Fleet Feet Aquathon #4 - Aquathlon

At the gun I jumped out in front and dolphin dived for about 50 yards. I wanted to do that for as long as possible because I didn't have confidence in my swimming ability today. Some dude was swimming next to me as I dived and he kept up, and I was a little offended by that, actually. Once I started swimming he was gone. So was everyone else. I was very wide to the right with no one to draft off of. I tried to veer left, but every time I did someone who wanted to go off course ran into me. Slacked off a bit for the first 1/3 of the race, just trying to find some rhythm. In the second 1/3, I thought I found a good draft, but he/she got away from me after about 10 seconds. I think if I felt good today I could have stayed with him/her/it. I wound up pulling a lot of people through this section with no one right in front of me. Still didn't feel strong. In the final 1/3, my heart was finally working. Once again I tried to get a draft and failed. Finally decided to cruise in on my own, feeling lightweight sick to my stomach because I was actually pushing for this part.

I saw the clock when I was coming out of the water and said no effin' way! Out of 3 aquathons, this was my fastest swim split. And I didn't feel like I was swimming well at all. All those people passing me must have made a giant current or something.

Reasonably good T1. I would expect low 30's, but this is fine. I finally racked in the most ideal spot, just next to the run exit. This gave me time to strip while running in.

Not super happy with this run. I could tell my body had lost familiarity with running after a swim, because my legs felt like noodles the entire time. I also was breathing very heavily for the first mile, so I had to work harder than usual.

As is my way, I had a good first mile where I passed a bunch of people, then a second-mile slump, and then I willed myself to a good third mile. In this case the second-mile slump was due to cramping in my stomach. The food I had eaten was punishing me. At about mile 1.25 or so I stopped and did some of that bend-over-and-punch-your-stomach business to get rid of the cramp, because it had become unbearable. I lost two places there, which I would later make up.

Before the race I had planned to go for broke about 3/4 of a mile from the finish, because there was a hill that I thought I could use to my advantage. I learned before that kicking on the final 300-m straightaway is a bad strategy because everyone is going fast there and it's hard to actually pass. Earlier surges have a better chance of success. So, anyway, once I made my move I got the two places back which I had lost and there were two more guys within reach. On the final straightaway I was still really gaining on them, and then just before the 3 mile mark I felt myself getting ready to hurl. It was quite a strong urge, but I resisted and actually spoke out loud to further persuade myself to stay in control. The two guys were like 30 feet ahead of me and I could have outsprinted them, but I gave up the hunt because if I barfed I would not only lose those guys, but the guy behind me would probably beat me too.

Mile 1: 6:16, not too bad.
Mile 2: 7:40, I think I just get lazy here because the mental effort of the first mile is too much.
Mile 3 + 0.1: 6:47, back on track!

Not eat before the race!

THEN, push through the whole thing, noodly legs be damned!

Nothing really. I stepped in the lake but it wasn't too cold.


Racing with food in my stomach and no fluid in my blood vessels. I was spittin' dust during the run! The race was the reverse of my predictions, which doesn't make sense, but maybe I cashed in too much during the swim and then that made my run suffer.

Hey at least I'm consistent within my age group. 9th in the swim, 9th in the run, 9th at the finish.



Good race. As the summer progresses, the races in this series keep getting faster and more competitive.