Chula Vista Challenge, 2013

The Chula Vista Challenge was my third race this year of four on my calendar.  Superfrog awaits to finish out my year.  This is an Olympic distance triathlon, also making it the shortest event of my year.  Please do not mistake short for easy.  There is a reason the Challenge is in the title of this race! 

The logistics of this race are different than many in that you have two transition areas separated by about 12 miles the way the crow flies.  This requires preparing your T2 bag with running shoes and other necessities the day before and leaving it at race check in.  Since it is recommended you park near the finish and take a shuttle to the start, you also need to leave your bike at T1 the day before.  In short, you pretty much set up the day before. 

I took care of all of this on Saturday including my usual Saturday shake out ride.  Felt good on the bike during the Saturday ride and forced myself to take it easy and limit the ride to under 40 minutes.  This made me happy since my legs felt so dead on Thursday I skipped my planned ride.  I also felt very tired, and since it was race week decided extra rest was okay.  

Sunday morning!  A 3:40 AM wake up.  Why do we do this?  Not that big of a deal, really since I get up at that time twice a week for my swim workouts.   

I make sure I have my swim gear and my nutrition and drive off to B2BE fitness, which is near the finish line, a race sponsor, and where the shuttles will take us to the start.  Nice coach buses to take us over. 

Head into transition and take care of the usual business.  Walk through swim out into T1, and bike out.  Take a look at the bay and wow, the tide is OUT.  It looks as if you could walk to the first turn. 

I put on my wetsuit and headed out to get into the water for a bit of a warm up.  The looks were not deceiving, the tide was out.  The entry was also rocky with small pebbles, then mushy.  I mentally mark the area where I can start swimming, and take a short practice swim.  That felt really good, and I am ready. 

I look around as our wave queued up and realize the wave seems small.  In fact, the race itself seems like a small race for a triathlon in San Diego.   

Elites go off first, I was in wave 5, but the time went quickly.  Soon the siren sounded and we were running/trotting into the water.  Running over the pebbles/rocks was actually easier than walking over them so I was in, got to the area I marked in my mind as get down and swim, and I was off.  I passed a bunch of wave mates right of way that out ran me, and I was off feeling good in the water.  By the first turn I passed someone from the wave in front of me.  The waves were three minutes apart.  Another 200-300 meters out I was passing a bunch of previous wavers and even some from the wave before that.  I knew there were a couple of really fast guys that were gone, but I didn’t see any other white caps.  Am I really swimming this well?  Just keep going.  Out of the water, the timing mat is up near the entrance to T2, so I had a run of about 200 yards to the mat through the pebbles, up the beach which meant a big step up where there was some serious beach erosion, and into T1.   

Official swim time 28:23, a Personal Best for the distance, including the run!  And 6^th out of 19 in my AG.  Actual swim time was about 27:00.   In just my third year of swimming I am thrilled with where my swimming is.  I would attribute the most recent improvement to two things, one I discovered how to improve my roll three weeks ago in the pool.  This was one of the benefits of a post Ironman easy swims where I was focusing on form.  The other is we have a small group that is doing open water swims on Sunday mornings.  This has helped my sighting and open water awareness.  Looking at the Garmin data, the swim track actually looks straight, not like a drunken bee that many of my previous race swims look like.  Thanks to the swim group’s main participants: Andrea, Speedy Ted, and  Sugarmagnolia. 

Into transition I go.  I have made the argument that a mid-packer doesn’t need to worry about flying out of transition.  Seconds matter if you are competing for a podium, etc.  That being said, looking back, my T1 times have been too slow.  I made a conscious effort in set up to get through T1 better.  Including no socks for the bike.  Boom!  2:24  to get out of T1.  Off on the bike.  Often my best event, certainly my favorite, as my journey into triathlon began with cycling. 

When I start the bike in a tri, I generally stay on the bull horns until I get my breathing regulated and my pedal strokes in synch.  Then I go aero and get into my race at race effort.  Right of way on this ride my legs felt heavy and had a hard time getting going. 

I felt like I was putting out 40K race effort, but getting IM pacing results.  Another reason why I need a power meter.  If anyone at Garmin is reading this, I would be happy to give you a mid-packers perspective on the Vector  Contact me and I'll let you know where to send it.  Anyway, the ride felt like a struggle throughout most of it, even the first 10 miles which is mostly flat, fast, and easy.  The last 14 which is mostly uphill and accounts for most of the 1,200 feet of elevation gain was rough.  In a rarity I was happy the bike was done.  1:25:01.  For reference I expected to be just under 1:20.  11^th out of 19 in my AG for the bike. 

Transition 2 is one of the cool experiences of the Chula Vista Challenge.  They handle T2 the same way Ironman does.  A volunteer takes your bike and racks it for you while they grab your run bag.  You get to sit on an actual chair and put your shoes on!   Another 2:24 transition and off on the hilly run course.  400 feet of elevation gain over 6.2 miles.  And we are not talking about gentle inclines.  No, these are harsh spikes up.  Those of you that read my race reports know that the run is my weakest event.  Generally I am right in the middle of my age group for the swim and bike, but the bottom 10-15 percent on the run.  I am working on it.  The strategy for this race was to go with a 1:30 run to :30 walk, and when the hills hit, to modify it to walk the steepest parts. 

This run went well by my standards, and I really enjoy running through the Olympic Training Center.  To think of the athletes that train there, and here I am running through their training grounds.  Soon enough it was up the stairs, yes stairs just after mile 5 and I was out of the OTC and headed for the finish.  1:09:01 a 12 minute improvement from last year, but still 18^th of 19 in my AG.  The splits were pretty even from 10:53 to 11:30, the 11:30 being the hilliest mile. 

 

The bling!

 

**Update** I had already written the bike section and took a break as I finished the blog.  I went over to my bike to take off the race wheels and I think I discovered part, if not all of my bike issues.  The legs may have felt a bit heavy, but it is not their fault.  No, my front brake was rubbing ever so slightly on the wheel.  No enough to be obvious, but taking it around the parking lot for a spin, then adjusting it and going again made a noticable difference.  Not sure what I could have done, as I checked the bike over in transition before heading to the swim and the front wheel spun fine.  It wasn't a lot, but definitley could have cost me 1-1.5 MPH.  Grrrrrrrrrrr.

Huge thank you to the volunteers of this well run event.  Which brings me to why this event does not seem to draw as well as others.  Is it the challenge portion?  Yes this is more challenging than a typical Olympic Distance event.  But it is a well run event and provides a good race experience.  I would highly recommend you put it on your calendar. 

Equipment nerd like me?  Here is what I used: 

Swim: X-terra Vortex sleeveless wetsuit, Aqua Sphere Rx goggles 

Bike: Specialized Transition, 52x36 mid-compact crank set, 11-28 cassette, Williams 58-85 wheels, X-Lab Torpedo and rear carrier 

Run: Saucony Triumph 9 shoes 

Nutrition: Carbo Pro, water 

Upcoming Races:  Superfrog 70.3 September 29.  California 70.3 Oceanside 2014.  And I am volunteering for IM Arizona in November.  And ya’ll know what that means!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Chula Vista Challenge

The Chula Vista Challenge.  I signed up for this race as a dress rehearsal for Superfrog on September 30.  Before we get into the swim/bike/run stuff, let’s set the stage. 

This is an Olympic distance triathlon.  Point to point, meaning two different transition areas.  The swim would be in the bay,   the bike goes from the bay inland to Otay Lakes for the run. 

This made pre race packet pick-up a bit of work.  You had to have your T2 bag ready to go.  For me, it was shoes, hat, and fuel.  Then off to T1 to leave your bike.  Before leaving it, I took my pre-race shake out ride.  A final check, make sure I didn’t pick something up in the tires, and some lube on the chain.  Rack the bike.  Props number one to the race organizers.  They use the racks that you stick a wheel in, so much better than the over hang racks. 

Early to bed, early to rise, the triathlon starts just after sunrise!  Which means, a 3:30 AM wake up to get ready, eat, and head to the finish area, so we can catch a shuttle to the start?  More props to the race.  Nice coach buses for the shuttles.  

Arrival at the race start.  Into transition where I set up my spot.  Turn over the helmet, straps open, do-rag in place.  Cycling shoes opened up, and ready.  Take care of business, get body-marked, more business, and look at the path for bike-out.  Study the swim course, okay ready.  30 minutes till start.  Jump in the water for a warm-up.  The water is warm, feels good, swim out about 100 meters or so, and back arms are loose.  15 minutes. 

Wave one off.  I’m in wave five.  They go at three minute intervals.  It doesn’t take long.

Men 45-49 in the hot pink swim caps.  The siren sounds and we head into the water.  My plan, go out hard.  Yes, you read that right, go out hard.  As you know I signed up for my first full Ironman next year.  Everything I am reading, is the first 200 meters are an absolute frenzy.  I thought, I need to start practicing for that now.  The swimmer to my left thought it a good idea to hold my left arm down for three strokes until I could shake free, then I took off.   The fastest of our group was out ahead, but I felt like I was swimming well.  Before the first turn buoy I passed three swimmers from the previous wave, along the long parallel stretch I passed several more, and even passed a few from the third wave.  Turn for home and the swim is done!  Out of the water, run up the hill, and just before enter the transition area is the timing mat.  Even with the minute or so it took from water to the mat; my swim time was 29:22.  A PR for 1500 meters for me!  Better, I accomplished what I wanted to with this swim.  I went out aggressively and hard, then settled in, and had a good swim.  Now to the bike, my favorite! 

I’ve learned when I start the bike leg, to ride on the bullhorns for the first two or three minutes.  For readers not sure what I mean by that, the bullhorns are the outer bars on an aero bike, as opposed to being tucked and in the aero bars.  I do this until I feel my breathing is regulated and I’m ready to tuck and go.  Normally it takes two to three minutes.  It seemed to take 10 this day.  Not sure why, I wasn’t out of breath coming out of the water, and even if I was 4 minutes in transition would have brought that down.  I just had a hard time getting settled.  Finally somewhere on Main Street I settled in, went aero and cranked it up to race pace.  Main Street.  Time for a digression from the normal race blog of I rode, I climbed, I descended, etc. 

I have nicknamed the bike portion of this race the Monopoly Course.  Playing the role of Mediterranean and Baltic Avenue is Chula Vista’s Main and Broadway.  And as the course progresses it is just like taking a tour around a Monopoly Board.  Eventually we make the final turn on Woods, which with its gated homes, note I said gated homes, not communities, Woods starts as Boardwalk!   

After Woods you cross Otay Lakes Road into Salt Creek Park which is T2.  The best part of the race is T2.  Again, props to the race.  Hit the dismount line, off the bike, and a volunteer takes your bike, they well out your bib number, (66 in my case) and bam!  Another volunteer has your T2 bag as you sit in a chair and put your running shoes on. 

On the way out of transition I hit a water station, took a couple of salt tablets and doused my head to cool my core.  It is HOT out here. 

At this point the race turned ugly for me.  Within two minutes I was gasping for air, even though I went out “easy.”  No way I should be struggling like this.  I run bricks off of 75 mile rides, where I finish with a hard interval to simulate race day.  I can only think the heat and humidity were taking full effect.  In short, the run turned into a walk/jog/slog that took me from having a really good day for me, to a not so good result.  But that is not to say I didn’t like the run course.  In fact, I loved it.  Oh, it was hard, almost 500 feet of elevation gain in 6.2 miles is one tough run course, but on nice trails, and right through the Olympic Training Center.  What great inspiration.  Running by the fields for field hockey, the soccer pitch, softball fields, a BMX jump right over the trail, and of course, the track and field area.  Just think of the athletes that trained there.   

Finally the finish!  Again, some chairs to sit on, get some water both in me and on me.  Done and dusted.  Great swim, solid bike, lousy run.  But a really good event.  Huge props to Pulse Endurance Sports and Mike Drury for putting on a great event. 

Mike, I have two suggestions.  One, since we do not have T2 access on race day, I did not leave a fuel belt with fluids; I figured they would be way to warm.  On a hot day, please add a couple of additional aid stations, and I would have loved to have the cold wet sponges like they have at Ironman events.   

Big thanks to all the volunteers.  Hope my transition neighbor who was doing his first triathlon had a good event.

Gear Used:

Swim – Xterra sleeveless wetsuit and Speedo Rx goggles 

Bike – Specialized Transition with Williams 58-85 wheels, 53-39 crank set, and 11-28 cassette. 

Run – Asics Nimbus 

Kit – Tri Club San Diego 

Next event is my A race for the year, Superfrog, a half-iron distance race on Coronado, CA.