Monday, June 30, 2008

Danskin Photos

For pictures of this year's Danksin, visit my photo album at brandycohen.myphotoalbum.com , under June 2008: Danskin Tri

2008 Danskin Time Splits

COHEN, BRANDY Bib #1112 F 30-34

Overall Rank: 104 of 1611
Class Rank: 25 of 194
Swim: 00:03:41
Swim Rank:0 (didn't get a swim rank cuz they changed the course)
Trans1: 00:02:00
Bike: 00:39:01
Bike Rank: 263
MPH: 15.3
Trans2: 00:02:01
Run: 00:26:12
Run Rank: 93
Pace: 00:08:27
Final: 01:12:58

Ramblings on Tri

My mentor, Sharon, wrote me today to tell me good job. Thanks to her email I knew the times were posted. All in all I did do a good job. There is always room for improvement, or why else would we subject ourselves to three sports in one race??!! I don't know. My friend, Kelly, asked me on Saturday why I do triathlon, and all I could think to say is "It's hard". How does one explain why one does triathlon? There is a t-shirt at cafepress.com that says: "If you have to ask, you wouldn't understand." Honestly, I don't know why I like tri. It's challenging. It's technical. It pushes me. Tri exposes the weak parts of me and my mental and emotional mind. It's fun. It's different. I don't get bored with one sport. I love the community and I love my CWW team! I love my mentor, Sharon, and coach , Yoli. They are both (as are ALL of the women of CWW) strong, tough, amazing women who encourage me to be the best I can be--even when I am extremely hard on myself. I tri becacuse I can. I tri because most people don't. :)

Ok, enough for now. Later I will post my results. :) 8:26 minute miles!!

Sunday, June 29, 2008

2008 Danskin Sprint Triathlon

The day I have waited for, for a year, finally came--a chance to beat the hell out of my time at the 2007 Danskin. Last week I did a rehearsal and knew I was on track to do well (over last year). I got up at 315 or 330am (can't remember---still sleeping!) and packed the car, ate some oatmeal, got my water bottle with drink mix ready. I put on my CWW team tri suit, covered up with some long work out pants and a jacket with a hood. At 410am I was on my way to Aurora Reservoir for 2008 Danskin. I ended up getting there about 450am, unpacked my car, and walked with a fellow Danskin triathlete to the transition area. We were there nice and early so we got a great spot, really close to transition. Granted, we had to sacrifice hours of sleep, but hey---whatever it takes to get out of transition faster! Transition was soooo full last year, but that was not the case for a while this year. My new friend and I were both surprised at how long it took people to get there and get set up. So I was standing around, wondering how best to use the 2 hours until my wave blasted off. Alicia (?? can't remember her name now) and I took a walk down to the water, talked to some people about the course, felt the water, and walked back to our area. Then I decided to do a 1.5 mile jog to warm up including some stretches. Next I squeeeeeeezed into my wetsuit! Whew! That is a job! It is hard to get all of the air pockets out of it, and get it up your arms and legs enough. I was tired already!

So the wetsuit finally got zipped up and off to the water we went. (Yes, I learned to pee IN my wetsuit. Sorry to all of you who think it's gross. It sucks more to have to pee and have to stop all of the time at the port-o-potty at every transition.) This year the course was modified. Instead of 800 meters, it was only 400 meters. I heard that the water was deemed too cold (ok, I didn't think so, but hey....) to do a full 800 meters. Honestly, the swim portion felt like a joke. It cheated all the people whose best leg is the swim! And it interfered with me figuring out how much I had truly improved over last year. Anyway.....

So I got out of the water and my watch said something ridiculous like 3 minutes 50 seconds, so my watch may have been accidentally stopped in the water--I don't know. Needless to say, I did not trust my watch the entire tri and didn't keep my own splits due to that reading. It was nice not feeling like I had to remember to start and stop the watch, though.

when I got out of the water, stripped off my goggles, swim cap, and started getting my wetsuit pulled down, I ran into Mom and John. They were in transition! They came over to my transition area and asked me if I needed help. That was sweet, but I told them no. Talk about getting disqualified!

Then it was off on the bike! CRAP!! I got into the right area to get on my bike, but I couldn't get my damn shoe clipped in. That's not a strange happening, I was just pissed that it was eating time! Oh, before I keep blabbing, the bike course was also changed!!!! 10 miles instead of 12, and new roads. I didn't like the new course at all. Partly because I am not comfortable making a lot of turns yet, and partly because I was mentally prepared for last year's course. I passed some people and tried to stay strong. We'll see what the clock says. I hope I averaged at least 15 mph. There were alot of hills, though. I passed people instead of being passed all of the time. That was a nince treat!

So finally I got off of the bike and to transition 2. I had to pee---so I got all of my running gear on, and off to the port-o-potty. There are pictures of me coming out of it I guess.

The run was pretty good, surprisingly. I told myself to imagine that I was out for a nice jog, relaxed, calm, easy pace. It worked for a bit, then I was tired and wanted to walk. BUT I DIDN'T! In fact, I ran the whole 3.1 miles and I finished strong.

Looking forward to seeing the splits.

That's it. No funny story this year.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Danskin 2008 Rehearsal

Today was the full length (and then some) Danksin Sprint Triathlon rehearsal. We swam 800 meters, rode 12 miles and ran 4.05 miles (it was supposed to be 3.1 miles but it got miscalculated). I am pleased with my results as they are improved over my race times from last year. Next Sunday is the actual race and I anticipate on improving again.

Last years splits
Swim: 18:02
T1: 5:04 (no wetsuit)
Bike 59:30 (12.1 mph)
T2: 2:55
Run 38:13
Total: 2:03:45

Today's rehearsal splits
Swim: 15:35:80 (I anticipate this to be down in the 14:00 range on Sunday as I swam off course fairly far twice and it cost me a lot of time)
T1: 3:24:41 (with wetsuit)
Bike: 48.17.11 (I anticipate this improving a few minutes as well. We were riding with cars and I had to stop once before I could turn because there were a few cars passing. I almost bit it right there by the cars, too, that sucked. Additionally, I was tired and so on the last half I didn't go as hard as I was going. Had I maintained pace, I would have done it in about 42 minutes. I am hoping for 45 or 46 minutes on Sunday.)
T2: (had to find a bathroom and then stop to pee--TIME KILLER--but I couldn't pee in the water earlier!!): 4:09:38
Run: (this was 4.05 miles, not 3.1 as in the race last year): 40:07:24, WHICH MEANS my pace is about 10 minutes per mile, so on Sunday I expect that I will pull down 10 minute miles, or better if my body feels good and my attitude isn't shit.)
Total: 1:52:30

So, if you take off a 10 minute mile, that's 1:42:30, which is about a 20 minute difference over last year. Not bad!