5150 New Orleans - Triathlon

Sighting was very tough, but the water was smooth with practically no current. The temperature was perfect and the water was very clean. I enjoyed the swim and it was over 5 minutes faster than my last Olympic distance swim.

I need to try some new options with swim goggles and anti-fog. I was pretty much blind to direction for the second half of the swim.

I did okay, but could have squeezed out another 30-45 seconds with more transition practice.

I never felt right on the bike and it felt like I was pushing too hard compared to the amount of speed I was getting. It hurt that I lost an end cap to my bolt on aero bars before the race and had to take them off. I could have used them and most of the field had much higher end bikes. I just got my bike out of the shop after a tune up and had new rubber put on. I should have installed a jet pack and a riding crop.

It definitely hurt that I had a weird travel schedule several weeks before the event and could not practice long rides. I'm going to focus training more on the bike. I get that it's the rider, not the bike that needs improving, but I still have a healthy dose of bike envy after seeing all the tri style and carbon rides at this event.

Wow - my best event compared to my age group :-P 14th fastest! I gained a little time in T2 because I put on socks in T1.

Nothing. This was an efficient T2.

I started out slow and still bonked at mile 3 and had to alternate walking and running. I've been through this before but never so bad that I was dead last in my age group. I could have pushed a little harder, but I got overheated and felt some stress in my chest so I slowed it down. There was no need to risk heat injury just because I wanted to finish with a better time. The positive was that I had absolutely no cramping in my shins/legs when I started the run. I finished the run with a smile on my face. That was after I nearly burst into tears when I had to run by the exit to the finish line when I started my second lap.

I think I did the right thing by listening to my body and slowing it down when I got overheated. I'll practice more running in the heat for next time and I'm well on my way to lose another 10 pounds before the next event. If that doesn't work I'll convince a Kenyan to dress up like me and do the run for me next time. Live to fight another day.

Visited with my awesome family and made a beeline to pick up my bike for an afternoon plantation tour... And then there was Bourbon Street Sunday night. Yeehaw!


I was in vacation mode for this event and wasn't really in a competitive mindset. I enjoyed it even though I'm disappointed in my finishing time since my goal and my practice times were much better. I actually finished ahead of my last Olympic Distance (not counting the one where the bike got rained out) event so there is progress being made.


For both the 5150 and the concurrent sprint race there were pretty small fields. I think this is due to the date change from the prior year and holding it on a holiday weekend. The 5150 competitors that were there were very good and I was not on top of my game like I had hoped to be. I had a great weekend tri-cation, but next time I visit New Orleans it will just be to vacation, without adding in a triathlon.