A year ago I competed in my first ever triathlon, a sprint distance with friends from the Warsaw International Triathlon Club. At the time it seemed like such a daunting task, and something I thought I'd never do. A part of me thought that it would be my one and only triathlon. I posted a couple stories about how I got tricked into signing up here and my top tips for competing here.
As you know by now, it wasn't my one and only. Since then, I've competed in a short indoor triathlon, a 1/4 Ironman, and am preparing for an Olympic distance this weekend. And a couple weeks ago I competed in the Susz sprint once again, where it all started.
In 2012 there were over 20 of us from WITC that competed in the sprint, most of whom were first timers. This year it was a bit smaller group, but there were still over a dozen of us competing in either the triathlon or the aquathlon (the same race but without the bike part). The best part of the races is the camaraderie and support from our friends, so it was very important to us to have the group there, including supporters. Once a few people decided they'd go, everyone else decided to join in.
Steve, Mark, Ewa and I left for Susz earlier than the other cars, so we could register, walk around the grounds, set up our tents (yea, tents), and hit up the pasta party without having to rush. Along the way there, we drove through Grunwald, and learned a bit about the famous battle of 1410. If you ask Polish people about their knowledge of historical dates, most will remember 1410 above most others (similar to how Americans remember 1776 and 1492, the so-called "discovery" of America by Columbus...even though a discovery of something that other people already knew about and lived in seems ridiculous). This battle in 1410 was the biggest victory of the Polish army, which triggered the decline of the power of the Teutonic Knights and the prosperity of the Polish/Lithuania alliance. We drove right past where the battle took place, and even went to the bathroom at the restaurant next to the battle field. What's the oldest historical spot you've ever peed next to?
Like I mentioned, most of us camped out in tents a few miles away from the start. With our late planning, it was hard to find a decent hotel that would fit all 11 of us comfortably, so we decided to pay just a few bucks to pitch our tents on the grass at Pałac Bałoszyce, a large venue that hosts parties and weddings, among other things. There was a wedding going on that night, so when they saw tents in the yard, and us coming into the building to use the toilets and brush our teeth, they probably thought we were a bunch of hobos. It didn't stop them from enjoying their party til 5 am though. The camping part of the trip was fun, but hearing Disco Polo and drunk people singing all night wasn't so much. And they didn't even invite us to join the party.
The race itself was a little different this year. For starters they must have put something in the lake, because it smelled like a overflowing sewer. I'm not sure if it was actual sewage, or a combination of algae and other junk, but the smell made everyone want to gag. There were also a few really cold patches that smelled extra special, which made me wonder what was happening in there. Hans spoke with the mayor afterwards (I don't know how he pulled that off), and the mayor promised the lake would be clean in 2 years. At least we have that to look forward to (not sure about next year though). I wrote a report for the WITC website, and when asking people for their thoughts on the race, most people commented on the "shitty swim", pun intended. I tried to focus more on the positives, as the race was really pleasant other than that. The running route was also different, in that it was 5.75 km, instead of the standard 5 km. I'm not sure how they're allowed to change the distance of a standard race like that, but everyone agreed it was a more enjoyable run, because it went around the lake, rather than an out-and-back route as it was last year.
The weather was a nice 22 degrees C, warm enough to swim without a wetsuit, but there was a nice cloud cover to keep us cool. Most of us chose to wear the wetsuits, if for nothing else than extra floatation and to have a protective layer against whatever foreign matter was in the water. After a quick warm up, it was time for the race to start. The 11 am start was nice because we didn't have to wake up too early. Just like in every race, the first 200 meters was brutal. Arms and legs were flying, people were grabbing legs and butts and hands, pulling them down to boost themselves forward. Mark elbowed some poor guy in the face (supposedly on accident). Luckily I avoided being kicked in the groin, which caused a lot of trauma last year. Generally I stayed away from the groups, even if it meant slowing down a bit, or going around the packs. I've found that it's harder to swim through those crowds, constantly kicking at arms that grab you, or starting and stopping as those around you cross through your path. It's easier to find a clear lane to allow you to get into a rhythm and just swim. Ideally you could find a slightly faster swimmer to draft behind, but it's hard to find that in the massive crowd. I think that's why the swim times are so variable, and a lot of it has to do with timing and the luck of where you are, more than the biking or running, which doesn't depend as much on your surroundings.
The bike leg was pretty good, and I tried my new SPD pedals and bike shoes (the kind you clip on). It was my first time riding with them, so luckily I didn't fall and was able to clip in pretty quickly. The run was also very pleasant, although I battled a side ache for the first 3 km and couldn't run very fast. I'm pretty sure it was from eating and drinking too much while on the bike. I need to find the right balance of eating/drinking before and during the race to have the proper amount of energy, but not to get side aches. I've always been quick to get a side ache if I ate too recently, even going back to sports in high school. Maybe I should try actually chewing my food.
Just like last year, there were a lot of families along the race route, sitting on lawn chairs, chugging beers, cheering like they know us, and encouraging all the racers. It was great to ride past them and feel a burst of energy. I especially liked riding past the shirtless drunk guy who would stumble back and forth across the street as he probably wondered why all these bicycles were trying to run him over.
Out of our group, Arek finished first, and I came a couple minutes behind him. Igors had a strong run and finished third of our group, ahead of Steve, who finished first among the WITC first-timers. Mark, Martins, and Dominika competed in Susz for the first time and did very well. Hans improved his time from last year by 7 minutes, even though the run was 750 meters longer. I improved by over 4 minutes, even with the extra 750 meters from last year, which I was pleased with. I think everyone was happy with their results, as we were all smiles afterwards. Every race has us eyeing improvements the next time, thinking "if we only did this, if I just went a bit faster, etc etc, we'd be XX number of spots higher in the final rankings".
Vegard, the Norwegian giant had a moment everyone was talking about when he collapsed out of exhaustion at the end of the Aquathlon, because his legs couldn't hold up his enormous body after rumbling to the finish line like an Olympic sprinter. He thought the finish line was 100 meters earlier, so he sprinted to that "finish line" only to find out the real finish line was further away. Ewa also took a bunch of pictures, but since she didn't have a photography "team" like she did in Sieraków, it was harder for her to get as many as she'd like to have. She pleaded that more people come out to support the racers so she doesn't have to work so hard (and maybe it would give her a reason to compete with us instead of just cheering). She also wants us to race in longer races so she has more time to move around during the race (OK, whatever you say).
Since I am sure you are wondering, my times and rankings among the men, comparing this year to last year were:
2012: 1:31:03 (175th overall out of 272), 158th in the swim, 260th in bike (ouch), 110th in run
2013: 1:26:56 (including 750 m longer run - 132nd out of 275), 146th in swim, 160th in bike, 96th in run. Total results here.
Overall it was an improvement across the board, none bigger than the bike leg, thanks to my new road bike, rather than the mountain bike I used last year. I still have a lot of improvement to make in each area, including the transition times. Next year I'd like to finish in the top half of each discipline, which means I'd need to improve my swim and bike. We'll see if there's any improvement this weekend in Ełk (Olympic distance).
And I actually can't wait until I can stop training so much and can start being lazy again (and you don't have to keep hearing about it)!
As you know by now, it wasn't my one and only. Since then, I've competed in a short indoor triathlon, a 1/4 Ironman, and am preparing for an Olympic distance this weekend. And a couple weeks ago I competed in the Susz sprint once again, where it all started.
In 2012 there were over 20 of us from WITC that competed in the sprint, most of whom were first timers. This year it was a bit smaller group, but there were still over a dozen of us competing in either the triathlon or the aquathlon (the same race but without the bike part). The best part of the races is the camaraderie and support from our friends, so it was very important to us to have the group there, including supporters. Once a few people decided they'd go, everyone else decided to join in.
Susz crew 2013
Steve, Mark, Ewa and I left for Susz earlier than the other cars, so we could register, walk around the grounds, set up our tents (yea, tents), and hit up the pasta party without having to rush. Along the way there, we drove through Grunwald, and learned a bit about the famous battle of 1410. If you ask Polish people about their knowledge of historical dates, most will remember 1410 above most others (similar to how Americans remember 1776 and 1492, the so-called "discovery" of America by Columbus...even though a discovery of something that other people already knew about and lived in seems ridiculous). This battle in 1410 was the biggest victory of the Polish army, which triggered the decline of the power of the Teutonic Knights and the prosperity of the Polish/Lithuania alliance. We drove right past where the battle took place, and even went to the bathroom at the restaurant next to the battle field. What's the oldest historical spot you've ever peed next to?
Like I mentioned, most of us camped out in tents a few miles away from the start. With our late planning, it was hard to find a decent hotel that would fit all 11 of us comfortably, so we decided to pay just a few bucks to pitch our tents on the grass at Pałac Bałoszyce, a large venue that hosts parties and weddings, among other things. There was a wedding going on that night, so when they saw tents in the yard, and us coming into the building to use the toilets and brush our teeth, they probably thought we were a bunch of hobos. It didn't stop them from enjoying their party til 5 am though. The camping part of the trip was fun, but hearing Disco Polo and drunk people singing all night wasn't so much. And they didn't even invite us to join the party.
Breakfast at the camp site
The race itself was a little different this year. For starters they must have put something in the lake, because it smelled like a overflowing sewer. I'm not sure if it was actual sewage, or a combination of algae and other junk, but the smell made everyone want to gag. There were also a few really cold patches that smelled extra special, which made me wonder what was happening in there. Hans spoke with the mayor afterwards (I don't know how he pulled that off), and the mayor promised the lake would be clean in 2 years. At least we have that to look forward to (not sure about next year though). I wrote a report for the WITC website, and when asking people for their thoughts on the race, most people commented on the "shitty swim", pun intended. I tried to focus more on the positives, as the race was really pleasant other than that. The running route was also different, in that it was 5.75 km, instead of the standard 5 km. I'm not sure how they're allowed to change the distance of a standard race like that, but everyone agreed it was a more enjoyable run, because it went around the lake, rather than an out-and-back route as it was last year.
The weather was a nice 22 degrees C, warm enough to swim without a wetsuit, but there was a nice cloud cover to keep us cool. Most of us chose to wear the wetsuits, if for nothing else than extra floatation and to have a protective layer against whatever foreign matter was in the water. After a quick warm up, it was time for the race to start. The 11 am start was nice because we didn't have to wake up too early. Just like in every race, the first 200 meters was brutal. Arms and legs were flying, people were grabbing legs and butts and hands, pulling them down to boost themselves forward. Mark elbowed some poor guy in the face (supposedly on accident). Luckily I avoided being kicked in the groin, which caused a lot of trauma last year. Generally I stayed away from the groups, even if it meant slowing down a bit, or going around the packs. I've found that it's harder to swim through those crowds, constantly kicking at arms that grab you, or starting and stopping as those around you cross through your path. It's easier to find a clear lane to allow you to get into a rhythm and just swim. Ideally you could find a slightly faster swimmer to draft behind, but it's hard to find that in the massive crowd. I think that's why the swim times are so variable, and a lot of it has to do with timing and the luck of where you are, more than the biking or running, which doesn't depend as much on your surroundings.
The bike leg was pretty good, and I tried my new SPD pedals and bike shoes (the kind you clip on). It was my first time riding with them, so luckily I didn't fall and was able to clip in pretty quickly. The run was also very pleasant, although I battled a side ache for the first 3 km and couldn't run very fast. I'm pretty sure it was from eating and drinking too much while on the bike. I need to find the right balance of eating/drinking before and during the race to have the proper amount of energy, but not to get side aches. I've always been quick to get a side ache if I ate too recently, even going back to sports in high school. Maybe I should try actually chewing my food.
Successfully staying upright on my bike
Beating an old guy (we both have cool compression socks)
Just like last year, there were a lot of families along the race route, sitting on lawn chairs, chugging beers, cheering like they know us, and encouraging all the racers. It was great to ride past them and feel a burst of energy. I especially liked riding past the shirtless drunk guy who would stumble back and forth across the street as he probably wondered why all these bicycles were trying to run him over.
Out of our group, Arek finished first, and I came a couple minutes behind him. Igors had a strong run and finished third of our group, ahead of Steve, who finished first among the WITC first-timers. Mark, Martins, and Dominika competed in Susz for the first time and did very well. Hans improved his time from last year by 7 minutes, even though the run was 750 meters longer. I improved by over 4 minutes, even with the extra 750 meters from last year, which I was pleased with. I think everyone was happy with their results, as we were all smiles afterwards. Every race has us eyeing improvements the next time, thinking "if we only did this, if I just went a bit faster, etc etc, we'd be XX number of spots higher in the final rankings".
Vegard, the Norwegian giant had a moment everyone was talking about when he collapsed out of exhaustion at the end of the Aquathlon, because his legs couldn't hold up his enormous body after rumbling to the finish line like an Olympic sprinter. He thought the finish line was 100 meters earlier, so he sprinted to that "finish line" only to find out the real finish line was further away. Ewa also took a bunch of pictures, but since she didn't have a photography "team" like she did in Sieraków, it was harder for her to get as many as she'd like to have. She pleaded that more people come out to support the racers so she doesn't have to work so hard (and maybe it would give her a reason to compete with us instead of just cheering). She also wants us to race in longer races so she has more time to move around during the race (OK, whatever you say).
Vegard flying to the finish
Vegard dying at the finish (he was OK afterwards)
We watched the Polish championships later that afternoon, and just
watching how fast they are in the transitions is amazing (I mean, in
addition to how fast they are swimming, biking and running). Most of
them keep their bike shoes attached to the bike the entire time (they
can jump on the bike and slip into the shoes - which are attached to the
bike - in one fluid motion, and they leave the shoes on the bike when
they finish). I, on the other hand, can't even put my shoes on without
sitting my butt on the ground (the clips on my new bike shoes aren't
that easy to handle!). I actually completely forgot to put my shoes on
in this race. I took my bike off the rack and started running before I
realized I was still in socks. I bet the elite guys look at us amateurs
and think "awww, isn't that cute how they actually sit down to put on
their shoes...like I used to do when I was 5 years old".
WITC admiring the elites
Since I am sure you are wondering, my times and rankings among the men, comparing this year to last year were:
2012: 1:31:03 (175th overall out of 272), 158th in the swim, 260th in bike (ouch), 110th in run
2013: 1:26:56 (including 750 m longer run - 132nd out of 275), 146th in swim, 160th in bike, 96th in run. Total results here.
Overall it was an improvement across the board, none bigger than the bike leg, thanks to my new road bike, rather than the mountain bike I used last year. I still have a lot of improvement to make in each area, including the transition times. Next year I'd like to finish in the top half of each discipline, which means I'd need to improve my swim and bike. We'll see if there's any improvement this weekend in Ełk (Olympic distance).
And I actually can't wait until I can stop training so much and can start being lazy again (and you don't have to keep hearing about it)!
I think that most notable difference between this year and last year is the amount of spandex and the compression. It's like you are a real triathlete or something. Congrats Trizzle! Every race is an accomplishment, especially if can complete the in toilet water (disgusting...I hope you didn't get a rash).
ReplyDeleteHahah, I didn't even notice that, but you're right! How did so much spandex get in my closet?
DeleteGreat story, Tristan, and funny as always. just one thing: with such friend...you can kiss those lazy days good bye! ;) Cristina
ReplyDelete