Race Report USAT Age Group Sprint Nationals Milwaukee, WI This race was not even on my radar until Matthew Radniecki brought up that I should go watch after several LAMS qualified for the Oly Nationals. I figured if I am going there anyways I might as well race the Sprint. I had trained for the Liberty HIM all off season so had to switch my focus and training from endurance to speed. I raced Crosby and Walker to get some sprint racing in. Our group of four vehicles headed out early Friday morning and headed to Milwaukee. I was very happy that Kelly was able to go with me. Several stops and 8 hours later we were at the race venue. Since I was not racing until Sunday I got to relax and reconnoiter the venue after we registered. I have been to Ironman 140.6 in Madison several times as a spectator and volunteer, but this was my first BIG race. Saturday, we got up early and headed to the race site. I was on Sherpa duty for Matt and Sara as they could not leave any bags in transition for security reasons. The OLY race went by very quickly as we were cheering for all the LAMS racing. So happy for Michelle for qualifying for Worlds! Soon it was time to check in my bike, which was a first time experience for me. The bikes would be in transition overnight which was the first time my bike had ever slept outside!. We ate supper with the LAMS crew then I went to bed early. I did not sleep well as I felt like I was waking up every 10 minutes. I woke before my alarm so got ready and with the rest of the crew arrived at the race site around 6:30. I set up my tran spot and then went through my landmarks coming in and out of transition. It was a big area as it was designed to hold over 3,000 bikes! There were state flags around the perimeter of the tran area so I had great landmarks. The race started with the singing of the national anthem complete with an 8 duck flyover! Dick, Dave, and Erik were in the early wave while Travis, Matt, and I were in later waves. (Only Matt was not finished by the time I started). Matt and I hung out until he had to go then it was just me, luckily Kelly was there to keep me company. They finally called my age group to the swim warm up. It is funny to see complete strangers pair up to zip up each others wetsuits. I got a quick warm up swim in and then waited for out wave to start. Swim 750 meters 14:33 1:46/100 This was my first deep water start (no run in from a beach) but we had practiced them in Michelles Wed night OWS workouts so I was prepared for it. What I was not prepared for was the guy in front of my doing a dolphin kick into my stomach as the horn sounded. I had though I had given him enough room to get vertical but must have misjudged it. I recovered quickly and started swimming with the 130 others is my AG. There were spectators lined up cheering us on but all I could hear was the sound of arms hitting the water and my own breathing. The course was shaped like a candy cane with the hook on the right. There were lots of buoys to sight on and I was able to catch some feet to draft behind. I got to the turn and figured I was almost done but then saw that the finishing shoot was still what seemed like .5 miles away!! I kept swimming and finally reached the exit ramp and starting grabbing the volunteers arms to pull myself up. Had no idea of my time but I felt like the swim had gone well and happy to be out of the water! T1 2:21 T1 started with a long run down a shoot and then turned to the tran area. I ran the first part before pulling my wetsuit to my waist. I quickly found my State of Georgia flag and then my bike. I noticed most of the bikes in my AG area were gone so knew I had some catching up to do. Wetsuit off and helmet and sunglasses on then ran my bike out. I heard Kelly cheering for which gave me a boost. Bike 20K 31:46 23.5 mph (+2:00 Penalty) Got to the mount line and on my bike quickly, there were two 90 degree turns before we got on the main part of the course so I waited to put my feet into my shoes until then. I got the right foot in easily but had trouble with my left. There was a lot of bikes one the course in front of me so I was passing them at the same time. Finally got my left foot in and noticed there was a bike right in front of me so I passed him quickly. The first 3+ miles was a gradual climb to a 180 turn around. I was moving really well and made the turn and headed back to the race venue. It was mostly down hill so I was flying for the next 3 miles. The second part of the course was a long climb on the freeway over a bridge. It seemed fairly easy but I was still passing a lot of bikes. I got to the second 180 turnaround and had to brake hard as it was really tight. I started climbing back up towards the bridge. Since this part of the course was on a freeway we were not able to pre ride it and that hurt me as I took the last climb too easy and was not able to take advantage of the decent like I need too. It was almost as if the course was too short. I gave up some time that I could have used later on. As you turned back into the tran area you again had to make too 90 degree turns before dismounting. My flying dismount went smoothly and I ran into T2. (I still have no clue why I was penalized. I have never gotten one before. I was very nervous about getting a penalty at this race because as a slow swimmer and a fast biker I usually have to deal with a lot of bike traffic. Since I was one of the last waves I knew the course would be crowded so I studied all the rules.. maybe I jinxed myself!) T2 1:15 Ran my bike in and quickly racked it. Slipped my shoes on then grabbed my Garmin watch and my head band to put on during the run out. Kelly yelled to me that I was 49 minutes into the race so I knew IH da to have a strong run to get to my goal time. Run 5K 20:54 6:43min/mile The run course was a stick and then a loop. I felt good coming in off the bike and was running well. I was passed by two guys in my age group who I had passed on the last part of the bike but Iet them go as I wanted to stick to my run plan. The stick ran parallel to Lake Michigan so I thought we would have a nice cooling breeze but no such luck. I got to the first aid station and had the volunteer dump a water on me then grabbed another to pour over my head. As I started to pour I realized it was Gatorade and tried to stop but ended up dumping it in face, not good! I turned off the stick and onto the loop. The 3rd half mile was a false flat so it was slower than I wanted so I increased my pace. It was then that I heard Dick yelling at me from the other side of the loop. It gave me an extra boost. I spotted a guy in my AG up ahead wearing a speedo and sporting surfer hairdo. Not wanting to have that image ahead of me any longer I increased my pace to pass him. At around the 2 mile mark we turned back towards the finish and I saw the two guys who had passed me early on in the run. I my goal was catch them. (I have been running the new Baxter run course, which is 3.2 miles, with Michelle and Dave every Wed night and we always seem to run the last mile very fast, well they just increase their conversation pace while I try to hold on, so I knew I could run the last mile pretty fast.) I slowly started reeling them in and at one point as I passed another she told me great run, I told her you too to which she replied stop talking and catch those two guys (one of the awesome things about this sport is the way we support each other). With about .5 miles to go I was right on their heels, and then I hear Matt, Dave and Dick screaming and cheering for me. They had surmised what was going on and were yelling for me to catch the two guys. I pulled shoulder to shoulder with one we were on the heels of the other when I hear Matt yell Lets go McConkey, this is gut check time, are their guts bigger than your ball? Seriously, did I just hear what I thought I heard? I am still running shoulder to shoulder and hear the guy snicker and then he took off as did the guy in front of us. Guts and Balls. Previous to this year when I would get passed on the run late in a race I would capitulate and let them go. My mind would make great excuses, bad knees,old age, cant run fast etc... this year I have flipped that switch. I have had some great training runs with Matt, Dave, Dick, Sara, Jackie and Michelle and I have learned that I can run fast. I increased my pace and stayed in contact with them, I was about 5 yards behind them as we turned for the final 100 yards. I just ran as fast as I could and started to catch them. I was right behind then when we hit the red finishing carpet and raced by them to the finish line. Guts and Balls!!! Finish 1:10:50 (officially 1:12:50 with penalty) I grabbed a water, got a wet cold towel and my finisher medal and head out to find everyone. I saw Kelly and Amanda right away then the rest of the crew found us. Dick gave me my splits and placing. I was very happy to finish in the 1:10s and my run split was only 30 seconds off my 5k PR! We headed back to the hotel and cleaned up then went back so Matt and Travis could claim their Worlds spots and we could get our gear/bikes out of transition. Unfortunately, I had wiped of my race number tattoos (which I was quite proud of doing as every one who raced the oly the day before had lots of trouble getting theirs off) and that is how security was checking the bikes out. Luckily Kelly had a race photo of me on her phone that showed my number on me so they let me take my bike. Lessoned learned. Final thoughts I did not qualify for Worlds, I knew I had to overcome the swim heavy and bike short course. The last qualifier in the 50 to 54 AG was only 1:40 faster than me. (even though I raced in the 45 to 49 AG, because I turn 50 in 2015 when Worlds are held I qualify in that AG) I out biked and out ran him but he outswam me by almost 4 minutes! So if I participate again I will need to get my swim time down! This was such a great experience. Racing against some of the fast triathletes in the country is an eye opener but it makes me want work harder. Sharing this great hobby/passion with great friends made the experience even more memorable. It was great to have Kelly join me on this trip to share the adventure and my success. I asked her what her thoughts were and she mentioned how surprising it was to see so many 70+ AG athletes competing. Then remarked that when Matt would be racing in my age group I would be one of those 70+ AGers. That is still 2 decades away but who knows what the future holds. Gut and Balls! Guts and Balls!!
Posted on: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 21:14:49 +0000
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