Race Report: Montclair Triathlon

The Montclair Triathlon, a long spring/short Oly was a race scheduled on the Team Z calendar…and since it fell on my birthday I thought it would be a fun way to start the day. After all, I would FINALLY (for my fourth race this season) actually be the age the body markers would write on my calf! The race was also nice and local – only a 30-minute drive from home. So what’s not to like?

My kids were dragged out of bed before the crack of dawn to accompany me to this race. They were so excited. (Not!) It was nice having ‘help’ carting my stuff to the race site since we had to park nearly 2 miles away. Actually, we were a bit closer because we parked at an elementary school on our way and it made for a shorter walk. And once we got there they were awake enough to 'enjoy' the morning.

Arriving at the race site I went up to packet pick up while the boys watched my bike and other stuff. Finally got my race numbers and other junk and went to get set up. We promptly found the Team Z area, which was very hard to miss! And green was everywhere, by the way, which was so awesome! Found my spot in transition and got organized there, too. Time to wait for the start…which was not to long of a wait, either.

Swim: 21:12

The water temp was 84 degrees, so no wetsuits. I was fine with that as I always figure any time I might make up on the swim using the wetsuit is probably lost (who knows?) during T1. Note for the next tri without wetsuits is to use my smaller Team Z tri top as the one I used was a bit loose. I thought I felt it dragging actually! The swim went well but I did have a bit of a foggy goggle problem that I stopped to correct. I also went a bit wide on the return so I had to angle back in to finish. But the water temperature was wonderful and the lake while a bit murky seemed clean enough to me. No hydrilla or anything of the sort!

T1: 2:24 - So much better than when I struggle with a wetsuit!

Bike: 1:04:22 – I was aiming for 1:15:00-ish (based on my normal rides) so this was great!

I got out of transition okay, had to go up a steep grassy hill to get to the street where my one rear water bottle filled with Heed promptly launched itself off. The guy behind me got it for me. Thanks, dude! Walked up to the mount line and was off. It is always so awesome to bike up a nice little hill right out of transition! Well, they cannot help it if the lake/swim is at the bottom of the hill. It was not too bad. Anyway, I made it out to the main part of the course, which was 3 loops of rolling hills all along one street - kind of an out and back - before heading back to the side street and then to transition. A couple of the hills were hard enough (for me) where I had to go into my easiest gear. Some were not too bad and I could use the big ring. All in all, it was a pretty nice course and I had a really fun ride. I only saw one rider disobey the rules and go outside the cones when he passed someone on the right. Bad rider… On the last part of the third loop I tried to ‘spin’ more to help my legs in transition. I have to say, that downhill into transition was ‘fun’! I managed to stop and not fall, so that is a plus…then down another grassy hill past some Z’ers to my spot. Yay!

T2: 1:30 – much better even than T1!

Run: 50:40

In transition I did my shoe swap and helmet to hat swap then grabbed my other water bottle of Heed and was off on the run. Back up that steep grassy hill to the street and back up that steep hill for the first loop of the course. I made it as far as a Team Z cheerleader (Michele) and had to walk! I walked to the driveway with the family and picked up the pace again. I chugged along as usual and was enjoying the run for the most part. I was getting passed a lot, but that is normal for me. Harriet was having a good run and flew by me – she looked great as did many others. I did have to walk again on the main drag up a part of one hill. I took some water at the water stops, as well. Turned off the main drag and made it to the golf course entrance to loop back around. I saw the finish but could not figure out where to go for lap 2 until I was practically on top of it. I saw a couple Z’ers that had finished and they showed me. Off the path into the woods and it was a steep downhill and covered with leaves. I was really hoping I did not fall it was so steep! Finally down at the bottom and to the back of transition to that steep grassy uphill to the street to start lap 2. Same story – I chugged along till I reached the Team Z cheerleader, Michele again, where I walked – again to the family in their driveway. I continued along and the second loop seemed to go a little easier for me. I think I was finally warmed up. On this loop I actually passed a few people myself. Again I took a bit of water…everyone was so friendly! The second loop really was easier. My legs worked fine out of transition, too – no heaviness or cramping! (This is always a plus!) Also, this time I did not have the tingly feet issue either. I had loosened my shoes at Eagleman and they were still tied in the same manner, so maybe that helped.

Total time: 2:20:07 – this was great. I had a goal time of 2:30:00, so I was very happy! Overall I was 12 of 18 women in my age group.

After the race I met up with my kids and we wandered down to the Team Z tents for some refreshments. Hot dogs at 9:40AM – you bet! And a Diet Coke – of course. Right Priscilla? My younger son saw a kid from another high school that he ran against in cross country and track…and he is again inspired to do a triathlon but wants to wait until he finishes high school. He did however think the idea of doing a really with his mom would be fun… We are thinking of the Luray Oly in August. So, I will do the swim/bike portions and he will do the run...he has never done a 10K and would like to try it. By then he will be well enough into his cross country training to have no problem with it. My older son is not quite ready to tri…he says he is too out of shape…maybe one day he will be inspired to train for a race though!

My final note: the weather I thought was just about perfect for a summer race. Overcast and a teeny bit cool, by summer standards. It was humid but I did feel good during the run, not overheated in the least. And as always, the Team Z support was fantastic! It is so much fun to see so much GREEN all over the place - be it in the form of people racing or cheering! Thanks also to the gals manning the grill. What a great start to a birthday!