Texas Man - TriathlonSprint

Navigation errors. On the start, after two strokes, I almost gave up--it was horrible. I got kicked and punched and anything you can think of, and I was really frightened. This was my very first OWS, and I really thought that death was imminent. Anyway, I tried to swim away from everyone and ended up completely off course--like another 50-100 yards off course; some nice man in a kayak rowed up to me and told me I need to redirect my swim...I hung on to the kayak for about 15 seconds because getting back on course seemed really daunting at that point in time, then I swam and caught up to some folks rounding the second buoy home. Let's just say, getting swam over and hit in the face while attempting to gasp a breathe is way worse than swimming several yards off course. I was really tired after that swim, but I know I swam faster than I've ever swam in my life and considering being so far off course, and finishing within 3 minutes of the pack, I am happy with myself.

Learn to bilateral breathe so that I can sight better. Not be freaked out by my visions of a drowning death. I know I swam pretty fast (this was the fastest I'd ever swam in my life), but due to being off course by at least 50 yards, I added some time to my swim. All in all, the only things I think I can improve are navigation and bilateral breathing (to aid my sighting).

It was a run up from the beach, and I could barely feel my legs. Swimming in the lake is NOTHING like pool swimming. Plus, I'll admit I've never swam that fast before in my life! Anyway, once I got on the bike, I was too tired to remember how to jump on and clip in. Folks in the crowd commented on my ineptitude when they saw 4 other riders pass me out of transition (at the mount line). Whatever!

Learn to mount.

On the way there--between the wind and the hills, I wanted to die. I definitely stopped once so that I could get water, because I was suffering and I felt like my stomach was NOT agreeing with me. I was very uncomfortable, and said a quick Help me Lord prayer and kept going. On the way back, I think I averaged 16mph and maxed out at 27.6mph. But, on the way back, there was one mountain where I think I was going 3mph and almost got off my bike to jog up...it was that tough.
I got my *** handed to me by those hills, and I didn't like it. I swear that course was chosen by the reincarnation of some bike-demon spirit sent to punish me for all those rainy Saturdays I should have HTFU'd and gone riding.

I'd change everything.

So, the bike kicked my you know what, and I suffered to rack my Bike. Anyway, I was slow...

Not ride such a hilly course so that my quads wouldn't fight me so much.

I picked up speed alot after the bend...I think I went from an average pace of 11min/mile to 8:59ish on the last .5 miles....my stride lenghthened and I started going. I don't know what happened, but after a certain point, my feet started moving. At the finish line, I did a leg clap which folks enjoyed, but which made me miss my goal of finishing in under 2:00 hrs...oh well!

Start running with a faster pace so I can get even faster towards the end of the run...average 9 min/mile.

walk around. Stretch. Talk to people. Hope I don't get disqualified for swimming off course. Eat. Hope that I don't DQd for swimming off course! Stretch. Go home.


Hills and wind.


Race was well done.