EPIC TRAINING SYSTEMS
Endure, Excel, Acheive
San Clemente Challenge
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| San Clemente Challenge 73 miles with 3700 feet of climbing 41 mile option also available Same course as the Ralph's, California Half and 70.3 Ironman series. Long Course Results 6th overall out of 1116 riders doing 41 short and 73 long course 5th overall out of 514 riders doing the 73 mile long course 2nd out of 74 in the 40-44 age group Power Numbers Hill Climb #1 Average Power 440 watts 6.29 watts per kg Time 2:44 Hill Climb #2 Average Power 414 watts 5.91 watts per kg Time 2:48 The ride begins in San Clemente at the San Clemente High School home of the Tritons. As you approach the school you get your first indication that this is a well organized event. Volunteers are wearing orange vests directing you with flashlights (like Sea World or the Del Mar Fair -yes I still call it Del Mar) to your parking space. Actually their organization was apparent to me before the ride date. I was undecided whether I would do the ride so I didn't register until Tuesday night (5/16/06) on Active.com. Well, they had package pick up at the REI in Encinitas on Thursday night (5/18/06) and my goody bag was there waiting for me. The early package pick up was a nice touch. Since I had picked up my package all I needed to do was air up and line up. There were over 1100 riders ready for the 7am start. We were sent out in waves of 100 or so to keep from overcrowding the streets of San Clemente. Being in the lead group we had a police escort until Camp Pendleton. This is a very well supported ride with Sheriff's Department and plenty of volunteers on the course providing traffic control. Except for the first aid station, the aid stations (what I could see of them as we blew past them) were stocked with fluids, bananas, oranges, bagels. The fun part came at 10 miles and 40 miles where we were timed on a 1/2 mile hill that is steep at 10.5%. We were given timing chips in our goody bags and there were timing mats along with inflatable banners showing you the start and finish. I attacked the lead group both times and no one from the group stayed with me I was KOM both times. With 15 miles to go the leead group started to splinter up and two other riders and myself decided to breakaway. We went off the front and then about a mile from the finish I went solo and finished first. As a footnote, I then rode back from San Clemente to Encinitas to get 120 miles for the day. Oh yes, the results were up on the website the same night of the event. Kudos to the San Clemente Challenge. A very good showing for the first year!! Elevation Profile Hill Climb #1 Hill Climb #2 |
