A normal person would train diligently, focusing on improving weak spots in their race plan. A normal person knows which discipline has the most flaws, and designs their race in such a way that everything is seamless.
I’m far from normal. Anyone who knows me (or has ever read this blog) could tell you that. Which is why, after a year of no training, coming off one of the most painful races I could ever imagine, I decided “hey why don’t I register for a race 2 weeks away.”
To be fair, the Wauconda Triathlon starts a mile from my front door… and I registered for a sprint, hoping it would be an extra kick in the ass to get moving and back in shape… And I think it worked.
I’ve only raced two other sprints. They were both in Lake in the Hills, I had been woking with a coach for one and somewhat following a training plan for the other. Needless to say I was in better shape.
Outside of being more rotund and un trained, for this race the only other big difference to me was the bike I was riding. In both of the past sprints I was riding the Felt DA4 tri bike. However this time around I was on my Trek Madone 4.5 road bike, no aero bars.
Like every other tri I focus on finishing the swim… If I finish and feel good thats a bonus, but priority #1 is GET OUT OF THE WATER. Sunday at the Wauconda Sprint tri this was no exception and my time proved that…. just over 19 mins, yeesh!
On to the bike. I had no expectations for this race, which helped I think. It was a 14+ mile loop around Wauconda. Mostly smooth roads with a few hills thrown in for good measure. I was moving along this route! I averaged 18mph though the bike course and it felt like I wasn’t trying!
So good news, my biking fitness hasn’t completely deteriorated!
Bring on the Run!
My legs felt fine, and it was only a 5k so at least it would be over fast…. well, fast enough. The route looped right though my neighborhood, which was great cause my wife and kids could come to the end of the block and cheer me on!
I held a 10:30/pace for the 5k. Not super human speeds, but again not bad for not training. I wasn’t paying any attention to my overall time. That is, until I approached the finish line. I stopped my Garmin and thought to myself… “I’m pretty sure this was a sprint distance PR.”
Nah, it couldn’t be.
While packing up my transition area I looked up past race results, and sure enough it was a PR by 1:22! Hey not bad for a fat guy!
Obviously this was a fluke. I’m not sure if the wind was behind me the whole time or maybe Wauconda is mostly down hill… but what ever it was, I’ll take it!
Now the real work starts. Lets see what else I can PR!
Phil Castello 