My First Biathlon
I thought it was a crazy idea when Yaniv wanted me to sign up for a Biathlon. I can barely run 3 miles. I've biked 20 miles with Yaniv, but not preceeded and followed by running! But, I'm willing to try anything, so I signed up for the 20th Annual Central Park Biathlon which was held at 7:30 am on October 9, 2005 (yesterday). This biathlon consisted of a 2 mile run (1 mile out and 1 mile back to the transition area), a 12 miles bike ride (2 loops around Central Park) and then another 2 mile run.
On Saturday, October 8th, it was raining like crazy and I didn't want to be soaked at the race, so my friend Natalie went with me to get some athletic gear. I bought all sorts of Under Armour shorts, jackets, beanies, etc. Under Armour stuff is expensive, but it's good stuff - it wicks away the moisture from your body and keeps you cool and dry.
So I woke up at 4:30 am to get ready, because Yaniv was coming by at 5:30 am. We car pooled to NYC. I got up and Yaniv told me to eat half a bagel with some jam. I didn't have either, so I had a whole wheat pita with some ketchup in it. :-) I know, it's not the same thing, but I figured the jam was important because it had sugar and ketchup has sugar, so maybe that'd be good??
We drove to NYC and parked the car and then biked to the race location. I racked my bike, put on my bib and bike number and went to the bathroom. I was pretty nervous because everyone looked like they knew what they were doing. I was sure I'd come running in the bike exit or biking in the runner's exit and get DQ'd.
The first run wasn't too bad except that the first half of it was uphill. I got back from the run, took off my Under Armour jacket and hopped on my bike. I have cages instead of clipless pedals, so my transition was pretty quick. I took off out of there and to my surprise I was passing people like crazy. NOBODY passed me on the bike. If they did, it wasn't for very long. I passed at least 20 people on the bike. I was really happy with my bike performance.
One dude on the bike kept yelling "On your right!", but I'd look back and he'd be behind me like 1/4 mile. Eventually, I left him in the dust. The other thing that was funny on the bike was that I started getting cocky and I would pull up close to another rider and start panting like I was out of breath. It was a little mind game to let them think they were getting beat by a rider who was about to collapse, but at just the right moment, I would power past them and leave them way behind. I kicked ass on the bike.
The second run was not fun. When I got back from the bike ride, I squeezed some power Gu into my mouth and washed it down with Accelerade. I wasn't liking that at all. I was spitting viscous saliva for the rest of the race. Near the end of the first mile out on the second run, I started to lose some steam. I had to stop jogging and walk for a bit. I guess a cyclist who had seen me pass his ass noticed I was doggin the run and decided to take corrective action. He started yelling at me, "Come on man. Move your ass! Pick up the pace." This totally motivated me and I started running again, maybe at a 8:30 pace or so. It really helped a lot. I'm not sure who said it, but I want to thank that guy. When I had about 1/2 a mile left, I saw Yaniv and John Gambino on the course running up to meet me. They ran the last 1/2 mile with me and provided motivational encouragement. I had a great time.
Later that day, I went to go piss and my kidneys hurt. I drank some water and when I went to piss again, they still hurt. I called Yaniv and he put his brother on who is or is becoming a doctor. He assured me I wasn't going to die, so I kept drinking water for the rest of the day and I was ok.
My time was 1:23:51.9 - not bad for my first biathlon.
20th Annual Central Park Biathlon - Bib # 293
Central Park - NYC
October 9, 2005
First Run: 18:58.8 (Place: 178)
Bike (Including both transitions): 45:12.3 (Place: 125)
Second Run: 19:40.7 (Place: 171)
Overall Place: 145/255
Age Place: 23/32
Gender Place: 119/176
Complete Results
...and I'm Just Getting Started.
On Saturday, October 8th, it was raining like crazy and I didn't want to be soaked at the race, so my friend Natalie went with me to get some athletic gear. I bought all sorts of Under Armour shorts, jackets, beanies, etc. Under Armour stuff is expensive, but it's good stuff - it wicks away the moisture from your body and keeps you cool and dry.
So I woke up at 4:30 am to get ready, because Yaniv was coming by at 5:30 am. We car pooled to NYC. I got up and Yaniv told me to eat half a bagel with some jam. I didn't have either, so I had a whole wheat pita with some ketchup in it. :-) I know, it's not the same thing, but I figured the jam was important because it had sugar and ketchup has sugar, so maybe that'd be good??
We drove to NYC and parked the car and then biked to the race location. I racked my bike, put on my bib and bike number and went to the bathroom. I was pretty nervous because everyone looked like they knew what they were doing. I was sure I'd come running in the bike exit or biking in the runner's exit and get DQ'd.
The first run wasn't too bad except that the first half of it was uphill. I got back from the run, took off my Under Armour jacket and hopped on my bike. I have cages instead of clipless pedals, so my transition was pretty quick. I took off out of there and to my surprise I was passing people like crazy. NOBODY passed me on the bike. If they did, it wasn't for very long. I passed at least 20 people on the bike. I was really happy with my bike performance.
One dude on the bike kept yelling "On your right!", but I'd look back and he'd be behind me like 1/4 mile. Eventually, I left him in the dust. The other thing that was funny on the bike was that I started getting cocky and I would pull up close to another rider and start panting like I was out of breath. It was a little mind game to let them think they were getting beat by a rider who was about to collapse, but at just the right moment, I would power past them and leave them way behind. I kicked ass on the bike.
The second run was not fun. When I got back from the bike ride, I squeezed some power Gu into my mouth and washed it down with Accelerade. I wasn't liking that at all. I was spitting viscous saliva for the rest of the race. Near the end of the first mile out on the second run, I started to lose some steam. I had to stop jogging and walk for a bit. I guess a cyclist who had seen me pass his ass noticed I was doggin the run and decided to take corrective action. He started yelling at me, "Come on man. Move your ass! Pick up the pace." This totally motivated me and I started running again, maybe at a 8:30 pace or so. It really helped a lot. I'm not sure who said it, but I want to thank that guy. When I had about 1/2 a mile left, I saw Yaniv and John Gambino on the course running up to meet me. They ran the last 1/2 mile with me and provided motivational encouragement. I had a great time.
Later that day, I went to go piss and my kidneys hurt. I drank some water and when I went to piss again, they still hurt. I called Yaniv and he put his brother on who is or is becoming a doctor. He assured me I wasn't going to die, so I kept drinking water for the rest of the day and I was ok.
My time was 1:23:51.9 - not bad for my first biathlon.
20th Annual Central Park Biathlon - Bib # 293
Central Park - NYC
October 9, 2005
First Run: 18:58.8 (Place: 178)
Bike (Including both transitions): 45:12.3 (Place: 125)
Second Run: 19:40.7 (Place: 171)
Overall Place: 145/255
Age Place: 23/32
Gender Place: 119/176
Complete Results
...and I'm Just Getting Started.
posted by Jon at
1:21 PM
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