DQ Triathlon at Marlton Lakes - TriathlonSprint

Got in the water and set up shop in the 2nd row far left. Kept nice and loose after the gun when off - I did not want to go anaerobic and start screwing my breathing up. Was doing pretty good until about half-way thru the course my wedding band slipped off my finger and sank to the bottom. I stopped and started trying to feel around on the bottom but I couldn't feel anything! DAMN! That was the second wedding band I have lost. I'm gonna have to go back during a drought and look - or something. After my failed attempt at scavenger hunting a tried to get back into a good rhythm but I couldn't do it. Kept swimming even as a lot of other people around me attempted to start running towards the waterline.

Overall - the swim was pretty good except for the obvious reasons.

I need to include more tempo workouts in the pool. The time I spent in Myrtle Beach working out with a Masters swim club exposed me as being out-of-shape with respect to how fast my pace is during my swim training.

No problems getting from the water to my rack in transition. I chose to rack closest to the "BIKE OUT" as I could, so I had a little bit of a distance between the waterline and my bike. I got on the bike pretty good but again - ever since I switched to the Specialized Tri-vent cycling shoes from my old Shimano tri-shoes - I've been having a lot of trouble getting my feet in while I'm pedalling. I never had as much trouble with my Shimanos. The Specialized were supposed to be easier to get into. NOT!

Practice more with the new Specialized cycling shoes and sliding my feet in.

After getting my feet into my shoes I decided that this time I would try to get going as fast and as hard as I could instead of going high cadence and attempting to warmup for the first 4 miles or so. I started around 23 or 24 mph until around 7 or 8 miles. The first of a couple of small inclines/hills knocked me waaaaaaaaaay down and about 15 riders (seriously resembled a peleton and EVERYONE was drafting) I passed earlier caught up with me and past me. I was able to pass the once or twice but after they caught up and passed me for about the third time I was toast. I couldn't find enough in my legs to get me in front. Everytime I did a 90 degree corner would pop up and I wasn't able to get anywhere.

Suprisingly 1:38 doesn't seem so bad for the fact that I did my best Superman impression when jumping off my bike. Riding with both feet on the left side of my bike - I hit my brake just hard enough to send me and my bike flying. Owww! Didn't pick up as much road rash as I thought - the embarrasment probably hurt the most considering it was in front of so many spectators at the bike dismount line.

Learn how to ride a bike!

Well after almost breaking my neck - I started out on the run and felt good (good for ME is a 10min/mile pace). Wore a Zoot calf compression sleeve on my right calf and it helped me out tremendously with the problems I have been having with my achilles, shin and calf. Felt really good. Wish it would have translated to a 8 minute mile but nonetheless I felt good. Haven't had too much run training the past 2 or 3 months so that probably hurt me.

Lose weight (what is that? 3 seasons in a row I have typed that?).

Jumped in the lake for about 5 minutes to cool down


Bike training - haven't spent nearly as much time as I should have

Run training - or lack of training and injuries

Weight.


Nice course. I liked the swim. A lot of room to spread out. The bike course is fast and the run is/was mostly in the shade. All in all I really like doing this race and will register for next year.