Now in all fairness, I was talking some trash on the Goleta Race, talking about how it was a small local race, and that I'd show the locals how it's done by getting on the podium. But then realization started to set in when on Saturday evening, the night before the race, I was sitting with my mom going over my projected splits, based on my training routines, that obtaining a podium finish was all but a foolish dream. Based on the 2014 Results information, I estimated that I would have to finish under 1:04 live up to the smack talk. However, my breakdown quickly made me realize, that I was in trouble. Here's my pre-race prediction:
1/4 Mile Swim - 8:00
T1 - 2:00
T1 - 2:00
11 Mile Bike - 36:00
T2 - 2:00
2.5 Mile Run - 20:00
Total - 1:08:00
So yeah, I needed to write a pretty big check to cover what my mouth was spitting. After some Trash talking from my mom, about no need to stay late for awards.. yada yada yada... I fell asleep on the couch, only to wake at 4:00 to start getting ready.
RACE MORNING: Getting to the Transition set up at 5:30am to insure a parking spot was easier than I thought, it was one of those mornings where everything fell into place. With a prime spot near the Bike out area, I was determined to have some good transition splits. I opted out of using a wetsuit and instead decided to swim/bike/run in only the tri-kit I was wearing, to save some valuable seconds, because I was going to need second to live up to the dream.
Sound of the horn and we're off, Wave 1, consisting of about 40 athletes in different age groups, and I wanted to get settled into a pace and just survive with some sort of lead pack. At the turn around spot, I had a good line, and was feeling good, I may have gone out a little too fast, but I wasn't going to stop now, no time for rest! Getting out of the water (by my parents estimates about 12th of 13th out of the water) and usually the time where I have a hard time getting into a good run pace to transition, however, since it was a short 1/4 mile swim, I felt good, passing up one of the swimmers while still on the beach running to T1. Officially my swim split was 9:28, already behind schedule!
The Transition to Bike was smoother than I thought, I had strapped my bike shoes to the bike, in order to save time from strapping the shoes on, and then clipping in at the mount line, this way I could do it with a running start and just slide my feet into my shoes once I was out on the bike, again saving valuable seconds, which I desperately needed now. Officially my T1 split was 0:49 seconds, only 9 racers in the sprint triathlon were able to achieve a T1 split under a minute, mine was the 6th fastest.
Since I was in the lead half of the swim group, there wasn't much action for me on the bike, all I could hope to do was not lose any spots on the bike and just maintain momentum. The bike course was flat and quick, where I was able to only get passed by 1 other biker, but I was also able to pass another, so my position was neutral. Officially, my bike split was 32:32, three and a half minutes ahead of my predicted time, and averaging over 20 mph during the bike portion. I had made up some valuable time, however, at what cost to my run.
I was able to slide my feet out of my shoes and jump off the bike and into a sprint to enter the second transition, and since my bike was near the bike in/out area, I didn't need to run too far to rack it. Since I was already barefoot and the run portion was short, I decided to go sock-less, less time in transition. Bike Racked. Helmet off, Run shoes on, sip of gatorade, and I'm out of T2. Officially my T2 time was 0:36.
While out on the run, my legs felt good, definitely not "fresh" but no where near the point of needing to walk or cramping up so I just pushed on. Seeing that the run was a 2 lap course, I decided to pace the first lap, to see how the legs felt, and then pour it on during the second lap if needed, that's precisely what happened. I was able to push harder and faster than I thought on the run, and was able to maintain sub 7 minute. Within only a couple minutes of being out on the run course, I was able to run down the only racer who passed me on the bike, however, I had no idea where the other racers were, I wasn't sure who was ahead of me and which age group they were in, so I just kept digging. Offically my run split was 16:59.
Official Race time: 1:00:22, I had beat my prediction by almost 8 minutes, and ahead of my prediction for where I needed to be on the podium, but still unsure as There were a few racers ahead of me.
Waiting around for 15-20 minutes until there was a results page posted, I quickly ran over and saw my name, Steven Burkett 3rd M25-29! I had done it, I got on the podium! WINNER, ME, I DID IT!!! Well, now we HAD to stay for awards, which wouldn't be for another hour or so. Waiting around, I got a feeling that maybe they would update the results for any bad chips and I would be bumped from 3rd down to a much disappointing 4th. After some time, I re-checked the results and was delighted to see they had moved me, instead of down, I got bumped up to 2nd place. AWESOME!! I was awarded 2nd in the Mens 25-29 Age group Division.
