Race Day Mojito
By Dan • May 31st, 2008 • Category: Dan's Training Log
The Capital City Biathlon started out in waves with a 5k. Teams, men, then women. The race was chip timed this year. The men started the race 3:00 after the teams. I stated at the from of the pack, I did not want to get caught behind a bunch of people. The group spread out rather quickly.
I hit the first mile marker and hit the lap on my watch. 6:10, kind of quick. The next mile was a 6:20. I grabbed a water on the way back in. The last mile was when the race started. My nemesis (Andy P.) passed me. After that I had to stay on his heals no mater what. I entered T1 with a average pace of 6:24, beating my 6:40 pace of last year.
The transition was one of my best and 2nd overall at the race. It was something like 30 seconds. I think listening to Eric Sommer - The Transition Area was a big help in my success. I had my shoes already clipped in. All I had to do was put my sunglasses on and helmet and run out.
The bike started out fast with a tail/cross wind. I set mini goals for each rider I say up the way. Just a few mile into Andy passed me. Once again, I was not going to let him go. We went back and forth several times. The turn around sucked… a head wind. I knew it wouldn’t last forever.
About a mile after the turn around, Dan D. passed me with some blazing speed. I held on as long as I could, but let him go. My race was with Andy…
On the turn to the finish I was behind Andy. And to my surprise Bob S. came whipping around the corner. This was my chance to go. I dropped the gears and tried to get as much space between us as possible.
I finished ahead of Andy by just a few seconds. But what I didn’t realize was that he started behind me in the run. So he didn’t cross the timing mat until a few seconds after me. That means event though I finished in front of him, he may have been ahead of me.
Andy did a great job pushing me, and I hope I did the same for him. He was great competition.
The results were posted, and I edged out Andy by 1 second, yes I said 1 second…
Andy had posted a better run time and a better bike time. What gave me the win was my 30 second T1.
I finished 5th overall with a time of 1:00:10. That also gave me the 35-39 age group win. I think I am more thrilled about the 5th place then I was with the age group win.
I am sure this is not the end of Andy. He has beaten me at the Stoneman Sprint Tri the last few years and this year will be another challenge. Thanks for a great race Andy!
I ended the night with a silent celebration, grilling out steaks and downing 3 Bacardi Mojitos (not the best recovery drink, but they taste so good when they hit your lips!)
Good job Dan! I think I’m going to be afraid of you at Scholastic! I’m glad I’m not in your age group. Crap, I just realized that I’ll move up to 30-34 at Scholastic. It’ll be my debut!
Dan, Awesome performance! You just proved that the transition was the third event of the day… and you kicked butt. Your transition put you in the top 5! A 30 second transition getting on the bike is impressive in any race. Nice job all around.
Thanks Guys! You know, I am just hooked on this stuff. My brain is a sponge and I will take any advice I can get to shave off a few seconds. I know now that every second does count!
Dano - You need a rear disk … I’ll keep my eyes open for one.
Ya know, I would really like one, Maybe a nice Mavic Comet for Fathers day? A Giro aero helmet is also on my wish list.
good event Dan–Even better celebration–steak and booze!
That was a spectacular race, and your victory is very well deserved. After talking to you a week from the race, I did get the feeling I had become somebody’s nemesis
, so when you bolted out of the run I was motivated to keep you in sight. Our gap widened after the first mile, but I began to close prior to the bridge crossing. (What you may not have realized is that a deer ran between us, behind you and in front of me, at mile 2. You just don’t see that every day so I thought it was worth mentioning.).
Your transition was of course awesome. When I saw you up the road on the bike, I thought to myself, “Oh no, not again!” But I managed to slowly gain, and eventually pass. At the turnarond, I couldn’t believe the speed at which you passed me. But I began to establish a good rhythm, and the pedals were ticking over smoothly. When I came around you that final time, I thought it was over.
But NO!!! Exhausted, with 250 metres to go, three riders pass me! Was Dan in that pack?! Was that him leading the charge!? Were there really three of them or was I was seeing triple?! So many questions, so little time! Dig deep!!!
But all hope faded as I quickly realized there was no way I was going to catch you - you were gone, finishing several seconds in front of me. My only chance was my insidious starting gate tactic - that chip timed start difference. (Hey, every good nemesis needs at least one underhanded maneuver.) But not even that was enough. Drats!
Well done DAN! See ya later!
Andy P.
That was a lot of fun wasn’t it Andy? My buddy Tom took a great photo of us around the last corner. I guess this is the pack you were talking about: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hardybreed/2543663615/sizes/l/in/set-72157605354138300/
There are several good photo out there.
I wish we could have held on to Dan Dungan when he passed us after the turn-around. Great race Andy!
Great story, Andy. It’s nice getting so many perspectives. It sounds like there might be future battles.
Yes, always good to have a nemesis. Adds a bit of extra motivation for sure–
Hi Dan!
I love your website and the stories that everyone post. The pictures are great too! It makes me want to become a cyclist. Go figure~ I teach cycling at Fitclub but then again why would I want to when I have my “secret weapon” aka Bob Santarelli as a partner? LOL! Someday…someday…