Federal Escape Triathlon - Sprint Distance - TriathlonSprint

Again, I struggled to breathe in the beginning, but soon got it under control. Sighting was, and always is, a problem. People swimming over me and kicking really gets on my nerve, but the water was so murky you couldn't see more than 2 feet in front of your face. I was tackled at the first bouy, but managed to negotiate the 2nd one fine and swam like crazy to the finish. The final leg felt really good - I could get away from other people and got my strokes down to a regular pattern.

More OWS practice (yuk!)

Ran to transition area. Dried a bit, sat to put on socks and shoes. Shirt was the most difficult challenge - it stock to the water on my back. Ran bike out to bike start.

I was pleased with my overall pace. I passed some people, some passed me, a few traded back and forth. I pushed harder than I have in a practice session. The hills were so mild that it felt easy.

Maybe look into cages for my feet.

No need to change shoes, since I wore my running shoes for biking. Racked bike, dropped helmet, looked for my gel (someone had taken it!!!) and ran out the out.

nothing

The run felt really good. I had a gel from the water stand as I left and it really gave me a boost of energy. My shins did hurt for the first 1/2 mile or so, causing me to walk a bit, but once my legs were used to running not biking, it was fine. I remember that problem in my last triathlon (but that time I could never push past it, probably partly because of so many hills) but have never encountered it in training. I really pushed the last 1/2 mile and felt really good. Unfortunatly, I think that last hard effort was what caused me to get a migraine. I could see it coming as soon as I crossed the finish line.

Monitored my time a bit more int he middle. I think I slowed down about mile 1 3/4 and had trouble picking up the pace again.

Walk around, find my husband, little stretching. Had to sit with eyes covered for about 20 min to make migraine disappear (it actually only abated for an hour or so, then came back full force :() Ate bagels, drank a few waters.


Shins, unfamiliarity with OWS, no show cages on the bike. Only 3 weeks of practice on bike and swimming (probably the biggest factor)


Overall, I thought the race was a good one. Organized, nice volunteers... I was not able to hear the speech/directions before the swim, partly due to talking competitors and partly due to the speaker facing the water and the majority of the swimmers needing to stand behind him. I was disappointed with the post race food - I'd read about pancakes, maple syrup, and sausages, so that's what I was craving. Bagels and peanut butter just don't cut the mustard. Or syrup, as the case may be.