook that I was headed out to my very first triathlon.

Breakfast was a Mix 1 shake and a Clif bar.

The ride in was awful. It rained, and rained hard. I kept wondering what they would do. Would it be canceled, or delayed. It wasn’t.

I got to the park at about the same time as everyone else. By the time I got registered, chipped, marked, set up my transition area, used the rest room, and put on my wet suit it was less than 10 minutes to start.

Warm-up: With less than 10 minutes to start, I didn’t have a chance to do much of anything. I did stretch my arms as I waited for my group (last group) to go.
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Swim: Last week during the OWS practice I was so out of breath that the thought of the swim started panicking me. But, a friend took me out swimming the Wednesday before the race and had me swim easy, and roll on my back and float to catch my breath that I became less nervous.

I wasn’t too nervous at the start of the swim. I started near the back of my wave, but not last. I felt good and was sighting well. By the first buoy the pack had separated and I was stroking well. I was passing red and silver caps. After the last buoy I did what Coach Jim told us to do. Start kicking hard to get blood to your legs. It sort of worked, my legs felt good, and I wasn’t too dizzy, but my heart rate was spiked and I was tired.

Swim Time: 13m:41s

T1: I jogged up the hill from the lake to the transition area. At the top of the hill I started walking, until I told myself I can catch my breath at transition. I started jogging again.

T1 was bad. Trying to get my wetsuit off I almost fell. Trying to put on my wet socks I almost fell twice. Putting on my shoes I almost fell. By then I decided to sit my ass down on the ground (my butt was already wet). Once on the ground I almost got run over a couple of times.

This was not a good transition. I need to do better.

T1 Time: Due to technical difficulties, unknown. (Long)

Bike: The bike ride went well. I was passing a lot of people (even a few ATC members). The rain made a lot of people slow down real slow on the turns, but I took the turns wide, and kept my speed up. On climbs I rocked. I climbed like a Norse god (not a cool Norse god like Thor God of Thunder or Odin Father of Gods, a small Norse god like Bob God of Virgin Wool (Patron of Ugly Sheep))(hey climbing like a Norse god, even a small one, is still climbing like a Norse god). I barley stayed to the right because I was always passing.

Bike Time: Due to technical difficulties, unknown. Felt great.

T2: T2 was not much better than T1, just less “almost falling”. The night before the race I was going to install a set of Yankz on my shoes, but couldn’t remember where I put them. When I put my shoes on I had to tie them (I don’t know how they became un-tied).

On my way out of the transition area, the number on my race belt ripped, and I slowed to fix it.

T2 Time: Due to technical difficulties, unknown. (Long)

Run: I do not run. I trudge with purpose. The run course was hilly and everyone that I passed on the ride passed me before the first mile. By the time I got to the hills I knew I would finish my first triathlon. I was in a good mood. I yelled “Go ATC” at every green uniform I saw passing me, or coming down the hill.

At the end of the run Coach Sharon was yelling at me encouragements, so I sprinted the last 50 yards

Run Time: 33m:25s
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Post Race: My girlfriend met me at the end of the race and gave me a congratulations kiss. It was nice having someone there. After, she went to visit friends in Carrollton, and I stayed to support my fellow ATC members. The group had a number of members place.

Rate your overall experience with this race: I had a great time. I had more nervous energy after the race than before the race. The whole thing went great for me. It was a great first triathlon. My goal was to finish in 1 hr 30 min or better, and I did. I would recommend Tri the Park to my fellow triathletes (isn’t this cool, I can call myself a triathlete).

I plan on doing all the Tri the Park series this year.

I want to also thank everyone at ATC (coaches and members). I don’t think I could have done it without everyone assistance and encouragement.

Weigh-In Wednesday

No weigh in this morning. My scale was acting wonky (that's a technical term). I think it needs new batteries.



Because I can't talk about my weight, I will talk about my health. Last week I went to the doctor because my knee was having a little pain, and I also had some blood work done. They took some x-rays and drained some blood. It turns out that I have the start of arthritis in my left knee, but it is not bad enough to stop training (so says the doctor).

The blood work came back great. My doctor has been concerned about my cholesterol and thyroid levels. In the past I was on cholesterol medication, and it messed with my thyroid. This last blood test, my total cholesterol was 137, my HDL (good cholesterol) was 41, my LDL (bad cholesterol) was 77, my triglycerides was 91, and my thyroid (TSH) was 2.79. As my doctor said, "the blood work is much improved."

I am good to go for my first triathlon this month.

Weigh-In Wednesday

239.6 lbs

36.9% Fat

Not only did I go below 240 lbs, I am wearing some very old pants. I have not been able to get in these pants for years. I think it was about 6 years ago that I stopped wearing them. They are size 38.

I also had to put another hole in my belt.

John Tanner Practice

I did a trial run of the John Tanner Triathlon (swim and ride, no run). The swim did not go well. I suited up in my new never used wet suit and walked in to the left side of the lake next to the swim area buoy. As I got to about waist deep I dove in. I didn't know water could be that cold without having ice on it. As I started swimming my finger felt like they were burning from the cold (have you ever had a wart frozen off by the doctor? This was colder.) My head felt like it was being squeezed in a vice. I could not think of how to do a proper stroke. The only thing that my brain was saying was “Get out, get out.” So, I did.

I had not even made it 50 yards. This would not do. I can swim a mile continuously in the pool. I decided to try it again, but this time I would do the breast stroke (this way my head would be out of the water.) It started off a little better, but progressed to bad pretty fast. After about 50 yards my motor skills started degrading. Each stroke would let a rush of cold water in down my back. This made me spasm and looses all sense of technique. By about 100 yards I looked like a frog in the throes of death. Once I realized I really wasn’t moving anymore I started freestyle again. 2 seconds after my head hit the water it was telling me to “Get out, get out.” So, I did.

Third time’s the charm, right? No it’s not, but I told myself to HTFU and try again. For my third time I decided to try and do freestyle, but with my head out of the water. Anyone who swims will tell you that the higher your head position is the more your feet and legs sink. By the time I got around 100 yards I was exhausted, and started hyperventilating. HTFU my ass, don’t drown. I got out.
That was the end of my first open water swim attempt.

Luckily the ride was good. I mapped out the course and then drove it to find and log the turns (I also had the heat on in the truck trying to get warm.)

• From John Tanner Park you head out .6 of a mile to Mt Zion Rd. ( Stop sign)
  


• Turn Right on Mt Zion Rd., and go .1 of a mile to Eureka Church Rd. (this is right after Eureka Baptist Church)
  


• Turn Right on Eureka Church Rd., and go 1.3 miles to New Hope Church Rd. (Stop sign) NOTE: Watch out for the turkey, he didn’t give chase, but gobbled in a way that told me he was displeased that I was on his road.
  


• Turn Left on New Hope Church Rd., and go .2 of a mile to Ingram Rd. (First street on the right)
  


• Turn Right on Ingram Rd., and go 1 mile to Lovvom Rd. (Stop sign) NOTE: Got chased by a Jack Russell. All the sprinting up the hill drills we do in spin class let me drop the hammer and blow that short legged terrier away.
  


• Turn Right on Lovvom Rd., and go 3.4 miles to Burwell Mt Zion Rd. (Stop sign) NOTE: Lovvom Rd. is hilly.
  


• Turn right on Burwell Mt Zion Rd., and go 3.1 miles to Mt Zion Rd. (Stop sign) NOTE: As you approach the stop sign you will go over 3 sets of speed bumps, and of course you are going uphill.



• Turn right on Mt Zion Rd., and go 1 mile to Tanner Beach Rd. (Look for the brown John Tanner State Park sign)



• Turn right on Tanner Beach Rd., and go .6 miles to the park entrance.
  

All in all it was a good outing. I plan on doing this a few more times before the actual triathlon (I will also add the run).

Weigh-In Wednesday

242 lbs

35.5% Fat

When I was an instructor, my job bought me uniforms. Since then I have lost weight, but have not bought new pants for work (I'm cheap that way). I think I might need to think about buying some new pants. A freind of mine told me I needed new pants. She said my pants are starting to look like clown pants on me.

Weigh-in Wednesday (belated)

243.0 lbs

34.6% Fat

I had the weigh in for the Weigh-in Challenge at work this week. I weighed in at 246 fully clothed. This is down about 3 pounds from last week, and about 12 pounds from the start of the challenge. I am also looking thinner. A few weeks ago I got a backhanded complement. A receptionist at the vet, that I hadn't seen a while, saw me and asked if I was sick.

Now that I am becoming thinner, people are asking me how I am doing it. It is no secret, I'm doing it slowly. I started off exercising. I didn't change my diet at all. Once I leveled out and became a fit fat guy I started the next phase.

The next phase was cutting down on the portion size. I still ate crap, I just ate less of it. This along with the exercise let me drop some more. Once I leveled out again I started the third phase.

The third phase is eating better (but not much better). I try and have a salad and veggies at least once a week.

It is my opinion that if you start doing everything all at once it becomes easier to fail, but if you do it in increment, you can get use to it in small doses.

Goodbye Allie

Goodbye Allie

Allie passed today. She was 14 and was my girl for the last 8 years. She will be missed so much.