Loon Lake Triathlon

Loon Lake Triathlon (my first tri) 6/13/2009.
I did the Loon Lake Triathlon near Lake Crystal (South of Mankato, MN) - sprint (1/4 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 3 mile run). This worked out best with my Minneapolis Marathon (2 weeks earlier), my vacation starting Thursday and Lifetime on July 11th.
 
Since this was my first triathlon, it was eye opening for me.  I arrived to the race start in plenty of time, but needed to hit a restrrom very bad, so I kept driving on to Lake Crystal to use the flush facilities and change into triathlon suit/top.  Just purchased the TYR shorts and top - good cost effective approach for a newbe - worked out well.  So by the time I got the car parked at the race start and walked down the 1/4 to ½ mile boat landing road, I arrived a little late (7:15) for a choice transition area site. But only 200 racers, so not a big deal.  Water temperature was 59, but I had my new wet suit - I was happy.  I had plenty of time to set up so I could check out those that had the 'expensive gear'.  Unlike my single tri friends who check out the opposite sex competitors for other reasons. .  I was somewhat surprised that there were a number of people with top of the line wet suits and relatively nice tri bikes (but not any where near what I had seen at the Iron Girl Duathlon last year (my wife raced it)). Since it was foggy, there as a 20 minute race delay.  There was a three wave start - men, women, teens.  Mike Roddy and Karl Adalbert are my main information sources.  Based on their advice, I did not need a swim warm-up, so I did a ½ mile run warm-up. 
 
The boat landing had a very rocky bottom, so it was a standup start about waste deep.  Since I was a high school and 'small' college swimmer, I quickly sized up the crowd and determined I needed to get in front based on the people I was standing around.  Funny thing with small races.  A lot of mediocre athletes act like they are world class.  So another old guy in the group spotted me as his competition and did his best to have his pull slide along my wetsuit to slow me down (reminds me of my water polo days).  Same guy was strutting around like he had the race won.  He took second overall (and in the swim because I beat him) and quickly slinked to his car after the race.  So, even if you go to a small race, be humble.  Anyway, I pulled away from him, turned the first and second buoy and beat him out of the water.  
 
Now, here is where I may have made a mistake. I started reaching back for my wetsuit strap while I was walking out of the water.  And I was a little tired from pushing the swim. So some of the others walked or jogged much faster, got some blood pumping into their walking legs and quickly removed their wetsuits after getting to their area.  Second mistake was putting on my Garmin - which I did not look at the rest of the race and did not get the right data anyway.  The two cost me a lot of time plus not being good at the shoes/socks wet suit removal moved me to 9^th place and 1 minute behind.
 
Biking.  Once on the bike I felt pretty good, especially with the long transition (rest). Past a few people in the first mile or two, but then passed by a few real fast people.  Great course, smooth roads, little wind.  So I  pressed moderately on the biking and guessed high aerobic (150 bpm with my max being 180).  So the only bad part was letting part of the pack I was with separate from me toward the end, but was a little cautious because I never practiced a brick, so I was concerned about trashed legs.  So possibly I could have maybe decreased my bike time and with less running increase. (averaged just over 20 mph on the 12 mile bike) 
 
Next transition was better, but I did not tighten my shoes or tie double knots so had to re-tie at the 1.4 mile point (do people use those lace pull contraptions so no tying?).  Also my bike was closer to the boat landing so that cost me some time (15 seconds). Needed to get there earlier.  Running went well, but felt terrible for the first quarter mile, somewhat better the next quarter mile and fine the rest of the way.  Heart rate estimate between 165 and 170, but that is typical for me for 5k and 10 k pace and my legs were still giving me 6:43 pace (roughly my half marathon pace).  Had I been right with some people, I may have been faster.                  
 
Main Lessons learned - I need to become a much better biker (the problem is not the bike (Felt S22 Tri-bike), its the guy riding it) and much better at transitions.  I liked being first out of the water ( a silver lining from my Monday and Thursday Edina practices where I get lapped by Mike Roddy every 200 yards.
 
6 - place
52 Doug Wiesner
0:09:14 - - swim plus first transition (no chip crossing between lake and transition)
0:35:01 - bike
0:01:11 - 2^nd transition
0:20:09 - run  
1:05:35 - overall time
Age 51 Male
 
http://www.raceplacechiptiming.com/uploads/Loon_Lake_Tri_Website_results_pdf.pdf
 
By the way, as you might expect, there was no swim split for my race, the only timing was at the exist from transition one that also was the same place that caught in / out transition 2 and the finish.  But Marcy got pictures for proof I was first in the swimming!
 
I am glad I did one prior to Lifetime.  I will do much better there than I would have without the experience.
 
For a small community center sponsored triathlon, the course was well staffed and there was no confusion.  I am very glad I chose that race as my first.  
 

sweet race and great report.  I have yet to practice transitions myself,  It is dumb not too, but I am just stupid and lazy.  it is like in golf where people always practice their drives because it is fun to whack the ball far,  but they never practice their putting.  The putter makes up for over a 1/3rd of the typical golfers strokes.  and in shorter triathlons,  it can be the difference.  nate dogg is an expert,  chach and I are a bit slower.  Can't wait to see you at lifetime make it happen.