Capital of Texas Triathlon - Olympic Distance - TriathlonOlympic

This was my first triathlon wearing a wetsuit (thanks Keith!). Some chafing on the neck, other than that I felt like a torpedo. My left goggle filled up with water; after pausing twice to empty/fix, I punted and swam 1400 yards pop-eye style.
I didn't really push too hard in the water. I ended up being moderately sore in the neck and arms, but nothing horrible, so I probably under-trained again. I guess I end up relying on technique and my background of swimming as a child.
I didn't aggressively turn the buoys, instead just eased through my turns with one eye closed.
I'll conclude that the swimsuit helped: my target pace was 1:40 based on swim workouts, which I hit but without really pushing.


Bring goggles that are tested and work. Round the turns quicker and more efficiently. Train a bit more - maybe try to hang with the front group (drafting early). I think I can squeeze out a true 1:30 pace in the next one

The transitions are long for this race. Worse, my bike was on rack #2, farthest from the exit - holy crap that was a long run through dirt and rocks.
This was the first time doing the shoes in pedals, but without rubber bands they gave me some trouble while jogging and again when mounting.
I rode without socks and my feet were nasty but no problems with blisters or anything.
I left the Forerunner turned OFF, fearing the 3 hour delay pause might drain batteries; in retrospect that was a silly time penalty.

Try rubber band trick on shoes-in-pedals. Practice transitions and get stuff on faster (without thinking), and just plain RUN FASTER. Leave the computer on (batteries should last 8 hours!). Finally, skip drinking in T1 - I ended up with some fluids left on the bike

I rode on my 2001 Fuji, which is a bit heavy but fits me well. I ascended and descended well, "burning matches" on all 8 short ascents, and accelerating out of corners pretty well. I pegged my HR the whole way in laps 1 and 2, but notice now I let up on the last 2 a bit.
The Fuji felt fast downhill - I passed some age groupers but gave some back on the flats. Not sure if this is a fitness thing or a strategic issue, or maybe an equipment issue.
One 44 yr old guy was drafting like he was in a road race, the bastard. I was hoping there were some referees watching because he wasn't even trying to hide his drafting. He tried shadowing me on the descent down Congress on lap 4, so I shook him with some lane changing like I was in a road race as well LOL.
I came off the bike feeling a bit crampy and stiff, wondering if I went off to hard, but as turned out it was about right for a 40k.


Stay in the aero bars for the *entire* flats and descents. Drink a bit more (I had some left over, and wasted time in T1 drinking). Try to negative split all 4 quadrants - peg the HR in lap 3 and lap 4, let up only in the last mile.

I didn't know the trick of taking the feet out of the shoes, so I actually unclipped and had to carry (then reclip) one shoe during the run.
My back gets bent/cramped like an old man's, which slows me down during T2 (and during mile 1). This will kill me to the tune of 2-3 minutes, which in a sprint is terrible, not so bad in this Oly.



Take feet out of shoes in last mile, pedal on top, dismount on the run. Drink more fluids while on the bike during last mile too.
I need to see a therapist about the lower back as well, and start a regime that will strengthen/unravel the back problem (especially if I do a sprint).

The first mile of the run was pretty bad, my back was stiff (see T2 notes), legs felt crampy, and I had visions of popping/cramping for sure. But after the first turnaround I cranked out a couple of 7:30 miles without unraveling so I settled in. Turns out mile 3 was short, so that was a nice mental boost to think I ran a 7:15 mile.
I stopped drinking at stations, instead used them to douse the head to cool off (I was full and couldn't really drink much anyway).
I felt I did an okay job pushing, except for between mile 4 and 5 I felt pegged - the HR wasn't coming down, it was hot. But then I pushed it up the hill and popped out a 7:23 last mile so I guess I did all right.


Get some work done on the back to speed up the first 2 miles. Push a bit harder early (get HR up in 165 range and see how you feel). Concentrate on technique (turnover, stride length).

None really - drink 2 bottles of water, 1 bottle gatorade, eat a banana.
Skipped the massage, it was too long of a line.
Missed my tee shirt - where were they?
Saw the family and wanted to get out of there and get a good meal.



Hesitation to "push it" (knowing boundaries). Training. Back problems. Equipment - the old Fuji is heavy.


No fluids on the bike, but for a 10k I guess that is okay, so I still said "Yes" above.