North Shore Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Oh boy, where to start. About 1-2 minutes before the start, I kicked my left pinky toe on the reef. All I could think about was: "Oh boy, I did just do what Fxobert did last year". Hmmm.. wiggled my toe, not broken, but still hurts like hell. Oh well... I'm sure that will go away. =)

I was DELIGHTED with the first half of the swim. My line was slightly outside, not crowded, got a solid draft, and I didn't get kicked/grabbed/slapped at all! It was probably the best 200m stretch of my swimming career. I was crushing dreams.

Coming back in... not so much luck. Between guys to my right shepherding me to the left, and trying to swim AROUND shallow reef (mostly by going to the left)... I ended up in the MIDDLE of the women's wave going the wrong way! Needless to say... I ran into TWO different women and yet I saw tons of guys even further off course into their line. Between swimming around reef, not having enough room to pull my arms down (talk about forcing high elbows), and trying to not hit any more women... I swam breast stroke the rest of the way. Oh... I was so disappointed, but plenty of time to catch-up.

Ummm.. swim on the outside? Or during high-tide.

So I was a little upset... and I just couldn't get my helmet strap on. To add insult to injury, there seemed to be a few thorns stuck in my feet. No matter, a quick dip of my feet in the water basin and I'm off.

Well, get a helmet without a buckle? I always mess that up. Nerves and racing heart I suppose. Oh... and maybe a nice carpeted transition area. Heh. Right.

Flying squirrel mount on to bike and strap into shoes after 50 meters. Not a perfect 10, but a solid 8. I felt pretty darn good, passed about 5 people in the first minute, but one thing was annoying me... those darn thorns. In particular, there seemed to be one in my left foot or my left pinky toe... hard to tell, but it was annoying and hurt a bit. Hmmm... same toe I hit on the reef? Yeah, that thought never dawned on me... cause I hate thorns!

Road was a mix of smooth and rough. I don't mind that. It makes it a bit fun to find the smooth parts of the road during the rough sections. Sometimes you ride the paint, sometimes where car wheels have smoothed things out. Point being, it gives me something to move my mind away from race pains; a game inside of work.

I've had way too many near crashes recently on my bike, and honestly I've ridden it only a few times in the last month -> I took all the corners real slow. I hate that... but I just didn't feel confident about my handling skills and my back tire which has a small gash in it from a previous ride.

I borrowed a set of clip-on bars(Free is good)from a work friend. They worked very well, of course i'm far too stretched out, but I loved them. No wrist fatigue and I can stay in them 90% of the time. Nothing better than passing nice tri-bikes... of course, one day I'll own one and get passed my dudes on 10 yr old road bikes.

Feet out of pedals, 9 out of 10 on the dismount. Now i'm barefoot again, its time for a trip to the mecca of thorns, T2.

Given my current skills? Not a thing.

Bike more? Not be a scaredy cat on corners. =)

I figured, less time in T2, less thorns. So. I went fast.

Had a little trouble getting my shoes on... my left foot seemed to be a little sore.

Again, carpeted transition.

Started the run. Felt great. Not breathing hard? Check. Heart Rate under control? Check. Legs not feel like gummy? Check. This should be great!

OUCH! My left foot is KILLING me. Should I stop and pick out that pesky thorn? Nope, I'd probably need tweezers... I better just run on the inside of my foot. Funky running is better than no running.

Run was great. Didn't push the ending too hard, cause there was no one ahead to pass within my clutch. I'm one of the lame dudes that sprints the end to pass that last guy... but I'm not punishing myself with a sprint just to look good. Photos can't tell how fast you are going.

The sun was pretty brutal on the return leg. Sunglasses? Nope, not worth it. I can't breath with them on. Okay... that sounds wierd. Whatever, I'm wierd I guess.

Grab a muffin and a cup of OJ. Time to seek revenge on that thorn.

Wait a minute. Why is there a bunch of curdled blood on the outside of my left shoe? And why is my shoe literally filled with a small "pool" of blood inside?

Oh... no thorn in site. It was the reef!

Well... I'm a nurse and i've worked the first aid tent before. My hospital sponsors a few races with ER nurses... there must be a tent? Nope. A first aid kit then... should be no prob. Well, there was a kit... but basically it had a few small gauze packages, bandaids, neosporin, and that's all. No betadine, no iodine, no kerlex rolls, no ace-wraps, no ice pack, no pain killers.

Cleaned the wound with water and gauze... won't stop bleeding... hurts like hell... I can see fat tissue. Hmmm... what's the plan? Wrap it up tight, put it back in the shoe, limp to the car, and head back to town.

The ER doc picked out numerous chunks of reef and sand. 3 different people did 6 sessions of wound irrigations, xrays, 5 stitches, and antibiotics. I love Straub hospital.


I still haven't showered since the race. That is bad.

Ask the ER staff about the look on my face: Pure Bliss. I put together a good effort, and a good story for my workmates on Monday. =)


How to rate the race?

Well, everyone was friendly.
Good food.
Maybe a few more portapotties.
Nice scenery.
What can you do about the swim? Not much.
Aikes. Maybe supply a full first aid kit. Seriously.

And then I checked my results hoping for top 50%. 5 out of 23 in my AG.

Booyah!