Crystal River Sprint Triathlon #2 - TriathlonSprint

Felt fast in the water. My right goggle filled immediately. I didn't want to fiddle with it so I just kept my right eye closed through the entire swim. Missed the turn bouy by a bit but immediately corrected. Came out of the water in a decent time, and somewhere around 15th place.

Make sure goggles are tight.

Took a little more time than I wanted to but overall not too bad. Helmet sweatband came out of the helmet so I just threw it down and rode without it. Fun.

GET A NEW DAMN HELMET.

I had a better bike than I thought. At the turnaround, 7.5 miles in, I was 20th. I got passed by two people, but then passed three people in the last few miles. Ended up 19th coming off the bike. No one in my age group passed me on the bike. I was happy about that. Looks like a lot of people had a faster bike split than me, but physically no one else caught me. No ITB issues even though I expected them.

Upon trying to dismount, I fell because I couldn't get my left cleat out of the pedal. Turns out there was some sand in there, and it refused to let me clip out. Well, until I was bloodied up on the ground that is. But I just picked myself up and ran into the TA.

Nothing. Good bike today. Lungs were limiting factor.

Throw and go. Good T2.

Nothing.

Man, this was a sucky run. I immediately felt the lung capacity was not right. I think my first mile was decent (didn't have my watch on) but after that, I had trouble breathing. Being sick for a week doesn't help a fast run. Plus my ITB started hurting after the turnaround. So that slowed me down too. I averaged almost 8 minute miles when my last race was 7:05's. Still, no one caught me in the run. The guy that came in third ALMOST got me though, I only got second by about 30 seconds. If I'd run like I should have, I'd have gotten second by about 2 minutes. I felt physically fine throught the entire run, but my lungs were extremely taxed. I'm sure my HR was thru the roof on the entire run.

Not be sick for a week before the race.

Drank a lot of fluid. Tried to cool off. Took off my shoes and went in the water. I wound up losing my shoes. Left them on the beach. What an idiot! But the weird thing is, I'm not too upset. I think they played a part in my ITB issues. Hmmmm...


Lungs, ITB.


Crystal River is always a fun race, even when I don't have the best day. This time it ended up in hardware, which is great, but I really wish I'd felt better. I would feel more accomplished if I'd been able to kick ass out there and come out with hardware. Part of me feels like I just got it because I didn't have as much competition. First place in my AG was the third overall in the race. I actually wasn't expecting hardware at all, since I'd busted my ass in the June race and gotten only fifth. Funny how I have a slower race, after being sick, and get second. Hell, if Adam (first place in AG) had been in the overall category (they only do first place overall at this race) I'd have gotten first in AG. But oh well, ANY hardware at Crystal River is good for me...I've been trying for 6 races to get hardware here. Sheesh!!

DRC puts on a good race. I always recommend these races to friends, they're usually a great time.