Race #4- Auburn
World’s Toughest, May 20
|
The only thing flat in this race is
the swim. The title of this race, “World’s Toughest”, is very
fitting! The course is relentless with a bike leg that includes approximately
5000 ft. of climbing over 56 miles and 800 feet of it within the first six! About
43 miles into the course, just when you think you’re not far from the end,
the course turns back on itself for a five mile out-and-back that demands powerful
legs for the false flats and unwavering determination to combat
discouragement. Then at around 48 miles, just when you think the climbing is
over and you’re home-free, you encounter a .4 mile, 12% grade climb, one
which even Greg Lemond was relegated to walking! |
|
The run course description uses
terms such as “climb steeply” to describe its unforgiving terrain that covers
over 1300 ft. of climbing throughout 13.1 miles. Right in the middle of the
run, you climb 400 feet within 1.5 miles (5% grade) with over a quarter of it
on a road called Read the Inside
Triathlon follow up article to learn more about this course and this
year’s pro race! |
|
Sherwick
5:41:07, 5th age-group, 24th overall men |
|
“Overall, I was very pleased with
my performance. I was faster in all three legs but my advantage was lost in
transition!” said Sherwick. “This just goes to show how important transitions
are even in a longer race like a half-ironman! When we originally picked our spots
in T2, we chose to rack in the northern half of the parking lot. This was
because we wanted to be closest to the entrance (to avoid a long run with our
bike in transition). However, it appeared that the bike entrance would also
be open to the southern lot and we were able to grab an end spot as well
which would provide easier access. So with this switch we ended up on the
“Sponge Bob” rack (all the racks were marked with signs featuring famous triathletes
like Simon Lessing and Michellie Jones but we ended up with a cartoon
character). This would be easy to remember, or so I thought! We had been up in As I entered T1, I saw that I eased into the bike and was
pleased to find that I was almost 2 minutes faster up the 800 ft climb than
in training. I was starting to push the pace when I noticed a cyclist in
bright yellow bent over on the side of the road struggling with a flat tire.
A red Cervelo was on its side and I yelled- “ I entered T2 eager for good run. I
was preparing for a smooth dismount but for some reason, could not find my
bright orange transition towel anywhere. The signage of the famous
triathletes was all a blur as I searched in vain for Sponge Bob. Where is Sponge
Bob? After a minute wasted, I realized I was in the wrong lot! After a rejuvenated
transition I was off! My run felt strong and the usual
leg cramps were merely a whimper. But unlike most races where they attack at
around mile two and go away, the twinges of muscle spasms merely threatened
me not push too hard. Not until the first of the two loops were over was I
able to pick up the pace. Perhaps a little too late but I was pleased to reel
in 3 guys in the last 2 miles on the levee. There had also been a fourth in
the same group but he put on a bold surge with 1 mile to go. He was within
sight a quarter mile from the finish but so was the finishing banner. I ran
out of road as he finished just out of reach relegating me to 5th
place in my age-group. Again, my run split was faster than last year, this
time by 50 seconds. But it was the transitions that
killed me! Even though I was 1:45 faster in my swim/bike/run splits, I lost
all but 15 seconds due to poor transitions!” said Sherwick. |
|
Sherwick, happy with his run
But still wants to know “where is Sponge Bob”? |
|
Jami 6:14:24, 1st age-group, 5th
overall women |
|
“I seeded myself on the far outside of the
starting line because there were fewer competitors there and I could
straighten out my line to the first turn buoy. By doing so, I avoided
congestion and found a good draft within the first 500 meters. I settled into
an up-tempo stroke and had straight lines from buoy to buoy clocking a 31:30-
one minute faster than the year prior and a personal record! Once on the bike, I started the six-mile,
800 vertical foot climb into On this 56 mile, undulating bike
course spinning was the-key in managing energy. This tactic paid off later in
the ride at about mile 35 on one of the steepest climbs- a windy 1-mile trek
out of the I rolled into transition and realized
my bike split was 5 minutes faster than the year prior. Things were looking
good, but then came the run… I felt the
usual heaviness and fatigue in my legs as I ventured onto the rough terrain.
I expected the feeling to subside by mile 2, but it didn’t. With two miles
between aid stations, fluids were few and far between which hampered my
energy level. I fought to keep stride up |
|
Jami, happy with her bike
and all the schwag! |
|
Enjoy the ride! –- Team JaS
Special thanks to: |
