Spring Sprint 2011 Race Report
This race was a few months ago but I’m trying to catch-up and do a quick race report.
Total time: | 0:34.58 |
---|---|
Swim: | 0:05:12 |
Run 1: | 0:22:26 |
Swim/Run2: | 0:07:20 |
Bib | #88 |
Group | M4044 |
Determined to get a great position in the bike transition area I got up extra early and decided I’d be parked, ready to go when the race director opened the transition area. That meant I’d need to arrive at KOFPC slightly before 6 a.m. As I headed out the door it wasn’t looking good. I’d been watching weather forecasts all week and they had been getting progressively worse. About 15 minutes after leaving home I was driving through heavy SNOW fall! Fortunately the snow only lasted for a few miles and then it was back to just wet roads. Thirty minutes later, as I neared the event venue, I exited the freeway. Now, again, I was back in the snow and here the snow had accumulated on the ground. Probably 6″ to 8″ of heavy, wet spring-time snow.
According to plan I was about the 2nd or 3rd person in the transition area. I setup my things and threw a big blanket over everything in an attempt to keep them somewhat dry.
After taking care of check-in, timing chip pickup, etc. I had some time to just sit around and wait. I talked with the race volunteers and there were suggestions that the bike portion of the race might be cancelled. I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.
The race directory finally had to make a tough call and she cancelled the bike portion; improvising she added a 2nd swim portion and a short, 2nd run section. The race now boiled-down to this: 200yd swim, 5k run, 200yd swim, and a few hundred yard run from the pool over the the finish line. It was a disappointing change but in hind-sight it was a good call; the bike course is fast and has several sharp turns and railroad crossings. Crossing the tracks when they are wet would have surely caused many accidents.
The change-up of the course caused me to loose some of my advantage… feeling like the swim was too short and it was mostly a running race; my run isn’t currently my strength! However, the last-minute change made the race exciting in a way and was great for making you “think on your feet”
This is the second year I’ve done this race and I’ve really enjoyed both times. I’ll probably make it a tradition and see what Mother Nature throws at us next year!
In the end I was pretty happy with my results. 3rd in age group and 20th overall.
Filed under: Races
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