The weather conditions were favorable for PRs with sunny skies in the morning giving way to clouds, temps in the low 60’s and light rain for a brief period. So would I best my PR of 2:41:16 set in 2006? I considered setting my watch to count down from 2:41 during the race but in the end I went with with traditional timing approach. This would be my 6th Columbia race and I knew what I was capable of doing and I knew what targets I needed to hit after each leg of the race. To get a PR, I figured I needed a swim time of between 26 and 27 minutes with a T1 that got me on the bike by 30 minutes; a bike time coupled with a T2 that was under 1:20; that would leave me 51 minutes for the 10K. My goal is always to run sub-50 minutes but I’ve only done it once. On to the race.
The Swim (1500M)
I don’t know the water temperature but it was colder than I was expecting. My feet were freezing the entire time. I tried something at the start I’ve never done before. I went out as fast as I could. I was curious and I wanted a fast swim time for me. Before I knew it, my breathing was out of control and my heart was pounding out of my wetsuit. Oh $hit! I was doomed. I tried to slow down but my chest was exploding. I tried switching to a breast stroke. Didn’t work. Damn it! I’ve blown my race not two minutes in to it. Eventually, I did calm down and was able to resume swimming. And soon after I found a nice zone, BAM!, a right roundhouse to the head knocked off my goggles. I grabbed them before they went for their own swim, put ’em on and resumed my charge. A bit later, a left jab connected with my head. This was the most contact I’ve encountered at Columbia. But on I went trying to make up for time lost at the beginning.
Time – 26:18, a swim PR!
T1– an uneventful, and rather slow, 3:20 but it got me on the bike in under 30 minutes.
The Bike (41K)
I went at it from the start, passing some folks along Rte 108 before the turn onto Homewood Rd. I divide the bike course in to 3 segments, the out, the back loop, and the return. The course started to get crowded during the loop section and I was getting frustrated by the number of riders that were attempting to pass in packs. It made me rider harder. I reached the spot that I recall to be the halfway point in about 40 minutes. I knew the second half would be faster and I was hoping to get in under 1:19 and close to my PR of 1:17:19.
I was excited to have reached the Greenbridge Road hill (just after mile 13 as shown on this course map), without being passed by Jellyfish Wheeler, an MMTC member who I finish ahead of in the swim but who seems to pass me at an earlier point each year. Could I hold him off for the entire bike? Was it possible he swam faster than me? Nah. I reached the turn back to Rte 108 and realized I was having a good ride, for me. Back to the park and as I turned left, I heard someone shouting at Jellyfish who must have been on my tail.
Time – 1:17:39 (19.6 mph); only 20 seconds shy of a PR
T2 – 0:57 seconds, woo hoo!
The Run (10K)
As soon as I was on the course, I tried to figure out how much time I had to PR. My watch read 1:48:xx so I knew I had around 52 minutes. And then I tried to calculate a per mile pace. Hey, it took my mind off the first big climb and the fact that Jellyfish passed me soon after. I came up with something between 8:15 and 8:30. The first mile was done in 8:15. Perfect. The second mile just about the same. And then came a couple of big climbs on the back side of Centennial Park and leaving the park. I reached mile 3 in about 25 minutes. Okay, still good. But then came the longer climb between miles 3 and 4. Suddenly, I could really notice the extra weight on my frame as I climbed. As I reached the marker for mile 4, I was no longer sure I could PR. Around the next couple of turns and then the short, steep climb out of the neighborhood. By now, I “knew” I wouldn’t PR. I was toast.
But then comes the best part of the run course. The 1/2 mile that is all downhill as you run back to the park. Mile 5 and my math skills are not as crisp as they were at the beginning of the run. I think I figured I had about 10 minutes left for the final 1.2 miles. Just get up the final hill! I do. Then I stop ever so briefly for a gulp of water. And now I’m eager to finish. I tell myself that if I can’t PR under that day’s conditions then I don’t know what it would take. Looking at my watch during the final half mile, I suddenly think I have a shot at 2:39:xx, a time that has been my ultimate goal for about 3 years. I tell myself that if I push hard enough I might be able to reach it. And if I do…well, that just may be the best I could ever do on this course and I’ll never have to worry about racing it hard again.
Up the final crest and past the 6 mile marker. A PR is in the bag. What about 2:39??? Pushing it to the finish line, I cross and raise my arms.
Time – 51:07 (8:14 pace); the time is just about in the middle of my 6 races.
Overall – 2:39:17 Woo Hoo! (64 of 219 M 40-44; 411 of 1730 finishers)
So now a question remains. Will I race it next year or just complete it? Well, if I lost a few of these extra pounds, and I didn’t freak at the swim start and if I can get out of T1 faster…
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