Wildflower - TriathlonOlympic

I was so happy on the swim. I expected to take around 45 min and finished much faster feeling very relaxed and not at all tired. I hardly kicked except when nearing the end of the course and did a good job w/ my Total Immersion techniques.

Try to go a little faster now I've had this first experience at Wildflower.

Zipper broke on my wetsuit, able to get it off okay.

Not forget to put my gels in my pocket. Next time, I'll just tape them to my bike.

Argh. I didn't have to walk up hills but I did have to stop a couple times, get my heartrate down and give my legs a break, then clip back in and continue up. However, I was hoping to average around 12.5 mph, which is what I'm doing on the hills in Palos Verdes, and according to my bike computer, I averaged 12.6. (of course, the clock stopped while I used the portapotty at the turnaround and while I stopped on the hills.)

Story of my life for this tri: train harder, earlier, and more.

NOT forget my nutrition. Nutrition is a stickler for me, because often even when I have my food I don't eat it.

Had to replace the contact lens I lost on the bike.

Get spray sunscreen for my back or have volunteers slap some on. I did fine putting more sunscreen on my face, chest and arms but didn't reach my back. Still paying for it with the worst sunburn I've had in years.

I knew it was going to be bad but I really did think some of the course on the trails would be more shaded. I took full advantage of the aid stations, including getting hosed off. I drank both the gatorade and the water. No gels left on the course for us back of packers but I did grab my bloks if I'd wanted any. Walked the majority of the uphills, interspersed with some jogging, but felt much better after the first 5k. The first mile or two were especially bad for me; I felt worse at the beginning than I did on the long uphill.

On the good side: 2 years ago I'd have dpne the same time, or close to it, on a flat course without swimming and biking first.

harder, longer training runs & bricks

Loved, loved, loved that cold wet towel across my shoulders. Couldn't eat anything but drank a lot of water and gatorade. Stood in the shade, walked around a bit.


Lack of hard hilly runs esp after my hard hilly bike rides.


Will do this again next year.