Black Diamond Triathlon
70.3 Race Report
August 14th,
2021. This was my sixth official half distance race. I did my own 70.3 race
back in 2018 and would make this my 7th OA. Black Diamond Triathlon
was my third race of this year and I’m not done yet!
The air
quality leading up to the race was not good due to wildfires and the smoke
coming into the region. The race director was praying she would not have to
cancel the race but on race morning the air was clearer and the race went on!
The swim was
two diamond shaped loops for the half in Deep Lake at Nolte Park. Water was
cooler than up north and lower elevation and they advised wetsuits, which was
fine by me. At the start I let everyone go and start at the back so not to get
run over. Nothing is worse than trying to swim with adrenaline and having
someone swim over you and your head goes under more than you like! So, I start
at the back now with one of the lessons that have been learned in my years of racing.
At least for me who does not consider myself as a very strong swimmer.
Before
getting to the far end of the lake to circle back to staging area, I felt
great! I seem to not push myself as much as I should when swimming so I told myself
to push harder this time. I came out of the water at 41:13 for the 1.2 miles.
My average moving pace was 1:58/100yd. Very happy with this especially since I
have not been doing any pool work with speed sessions. Only open water
distance.
Always happy
to get on my bike I tried to calm my heart rate down from the excitement and settle
for 10 minutes prior to eating anything. My plan for nutrition was like CDA IM.
Every 10 minutes drink. Every 20 minutes eat. I felt well nourished hydrated in
the hot weather. It really didn’t get to hot yet by the time I was on the second
biking loop. I made a biking friend who we would for the first 10 miles pass each other on a hill or downhill.
After that she pulled ahead and we would cheer each other on at passing after she
did a turn-a-round a mile a head of me. I never saw her again after the last turn-a-round
thinking she was only doing the aqua-bike and did not run.
I tried to
be conservative on the first loop and pushed it a little more on the second.
There was over 2300 feet of elevation and I have some work to do to get better
on hills. My legs and hamstrings did start to get sore towards the end and keeping
in mind I still had to run, I tried to be smart and not kill myself on those
hill. Time was 3:16 for 56 miles. Not the under 3:00 that I have as a goal but I’m
good with it with how my body felt.
Then off the
bike and onto the run. I was going to see if my legs could run after that and
walk if needed. I ran out of transition and keep going. I wasn’t sure of the
elevation of the 13.1 miles but keeping in mind to run the downhills and walk
if needed on the ups. It was getting hot! It was in the mid to upper 80’s at
the end.
Their was a
guy who ran out of transition ahead of me and we seemed to have the same pace. He
was a chatty guy. He even chatted and made funny comments on the bike segment
too. I saw that he and another guy had the same top on and saw that it was a
countdown to a world record. His name is Sam and his brother is Billy. They
are doing 25 half distance, 70.3’s, in one year! (1.2 mile swim. 56 mile bike. 13.1 mile run) They were flying down to
Arizona that night to race in another the next day! Follow them at @iron.fam on
Instagram!
We ran and
walked together for the first 6 miles then he had to walk more and I had a pace
that I could not stop. With three porta potty stops and a little walking on
hills, I kept up that pace and chugged on like a little engine. The first half
was on road and then we came back to the park for four loops around the lake on
gravel/packed dirt. A little hilly but had the trees to keep use all shaded. Elevation gain for the run as 585 ft. The
first loop around the lake was hard and took
forever searching for the start of the next loop. Then each one got easier and
faster. I don’t think I have ever stopped that much at aid station and
porta-potties at a race that much, with the exception of CDA IM. Run time
was 2:41:17. One of my slowest half marathons. Thinking as I was driving home,
I may have eaten too much on the bike. Another lesson learned.
Final time
was 6:45 and average HR was 158. I have some work to do for the next 5 weeks
leading up to Ironman 70.3 Washington on September 19th.
My feet did
great! I wore different socks than I had been wearing and I’m happy I did. I’m
going back to my socks I wore for my first races. And I Never Got My Feet Wet! The only mishap was the small
sponge they gave us with ice to carry or place in hat/kit/bra or wherever. I
put it right in my bra and it chaffed me terribly! Don’t know if it was the sponge
itself or when it dried and the friction gave me the rash! I still love the wet
sponge for hot days though!
The Raise The
Bar Team that put on Black Diamond Triathlon was fantastic. Great volunteers!
Some of them raced AND volunteered while cheering on everyone! I recommend this
race to anyone, from beginner to seasoned athlete. They had a sprint, Olympic and
the long course, which I did. Even Aquabike (no run) or Duathlon (no swim) and
relay.
I had so
much fun doing this race. I came down to an unfamiliar area alone without anyone
with me and made some friends and raced in pretty country. I took away some
things that I can build from for my next adventures and a learning experience
for my own life. I am strong and can do hard things. I know that I have more in
me and am on the course to find the way to tap into that.
Thanks for
reading and following me on my adventures! Next two races are in September!
Stronger Every
Day!
Sheryl Perales.
