You know those pamphlets that get stuck under your windshield wipers when you're at a race? Usually it's advertising someone else their race, or something else you might not be interested in. Well, on my car as I left the Wisconsin Triterium, there was a pamphlet for an Inaugural triathlon in nearby Janesville, just a few weeks away. Called the Rock, Roll n Run, it was to be a half-mile in the Rock River, thirteen mile bike, and 3.1 mile run. ("Rock, Roll n Run" get it?) With a time-trial start for the swim, it promised to be challenging with some rolling hills both on the bike and run.
I got to the race site a touch later than I wanted, but found a spot in transition and figured out the layout, but had no time for a warm up. I figured I could use the swim for that. A bit later, we made our way to the start area up the river. Along the way, the river looked fast & high due to the recent storms that dumped a lot of rain in southern Wisconsin. The Rock Aqua Jays, a local water ski club, supported the swim with more boats & jet skis than I've ever seen for a sprint triathlon. They struggled and had to point upstream and keep the throttle open, just to keep the same position in the river. This was going to be a fast swim. Every three seconds, we jumped into the water and made our way downstream. Soon it was my turn and I leaped off the dock took off like hell.
My overall goal for the race was to have a positive pass ratio, meaning that I pass more people than people pass me. I started out keeping track in the river, but then groups got too big to see how many where in each. Soon, and all of a sudden, it was time to exit. I had barely warmed up.
On to the bike and out of the city, the course was overall uphill on the way out, and down on the way back. I must have passed quite a few folks on the swim, because there was very few in front of me. With my saddle height now dialed in, my Specialized Transition Pro flew around the course. I noticed the extra speed as I flew on the downhills and I could maintain that speed on the flats. (A little extra weight helps, too.) A couple turns and I was on my way back into down. Up the last hill, I flashed a pose for the cheering section. Turns out, it was the Wimmers! Mike was taking the pictures and sent me what he got:
Also, on the way back to transition, the race photographer caught me around the last turn in a series of four shots.
I made it back to transition getting passed by only two people. And one had the full time trial kit on, including shoe covers; I assumed it was a relay.
The run starts out going through the local farmer's market. It was cute how they lined the course with small cones and caution tape to prevent crossings. Right after the first mile, was the hill. My running legs hadn't quite come around after the bike, and they weren't ready to run up a long hill. By the time I got to the top, my stride was so short that I don't think my heel was getting passed my toe on each step. But from there it was all down hill, and I pressed the pace. The whole time I felt pressure from behind, but dare not look back. Every time I would get cheered on, it was always in the plural, "Go you guys!" so there was someone there, but I didn't know who. Back to the transition area, I think we run around the back side of the bikes and right to the line that I can see is oh-so-close. But noooooo, we have to run another half-mile around the park to get to a spot that's 200 feet away. So cruel. It's here that I get passed for the first time on the run, but not by my shadow. It's someone else that thought the finish was closer, because his pace slowed noticeably after the pass. I finally make my way around the park and head for the chute, when I get passed by another guy I try to keep pace, but let out and audible groan and he pulls ahead. But, he slowed and all of a sudden, I hear what Coach Mike yelled at me at Racine last year, "Don't let him pass you in the finishing chute!" So I sprint, catch guy off guard and nip him at the line. Woot! Only one pass on the run.
Overall, it was a good day. The hill on the run added a minute to my time, because that mile was exactly that much slower than my other two. Turns out my shadow was a woman who never passed me, but exclaimed to her friend on her finish that she bettered her run split by a minute. I ended up 9th overall (8th male - PRO Lauren Jensen raced) And depending on how you look at things, I finished either 3rd in the five-year (30-34) age group, which is what the results show, or 5th in the ten-year (30-39) age group, which is what the awards displayed at the race.
Total: 1:10:58 9th OA/8th M
Swim: 7:11 (0:57/100m)
Bike: 38:38 (21.8 mph)
Run: 22:41 (7:19 min/mi)