NYC Triathlon - August 7, 2011

To start the month of August, I raced the New York City Nautica Triathlon with 3,000+ competitors.  Quite a change in scenery and size from the Anthracite Triathlon!  I was fortunate that my Ark Interval’s team owner, Noah Krug, had raced NYC before and was able to give me a race overview including his opinion of the race highs and lows.  I was also able to preview/pre-ride the course using the team’s CompuTrainer Real Course video. 

My start time of 5:50 was by far my earliest triathlon start.  But I guess with the logistics of getting 3,000+ athletes through the course (including athlete cross-over at the transition areas – 2 areas to accommodate everyone) and a closed bike and run course (in New York City!!), an early start was required!  It was dark and raining as we left the hotel and I started to get nervous about time as I had not factored in 15 minutes to get a cab at 4 AM in NYC!  And this wasn’t due to a lack of cabs, just a lack of cabs stopping.  It was still raining when I arrived at transition but the weather was far better than the 2 – 3 inches the forecasters had predicted.  I quickly got my transition area together and left to make my way a mile north to the swim start.  I planned on including my warm-up run in the journey to the swim start but soon had to give up when the path became too crowded with other racers.  When I finally arrived, I learned that the race had been postponed because of a car accident along the bike course that was being cleaned up.  After about a 45 minute delay, it was finally time.  The swim start was a new experience for me – a dive start.  I was nervous about my goggles slipping off during the dive; I’d practiced during the week before but I was still nervous.  (While waiting for the start I asked other pros who regularly compete in ITU races for suggestions on how to keep them on but they were not able to offer any.)  And sure enough, my goggles slipped off when I hit the water.  I got in a few hard strokes, fixed my goggles and then started off again.  The swim was nothing like what I’d been mentally prepared for.  Because of the strong current in the Hudson River, I’d been told it was a fast, “easy” swim.  But because the swim was into the wind, waves and chop made for a quick but rough swim for me.

Once out of the water, it was almost another half mile run (on pavement) to transition; seeing my T1 time post-race, I saw that I was a little too casual on the run to transition.  I think the feeling of mental defeat on the swim pre-occupied my focus.  The bike course immediately started with several tight, quick turns and a short climb – a technical start to get out to the road, especially in the rain.  The course itself was not overly difficult.  Other than the technical start/finish, it was an out and back on the West Side Highway with a couple of climbs but mostly rolling hills.  The most difficult part of the bike course was having to navigate around the many potholes, puddles, and slick expansion joints.  Seeing the first crash about 3 miles into the race made me exercise even a little more caution.  In those early miles, I don’t think I was mentally focused.   Fortunately though, positive thoughts started when I realized how fun it was to ride on a major NYC roadway without cars!  It’s pretty rare to have a closed course and especially in NYC!  And when else can you fly through toll plazas at 20+ mph and not have to worry about paying???  On the return trip, the wind picked up into a fairly strong headwind.  My legs were definitely feeling the fatigue from the headwind but at that point I just found a gear where I could maintain a strong cadence and tried to keep pedaling as hard as I could.  I thought I had managed a strong ride but when I saw my final bike time after the race I realized I had not gone as fast as I’d hoped.  However, on a perceived exertion rating, I don’t know if I could have pushed more. 

Heading out onto the run, we were treated to two pleasantries within the first quarter mile.  First, we had a steep hill to climb out of transition, which really tested the legs.  And then we had to dodge a homeless man who was trying to sleep as we ran through an underpass.  Only in NYC!  From Transition, we ran up 72^nd Ave. into Central Park.  While not quite as adrenaline-pumping as the NYC Marathon, the run up 72^nd was fun.  A closed street lined with spectators all yelling and cheering; it kept me motoring along.  Into Central Park the excitement continued for the next mile before the course got quieter.  Non-racing runners and walkers cheered for me as I tackled the Harlem Hills.  Around mile 4, I saw another female; I debated strategy as to whether to pass or hold back and wait to pass.  I decided to go for the pass with the hope that I could hold my pace and/or she wouldn’t pick up hers.  Making the pass I felt strong but as I neared mile 5 I heard footsteps quickly approaching.  While I know I can only control my race, I knew I was going to be disappointed if it was the same girl passing me.  Fortunately though, it was a male age grouper.  While he encouraged me to hang with him, I knew it was better to just stick with my pace/race.  Crossing the finish line a short time later I was happy to be finished.  I felt as though I’d raced hard and finished with my fastest Olympic-distance run time, 39:49.  With conditions that naturally make me a little gun shy, I was generally pleased with my performance.  I think the best part for me was my ability to re-engage my mental game when pretty early on in the race I was not focused and had essentially written the race off.