10th Annual Wet Dog Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Well, I guess you can lead a Clydesdale to water, but you can't make him pace. Even though I heard from countless people that I should start the swim slow, I could not help but come out of there like I had been shot from a gun. For about the first 150 meters, I could have pulled a skier. After that, I struggled. I had to bust out some breast stroke when I rounded the buoy. On the way back in, I used breast stroke for about 1/3 of the time. Still, I wasn't upset with the swim. When registering, I estimated that my time would be 9:00. So, I guess I can't complain.

First, I wish I had started more slowly. I did a horrible job pacing myself, and I paid for it in the end. Second, I wish I had done more open water training. There really is no way to prepare for an open water swim in the pool. The water was surprisingly murky, so I think I overcompensated by looking up more than I really needed to. Before my next one, I am going to spend a lot more time working on navigating and swimming in open water to, at the very least, boost my confidence.

Both transitions were a part of the bike time. The first one went well, but the transition area was a pretty good way from the swim. It took a lot of time, but it did allow me to get my head together before transitioning. The transition area video on BT was a huge help.

I need to learn how to mount the bike with my shoes already clipped in and to put the shoes on as I am moving. I think that would help my transition time considerably.

I paced myself way too much on the bike. In an effort to properly hydrate, I drank too much and slowed myself down considerably. On the way out, I held back and realized at the turn around that I had a lot left on the bike. I was barely breathing hard at the turn. I killed it on the second half to end with the time that I did.

First, I need more time in the saddle. I could not really expect much more from myself considering that I have really only ridden my bike about ten times. I'm just still not that comfortable riding. Second, I need to decide on a better race pace. I held back much more than I really needed to. I am proud of myself for the second half of the bike, though. If I could keep that pace for a whole split, it will make a major difference.

Even though I practiced it, I chickened out of taking my shoes off while still going. I just clipped out. I don't guess that it really made a difference. I dismounted my bike and re-racked it in a hurry. I got my running shoes on great and took off...In the wrong direction. I got mixed up on the way out of the transition area. So, I ended up having to run completely across the transition area again to get to the correct run exit. It ended up costing me a pretty good amount of time.

I need to make sure that I pay attention to the entrances/exits of the transition area before the race starts. I think my mistake was really just nerves.

The run went very well. The only time I had a little bit of trouble was when I was trying to take a drink of water right before the last mile and it went down the wrong pipe. I had a little coughing fit, but ended up recovering. I kicked hard, just like I had planned.

Really, nothing. Considering that I never really knew where I was on the course until I could see the finish line, I did a really good job pacing myself.

I stretched and then dominated some chik-fil-a and Gatorade provided by the race.


Nerves and inexperience.


This was an AWESOME race to start on. All of the volunteers were great and the entire process went very smoothly. I enjoyed the race and plan on coming back next year.