Pat Griskus Sprint Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Start went well. I was in the third wave. It was crowded and some bumping, but everyone was civilized. I started in the back of my wave and stayed there. I passed a few folks. I pushed myself about as hard as I could, I'm just not a fast swimmer. At one point on one kick I felt like my calf was going to cramp. I thought that was strange and it went away.

T1 went well. On the run into TI, my calves started feeling like they would cramp again, so I took it a little easy. Had my wetsuit to my waist when by the time I was in the transistion area. Suit off, bike shoes on, helmet on, and off I go.

Bike felt really good. I must have passed 100 people. I was even passing some folks on the hills, which is rare for me. There were a couple people riding left alot, which was annoying. I powered up the last hill and felt ready to for a run.

T2 went well. I had my feet out of my bike shoes and had a fast dismount. Racked the bike pretty quickly and got my running shoes on. Started running out of T2 and....shit...calves are cramping. I new right then, it wasn't going to be a fun run.

I had looked at my watch and knew that I just need to run a 29 minute 5k and I'd have my goal. I had been running 28 minute 5k's in when I had done training bricks. I tried to just suck it up with the cramping for the first 500-600 yds of the run, but it was just to painful. I stopped against a tree for about 20 seconds or so and stretched my calves. That seemed to stop the cramping, but I just couldn't make my legs move. When I got to the first mile I looked at my watch and saw that it took me 11 minutes to get the first mile done--and it was almost all downhill! I knew I was in trouble. I actually took my watch off and put in my jersey pocket. I didn't want to look at it again. I kept going and by the time I got to the turn around, I had some legs again. I felt like I could start running. I passed a few people on the hills and then finished pretty strong.

This is a great race with a fun course. It also had over 100 first timers competing, so as a first time you are in a lot of company.