(Marvin) The Anna Colorfest Biathlon is the end for my bicycle training for the season. Every year I always reflect and wish that I would have done more bike training. Colorfest Biathlon puts on a very good race. There are so many high quality door prizes I don't know how they do it. This year's race wasn't the best for me though. I knew it was going to be harder on with me with a south warm front passing through. The temp was in the 70's, and I was feeling uncomfortable on the run. I ran conservative for the muggy day (20 seconds slower than last year). Then I only spent 59 seconds in the transition area. (14 seconds better than last year!) On the bike after the first two miles I started getting into it and feeling better. As always, I feel like I am going super fast and along comes another competitor that cruises on by making it look like no effort. I didn't let this bother me too much. Overall the biking was good (4 seconds faster than last year). My legs didn't cramp, and hills weren't as difficult this year. I had a time of 1:15:33 the run 20:18, transition 59 seconds, and bike 54:16 2nd in age 30-34. I missed tieing my PR for this race by 2 seconds, a little bit of a let down for me. I didn't win any door prizes either, but Dave on the other hand made out very well.
(David) One of my long term racing goals at this race was to place in the top three in my age group. I did that last year, placing third. This year I was not expecting a whole lot; but I got first in my age group. I was actually surprised. I wanted my run to be in the 20’s. It was 20:46, 28 seconds faster than last year. I caught up to Marvin in the transition area, which I never do. My transition time was 1:08 more or less. I felt I was faster there. Once I got on my bike I didn’t feel so good. My legs were tired and I couldn’t catch my breath. My bike time was 56:11. This was over two minutes slower than last year. Last year I averaged 19.3 MPH, this year 18.4. My overall time was 1:18:05, one minute 25 seconds slower than last year. If I had that time last year I would not have placed. This year though I got first in 35-39. I think there were only five racers in this group. Usually this is one of the bigger groups. I think the real strong competitors either didn’t show up or moved to the next age group. The top three in 40-44 all had times of 1 hr. 10 min. and something. That was eight minutes faster than me! I’m in that group next year. Maybe it’s time to take a few years off.
Like usual the event was well organized. They changed the bike route a little so we didn’t have to go through two intersections. This was good. I just wish they would have announced it before the race. The support at this race is super. All the volunteers are nice and helpful. The police controlling traffic are well organized and do a very good job. The motorcycle club that escorts the riders along the highway do a great job also. Last year there was only one or two, probably due to weather. But this year they had quite a few to help out. They ride along on the highway with us to help control traffic. All the volunteers help make this a better race and are appreciated.
Now for the important part: the door prizes. This race gives out a lot of quality prizes. This year was no exception. I was hoping to win a jacket. They had hoodies and what looked like water resistant jackets. I would have been more than happy with either kind. Maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t get one, because the very last give-away was a $165.00 bicycle saddle (seat) and I won! This year I was kind of disappointed because I haven’t won any attendance drawings; this more than makes up for that. I was very happy. It’s the nicest attendance drawing I have won. Although, the Gilster – Mary Lee box last year was pretty cool.
What can I say, this turned out to be a great race. I had some doubts before the race. The last couple weeks I haven’t been real motivated. Also, two weeks before the race I got my bike tuned up and I think it worked better before I took it in. They only halfway fixed the problem I brought it in for, plus now the chain is rubbing. Because of this I didn’t have a lot of confidence. But somehow I got first in my age group, something I never thought I could do at Anna. Then my luck continued when I won the saddle. Throw in a warm sunny Octoer day and this will probably be my best race ever at the Colorfest Biathlon!
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