Pacific Coast Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Although understandable, the change was extremely dissapointing to myself and others as well. Although the countless hours of dolphin drills and ocean entry/exit simulations was never put to the test, safety is first.

The sprint back on the beach was quite nice but be sure to save something to run up the ramp. The ramp is short of 1/4 mile but has a gradient in excess of 12%.

Swam.

Without the wet suit and sandy feet, the transition was extremely fast. Helmet, glasses, shoes, bike, and I was off.

Rack the bike as close to the T1 exit area as possible. Although there were lots of bikes, there were still plenty of room. More of the transition area would have been covered in running shoes vs. bike shoes.

Original strategy was to reduce the barefoot run by racking close to the T1 entry and T2 exit area.

The hill climb into the first turn at the Laguna Beach city boundary was not that bad on the first lap. However, the second time around was a grind. Saw a few athletes on the side of the road trying to get their chains back onto the sprocket. Passed a few going down hill in the aero position just to give back the position uphill. Was too amped up to remember to hydrate and started to cramp up on both calves during the latter part of the second loop. Remembered a video on BT on how to stretch while riding (life saver!) Stretched/pedaled/stretched on the home stretch.

Need to put more time in the saddle on hill climbs and remember to drink at every opportunity.....get more comfortable with drinking while pedaling in the aero position.

Could still feel the cramping in both calves while putting on the running shoes. Race belt and Yankz or Zoot shoes a must for a quick transition. Started the run with a bottle of propel in hand to try and salvage what ever hydration I had left.

Reduced the distance run in bike shoes by racking closer to the T1 exit.

The first 1/2 mile was a half limp, half stretch, and constant hydration endeavor. Both calves started tightening up and it did not feel like any of the brick sessions I've done. Cheering on the athletes on the bike segment on their hill climb next to the Sugar Shack was great. The cramps completely dissapeared and I picked up the cadence and pace considerably passing others along the way.

Hydrate more before the run, consider use of compression socks, and hydrate more before the run.

Continued hydration at the Trader Joe's buffet, Juice it Up smoothy gave me a brain freeze, walked around the expo area, and stretched calves, PT, hamstring, and quads.


Lack of hydration.


The swim segment cancellation was a bummer but being my first tri, I was more prepared physically and mentally than expected. Left with an empty feeling and lack of satisfaction because my training was focused on my worse area (the swim) The event itself felt like the two mock tri's I completed the weekends prior to the taper week and I was not sore at all. Left with more confidence but the perfect temperature, gorgeous scenary,and moderate effort level made me feel lik this even was too good to be "tri"