« Race Report and What Lies Ahead | Main | Back to the Long Course »
October 1, 2006
I Am NOT a Cheater!
So the official results of the race yesterday were up this morning and I was very pleased to see my splits but NOT so pleased to see I had garnered myself a 2 minute penalty!! What the ?!?!?!?!?!!! Although I can't be sure I think it has to do with the fact that when I was coming into T2 one of my cycling shoes fell off the pedal (my foot was already out of the shoe) and that is apparently grounds for a penalty per USA Triathlon. Of course my sarcastic coach keeps telling me they caught me drafting on the bike (which is also a penalty) but I know I wasn't drafting and even if I was there weren't any officials out on the course to see me. What's up with that?! :)
Anyway, my splits:
swim 23:21
T1 3:12 (there was a long run up to the transition area thus the long transition time)
bike 1:06:38
T2 :54
run 38:52
And so of course the first thing I thought (before I saw I got a penalty) was that the 10K course was short. 38:52?! I mean I felt good but I don't know if I felt that good. Definitely seems a little fishy but after some more thought I decided to believe that it really was the full distance because I know I am capable of running that and that's just how I'm gonna look at it. If I'm going to be good at this sport I need to be able to kick some butt in "my" sport. 38:52 isn't kicking butt but it's getting there. Then I'll worry less about taking 5 minutes off my swim time. :)
So the good news for the day is that I can swim this week during my "off" week. I really don't feel like taking the whole week off and so swimming 3 days was the compromise. It's kind of hard to explain - the sport of triathlon is a very tough sport, the training is hard and time consuming, the races are just as tough. Triathletes are a different breed - even different than their close relative the distance runner. Triathletes are very tough birds (not that runners aren't of course!). BUT the training just doesn't seem to beat you up as much as full time running (and that's why you can do so much more of it). I might change my tune in a couple years but for now my body feels better than it ever has after a tough season of training and competing. After a cross country or track season I would have so many aches and pains I could not WAIT for that week or two off to let my body heal. And I would be really tired. But now I'm feeling pretty good. And so a little swimming this week and then add in the other stuff next week and then we'll be good to go. I'm looking forward to the pool tomorrow morning. I haven't been to the masters swim for almost 2 weeks!
Summary for last week:
Sunday - Great Race 10K (39:15)
Monday - 22 miles easy cycling
Tuesday - 2500 yd swim w/5x(200,100) in am, 16 miles cycling/4 miles running brick in pm, 2x25 pushups, 2x100 crunchers
Wednesday - 16 miles cycling w/4x1:30 race pace effort, core/feet exercises
Thursday - 2600 yd swim w/2x(400,300,200,100) in am, 45 minute run w/4x1:30 up-tempo in pm, 2x25 pushups, 2x100 crunchers
Friday - 1000 yd swim in am w/5x25 yd accelerations, about 8 miles cycling/1 mile running at race site
Saturday - Smallwood Olympic Distance Triathlon - 1500 m swim, 40K bike, 10K run (2:12:56 or 2:14:56 if you choose to acknowledge my 2 minute penalty :)
Posted by beth at October 1, 2006 7:12 PM
Comments
Great going Beth! The really bad news would have been if with the penalty you would have not come in first. But I take it you still won even with a 2 minute penalty? :-) Well... 38:52 is a jolly nice 10K time... the best is yet to come...
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at October 2, 2006 6:43 AM
I know you would not intentionally cheat but the penalty may be valid...
5.7 Dismounting.
A participant may dismount, but shall not interfere with other cyclists. A violation of this Section, which does not also constitute a violation of Section 5.5, shall result in a variable time penalty.
5.5 Endangerment.
No cyclist shall endanger himself or another participant. Any cyclist who intentionally presents a danger to any participant or who, in the judgment of the Head Referee, appears to present a danger to any participant shall be disqualified.
but i think you did an awesome job... rules are there just to make the sport safer...
Posted by: Kranky C Dale at October 2, 2006 9:22 AM
Congratulations, especially on your win and fabulous 10k time. I would think that they would list why you got a penalty so you could learn from your "mistake."
Posted by: Caitlin at October 2, 2006 10:34 AM
What an awesome first season!!! The focus on Olys and the pro card is a good choice. Can't wait to see you getting faster. Great to see such excitement from the youngsters in the sport.
Posted by: Eric at October 3, 2006 9:04 AM
Read this recently on Active.com. Looks like they really have the radar out on drafting. One official responded that he was writing penalties as fast as he could. It looks like the slightest hint of drafting will get you a penalty.
http://active.com/story.cfm?story_id=13564&category=Triathlon&num=0
Try not to let it discourage you. Your doing great.
Posted by: Lance at October 3, 2006 11:41 AM
Way to go Beth!!!
I agree it is very odd that they didn't tell you why you got a penalty. How do they expect you not to do it again?
I also love your next post. I, too, love to train!!
Posted by: barb at October 3, 2006 4:38 PM