Toronto Island Triathlon - Sprint Distance - TriathlonSprint

Water was very choppy. I was hoping to get some choppy waters during my OWS practices, but they were always calm so I know this would be a tough swim.

Water was very shallow the first 50m and I walked. I think I'm faster walking than swimming. As soon as I put my head in the water, I started to hyperventilate. The waves were tossing me up and down. I tried to stay calm and really overrotate to breathe. That helped a lot. And because I walked a bit, I passed the first orange buoy quite quickly. That gave me confidence that I could make it and I would not DNF like I did at Cobourg in 2007.

The last 200m I must have swam really offcourse. The waves were really strong, and I underestimated how much it was pushing me offline so I zigzagged quite a bit.

After the swim, there was a 200m run, over the bridge to the transition area. Swim time includes this run. By my watch, my swim was 18', 2:24. I could have been 1' faster if I kept my line the last third. But I'm pleased I made it through the rough waters, unlike Cobourg.

Don't swim offline, sight more frequently when waves are strong.

Got disoriented and couldn't find my bike. As usual, wetsuit got stuck a bit to the left heel.

I really pushed it on the bike 'cos I want to set a PB. Passed a ton of people. Bike time includes run to and from mount / dismount line. Per my Garmin, I did over 33kph, a PB. First time I didn't take the wrong turn on this course.

Uneventful, unlike T1

I passed 2 people in my AG the first 100m, but 1 of them passed me right back within 500m. I pushed too hard on the bike and was really suffering on the run. When I took a quick glance at the Garmin, HR was 170! I don't think I've seen my HR so high ever. My hamstrings and calves were both starting to tighten and cramp. At the turnaround, Susan told me there were a couple of people in my AG just ahead of me. But I was dying, couldn't run any faster, and just hanging in so nobody would pass me. I also had to stop twice to tie my speed laces! I've never had to do that, so that's my excuse for not having a faster time.

Walked around. Stayed for the awards.


2nd time this year that both Susan and I were 3rd in our AG according to results posted. 2nd time this year that I'm actually 4th even though the results said 3rd because the 3rd place finisher was not entered into the computer correctly! I gave the real 3rd place finisher the medal and she felt bad taking it from me, but I told her she's the rightful owner, and she is. 1st place is only 2.5' faster. I could have placed better with a better swim and T1, and if I didn't have to stop twice to tie my shoelaces. So I'm making lots of excuses.

In any case, 1st AG on the bike makes me VERY HAPPY! And I'm pleased that I survived the swim (unlike Cobourg in 2007), even though the time was slow and I zigzagged quite a bit the last 3rd of the swim.