Rochesterfest Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

I know I can't swim. 35 minutes was about what I expected, and it is what I got. This was the longest swim I have ever done, so I was a bit nervous. I have done 1500 in the pool a couple times, but I probably ended up closer to 1600 or 1700 for this swim because I can't swim straight and purposely stayed to the outside to minimize getting crushed by later waves (and earlier waves on their second lap). The leaders, who started 3 minutes ahead of me, passed me on their second lap before I hit 3/4 of the distance on my first lap.



By the time I was about 1/3 into my second lap I was peacefully alone and pretty well convinced I wasn't going to drown. It was only at this point that I remembered to engage my core and try to have a decent stroke. I'm sure my pace improved and I actually relaxed a little. I should try to remember this earlier in the race. And I should learn how to swim.

I still give it Average for front crawling the whole way without stopping and just for making it through.

Longer transition than usual. Plenty of racing to come. Decided to leave my shoes off my bike for the first time in many races because the T-area was full of little pebbles and pretty uncomfortable to walk around in barefoot.

Did not have anybody pass me on the bike, and passed many, many people (as most of the sprint course racers were out of the water before I was). The weekly group rides I have been doing have made my strongest discipline stronger.

So far I am perfect 3 for 3 races this year dealing with significant winds.

Props to the dude riding his hybrid in the olympic event that I passed about mile 18. Obviously a good swimmer, but also a strong cyclist to stay in front of me for that long on a bike like that.

Nothing

Poor decision to run without socks. I have never gone more than 4 miles previously sockless, and I didn't realize that some of the run course would be through dirt and sand. Feet started bothering me before the halfway point and had to stop to adjust my shoes once or twice.

I was hoping for a final pace a lot closer to 8:00, but between foot issues and lack of sleep and nutrition this was the best I could muster.

I need to run more.

This was my first olympic distance, and a good reality check race for me. I tend to think of myself as around a top 30% sort of guy, but it is clear I need to put in more effort training to achieve this at races longer than sprints. I know swim is my limiter, and I need to work at fixing this at some point, but I have slacked off running mileage and done essentially no quality work of late in any discipline other than bike.

Nice work, Bill, at organizing this event. Great field and very few complaints.