Culpeper Sprint - TriathlonSprint

This was my first OWS event. Swimming still remains a weakness, but finishing this leg with most of my wave was pretty cool for me. I'm getting better. Start was a little tough... with the initial bunching of the wave, by the first buoy things had shaken out. Breathing wasn't great and I didn't really get comfortable until half way in. Tried drafting once and the guy went into a breast stroke.

I thought I'd be smart and wear my goggle straps UNDER my swim cap... which would have been fine except for not prepping them to not be foggy. At race time pulling them off, spitting in them, redoing my cap and so on, I may have missed the start. Also I had my cool polarized goggles and this was an overcast rainy swim... sort of like wearing sun glasses to drive at night, not smart. Should have had my clear goggles.

Not a great transition. Shoes and helmet went on great, but wrestling my top on takes the majority of my transition time. Had a little issue clipping my helmet.

This will probably be my last event wrestling with that top. I will either get a tri suit, a top I can swim in or something. Either that or I will just not wear a top.

The bike course was a lot busier than my first event. Contending with passing, not drafting, some traffic and etc. were experiences to build on. Had to pass a truck that was creeping up a hill. Overall I felt pretty good on this leg of the race.

Would have liked to have gone harder, but I gave it what I had on this particular day. Didn't have the oomph on hills like I normally do. Continue working on improving myself and the bike for the next go around.

Bike dismount line is at the top of a hill and on pavement... which was wet. I ditched my flying dismount idea, unclipped and got off unceremoniously. Ran, walked and jogged to bike rack drinking some water on the way. Really fumbled around on this one, still putting on socks and tying shoes which seems to take forever. Not to mention everything was wet at this point. Forgot to strap on my watch so I could keep some track of my pace/time.

I'm getting a hrm/watch that I can wear throughout my events, but most importantly to help pace my run. Running sockless... think my next pair of running shoes will be the new Zoots.

My 5Ks get worse and worse in spite of my training times getting better and better. Not a great run, went out with my legs feeling OK, passed a few people and paced the run with a few guys. Too slow though. Stomach felt a little icky from my gel. Otherwise I was soaked on the run from the rain. Honestly I would have preferred to be a little warmer, break a good sweat, maybe I'm just a little weird.

Run a faster pace, too reserved of a pace. I've decided my next race I might try some fig newtons on the bike segment or just drink water through the race, otherwise this feeling sick a little on the run stinks. So better pacing and figure out nutrition so I feel better on the run.

I was soaked from the rain drizzle, so I didn't have to cool anything down. There was a coffee tent and I enjoyed two cups of warm coffee. Put my soaked stuff away before the rain really started coming down and waited around until awards.


Lack of experience, need to put in more work in all three disciplines... primarily running and swimming.


I was very impressed with this event's management. Setup does a great event and given the conditions, they did a great job. By the time awards came around it was pouring rain and we were shoe horned under a pavilion. Hopefully next year we have better weather and I am better prepared for the event. The local master's swim program should be at the top of my list.