Quad Cities Triathlon Race Report

Back with another race report. I competed “relatively speaking” in a local sprint tri that I had really been looking forward to. Even though it’s short, it’s a big home town race and I really wanted to go out and win this one. 

Pre-Race: I tried to have some perspective going into this race knowing DSM 70.3 was only 6 days prior, and I truly left everything out on that course. My recovery went well, but I made a somewhat foolish decision to race a 20K bike Time Trial Thursday night before. I hadn’t really thought of it being 36 hours before the race, but in hindsight it was a little close. Regardless, I felt ready to attack the day.

Swim (7:55 - 6th): To start the race, I was with 2 other athletes that also registered as Elites. We were allowed to all start together 2 minutes before everyone else was released. This may have been the most humiliated I’ve ever felt in a race before. Within 100 yards, I was dropped and swimming on my own. 

T1 (1:18 - 2nd): Flawless until the uphill bike mount. Maybe someday I will learn. Much better than the 1:50 it took me back in 2019, even though I had a wetsuit. 

Bike (36:31 - 3rd): Starting the bike, I already felt defeated. By the time I got to the main road, I could barely see the police escort lights over half a mile down the road. I felt winded and was struggling to get my power over 250W. I did my best to stay in the moment, but I really just felt like I didn’t belong. At the turn around it looked like first was 3 minutes ahead and 2nd was 2. This was better than I thought, but I still gave up too much time. I pushed it into T2 and was a little disappointed to not be over 25mph. 

T2 (0:46 - 5th): Not much to note here. My bike rack was in a great spot for this and I felt like I made it through without too much trouble. I opted to go sockless, which was the perfect move. .

Run (17:56 - 3rd): The start of the run is all grass and then a gravel path. I felt like I wasn’t moving anywhere and knew my opening 5:57 mile wasn’t going to cut it. I saw the 2 pros coming back from the turnaround and knew it was definitely over. The 1 looked like he was running around 5:15 pace and the other was over 3 minutes ahead. I clocked a 5:33 2nd mile and at least felt like I was moving now. Even though I was locked in 3rd, I pushed to the line and  ended up averaging 5:40 pace. Considering that I ran 5:56 pace for 13.1 at Des Moines 6 days prior, this felt pretty slow. 

Humbled by these guys

Post Race: This was not the feel good race I was hoping for, and I don’t want to feel like I don’t belong again. When I came into the finish chute, the guys had already caught their breath and were just chilling. Even though I had a 4 minute gap on 4th place, I didn’t feel like I should have started with the actual pros. I basically did a solo time trial all by myself between the pros and amateurs. 

In the end, I ate some humble pie but I’m ready to start grinding away again.