Breath of Life Ventura Triathlon - Olympic Course - TriathlonOlympic

I started near the outside, which mattered little since I fell behind 90% of the group within the first couple minutes. Nonetheless, I'm tremendously happy with this swim, despite the 31/34 AG placing. I've been struggling to break 2:00/100m over any real distance, in open water or in a pool, since my first race last year. Check that one off the list!
My sighting was a little off, and the lifeguards had to steer me back on course a few times (for some reason my body only wanted to swim to the left). Of course, being a BOP swimmer allows few drafting opportunities, but I may have drafted briefly off some of the swimmers from the next wave as they passed.

Don't let the pack get away so quickly- try to stay right in there so I don't get dropped. Having other bodies nearby might also help my navigation issues.

Transition times aren't yet posted on the race website, so this is what I clocked myself at.
Smoothest T1 yet. Suit came off more easily than usual. Didn't waste time drinking or eating gels. Also tried the sockless approach, which was fine for the bike but not so much for the run (see below).

Nothing

I was hoping to break a 20 mph average, but it wasn't to be. Judging by my splits, it appears that I lost some steam during the last 7 miles or so. There was also a slight tailwind during that last leg. In any case, I felt like I probably could have pushed a little harder, but my run definitely would have suffered (and it suffered enough already). Overall I'm pleased with the effort, and confident that the 20 mph barrier is almost within my grasp.
Great course, flat as promised, with a touch of wind to make it interesting. I made sure to hydrate frequently during the ride with gatorade and water.

Need to work a little more on taking the shoes off while riding. I did it, but I felt that I slowed down more than I would have liked. Other than that, just need to log more miles.

Lost my nerve at the last minute and didn't do a flying dismount. Once into transition, I briefly forgot where my spot was and had to waste a few seconds locating it.

Take a mental image of my transition area before the race. Practice the flying dismount.

I'd like to start by saying that I broke the cardinal rule of racing on this 10k. I had planned to wear an old pair of Brooks race shoes, sockless, for this run. I had practiced running in them without socks for a ~4-mile speed workout a few weeks back, with no major issues. We stopped on the way to Ventura to pick up some new laces and found a pair of Zoot Ultras in my size on the clearance rack. I promptly swept them up, at first thinking they would be great to break in over the next few weeks and wear to Playa del Run. Then came the voice telling me I should wear them at Breath of Life, sockless, without breaking them in. Which sounded like a crazy idea, so I wore them for an easy 2 mile jog that afternoon.
Flash forward to T2, and I pulled those sneakers onto my bare feet and didn't look back. I knew a mile in that I was in trouble- I could feel hot spots near the base of my big toe and heel on my right foot. I finished with a significant amount of pain and a quarter-shaped bloodstain inside the heel of my new right shoe. Lesson learned.

Given the condition of my foot and a persistent side stitch, I feel like I went as hard on this run as I could have. A full day later, today's muscle soreness confirms it. I drank at about every other aid station and poured water over my head a couple times- amazing how hot you can get when outside temps are only in the 60's. Like the swim, this was at once a PR and BOP finish for me, and I'm pretty happy with it. Plus, I can chalk up the BOP part to the fact that this was an AG National Championship qualifying race this year, so the field was pretty strong.

(See above re: footwear)
Log. More. Miles.

Took my shoes off. Drank some water. Hit the beer garden and was pleased to find they actually had some pretty decent beer. Followed that with a banana and more water. I don't recall doing any stretching. Didn't stick around long- Becca and I packed up, checked out of the hotel and had lunch at Anacapa, then coffee in Downtown Ventura, then back to LA.


I can find no fault with this race. It's flat and fast. The weather was perfect. The water was calm. Volunteers were plentiful and enthusiastic. Really well done by the organizers, the park, and nature.