Tugaloo Olympic Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

I was initially excited here as I was in @ 30 mins with minimal swim training this year. But after reviewing not only the times of those I swim with and my own time for last year it was determined that I was exactly one second faster this year. Now, last year I was gearing up for IM FL and training hard and feeling tough. SOOOO, I'm either upset with last year or have not really improved this year, or time to get some more lessons? I felt much more relaxed and proficient until the final stretch when my goggles fogged up and I was a bit erratic with my navigation.

Train more. Possibly some professional intervention is required. Also, when three guys are all on their backs after the first turn, just swim through them. (Let's start telling the truth about our respective swim seed times for these TT starts, shall we?)

11 seconds slower this year probably due to not being race ready for this season. I was taking it easy on the run over the hill to try and lower my HR.

I tend to be pokey in T1. What can I say?

14 seconds slower this year. Now, I'm about 10-12 lbs heavier so I feel like this is a victory. I was also racing with an 11-23 cassette which was probably a mistake on this course. Could've switched to a 12-25 but in retrospect, it was about the motor, not the transmission or suspension.

Train. However, I liked my strategy. As a bigger guy, I hit the flats and slight ups and downs hard since this is where I can deliver constant power. I know I'm not a climber and probably never will be so it's here where I elected to gain ground.

13 seconds slower here but happy with this transition.

Maybe go back to using speed laces of some sort.

Now here is where the fun starts. I was actually fairly pleasantly surprised that I could keep moving like I did. Others were passing me but my goal was to keep it under 3 hrs today and felt that I was going to do that. Since they've reversed the course direction, I haven't been as fast here but I've also not been training for an anaerobic race in a couple of seasons which definitely shows up in the run. About 4.5 miles in I started to get an uncomfortable feeling in my right foot. It felt like a softball had been inserted into my shoe. I tried to continue but thought that if I stop and check this out it was worth a couple of seconds. I removed the shoe and nothing seemed out of place. I replaced the shoe and ran some more with little relief. So, in my infinite wisdom, I stopped and removed the shoe and decided to run in my stocking foot. So, what do you think that looked like, one shoe on and one shoe off? (Answer: doofus) I continued with my excellent decision making skills by stopping now and removing the sock and returning the shoe to its rightful place. I then decided to just bear down and finish this thing. All of this taking place in the last 1.5 miles of the run. I continued on to a mad dash to the finish line. I finished 2:48 slower than last year.

Train more and lose weight. I had picked up my training in general for August so I wouldn't embarass myself. But the one shoe thing I'm sure managed to take care of that for me.

Grabbed a water and met up with friends. Eventually got back to the car and removed my shoes and relaxed with a beer.


Simple training. I learned a lesson today. Respect the distance. After focusing on long course for the last two years I certainly wasn't intimidated by an Oly but that doesn't mean it doesn't require a certain amount and type of training. I'm no longer really a fast guy so short course activity is not going to produce much in results for me. But, it does require planning and execution prior to the start line. These are things I didn't do well. On a positive note, my goal was to stay under 3 hrs and I achieved that, possibly to the detriment of my personal health! I am a bit disappointed upon review how little changed between last year and this year. Last year I was approaching my last period of training for the big IM FL and felt in much better shape. Yet, other than the running SNAFU I was almost identical. Also, last year I placed 5th out of 32 while this year I was 11th out of 30. Roughly the same size field but I got a bit slower and a lot of people got a lot faster.


This still remains one of my perennial favorites in the SE. It's tough and the venue makes you know that. I enjoy seeing a lot of friends here and GA Multisports has upp'ed the game with a better race day vibe. Also, my tri club, Atlanta Tri Club (www.atlantatriclub.com), had 30 members race today!!! And man are they fast and getting faster. We need more slow members so I can feel a sense of accomplishment. :)

I'm very proud of them and what they've done this season. So many good stories to tell there. All-in-all, I was happy for the wake-up call personally and glad that I decided to attend this year's race. It was the best weather I've ever seen here and the field is definitely getting tougher.