West Point Lake Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

The time trial start was nice. It allowed me to get into a nice even stroke from the start inside the buoys due to the wind (which was fine so long as you went to the left of the turn buoy). It was a comfortable swim pace so I relaxed. I never found any faster feet to draft off of as the venue was rather wide and the TT start spread everyone out. My goggles fogged up but I kept going confidently without clearing them (around the 400M mark) -- which was a stupid mistake/laziness on my part. When I couldn't stand it anymore I cleared the goggles and didn't see anyone ahead of me. I had swum an additional 30M too far past the first turn buoy on a course (after talking to others post race) that was probably longer than 1500M to start with due to the wind. There was a current on the surface caused by the wind blowing against you after the first turn and I noticed drifiting to the right after the second turn. Generally I swim straight but there was a mild wind induced current.



Spit and water, spit and water, spit and water in the goggles before a race.

Practice navigation.

The exit was only 30 yards from Transition. I couldn't find my bike for about 15 seconds because I'm not used to being up near ANY exit and I was still a bit disoriented. Socks, shoes, glasses, gloves, helmet -- unrack bike and go. Nothing else to report.

After thinking about this and doing Chattanooga (with the T1 bicycle glove fiasco) I won't be wearing cycling gloves for Oly distance races. Might save a few seconds in T1 -- it would have saved over a minute in Chattanooga.

This course was comprised of rollers almost entirely, but they were modest grade for the most part. Good gearing practice and lots of places to pick up some speed to carry you over the next hill. Cycling is the part I worry about the most but in this case I was comfortable and gave a good effort. I was spinning out almost every time I hit a downhill (50/12 doesn't cut it for this race. I went and got an 11 tooth gear the day after.)

Ignore my HRM earlier.

Got the 11 tooth cassette gear so I could take full advantage of those downhills next year.

On the way into T2 (about 1/2 a mile from the dismount line) I was spinning to get the legs loosened up for the run. It definitely helped with getting past the brick.

There won't be gloves to remove the next time.

It's nice to make friends on the way. I caught up to one person who had played cat and mouse with me on the bike and he said, "I'll give you the run." I said, "Hurry up or all the cake and ice cream will be gone." I saw my concourse buddies on the run course. One was on her way to finish her very first sprint race with a respectable time and gave a low five. I doused with ice at each station and as I cooled I got faster. The finish was downhill for the last 1/2 mile. A bit of a kick the last mile helped the overall time somewhat.

Ignore the heart rate monitor and learn how to use RPE -- in fact don't even bring the chest strap for an Oly distance race. In fact, come to think of it, it misled me somewhat during HIM Florida.

After grabbing goodies I went down to the lake and soaked for 15 minutes. Came back and chatted with friends for a bit, said goodbye then packed it in.

Called Mom and told her I was ok and was going to Jason's Deli for lunch... She worries.


Navigation in the water. (spit, water, spit, water)

Lacking the 11 tooth gear.

Listening to the HRM too much (if at all) for a short race.


Again, Jim put together a very nice, well organized race. If it weren't so well set up I may not have gotten everything squared away after arriving so late.

Thanks to all the volunteers! They're the best!