Hammerhead Olympic Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

This was NOT 1500m. Someone with a 310XT said it was long by at least 100m. Last week I swam 1800yds (about 1680m) in 30 minutes...and I was NOT even winded. This pace was WAY over that, and I had lots of clear water to swim in...no traffic, no chop, no current. No way did I swim a 30 minute 1500. It was at least 1600 to 1700.

I was wearing a speedsuit...which, admittedly, was probably too tight cuz it was kinda hard to breathe...it pressed hard on my stomach which made me a bit nauseous. Other than that though, my pace was good and strong, I felt good. Breathing and sighting were great.

Nothing...this was the most comfortable and strong swim I've had all year...I think this was closer to a half iron swim than an Olympic distance swim. Kinda disappointed, but there's nothing I'd do differently.

2:36 transition time includes run from beach, around transition, into transition and actual transition time.

I took off my speedsuit top as I ran out of the water, and stripped the rest of it as I got to my bike. It was off in a flash, as were my cap and goggles. I just threw on my helmet, shoes (no socks), and sunglasses...unracked the bike, and went. No problems.

Nothin...flawless transition...probably my best all year.

I had a great bike today. Probably even a bit too fast. I hacked up a bit of Gatorade on the first lap, probably a by-product of feeling nauseous on the swim. But that was over quickly. I definitely didn't eat/drink enough on the bike. I took a gel at Mile 13 and had one aerobottle full of Gatorade thru the entire bike leg. Bad Q. Bad example to my athletes...don't race like this!!

Still though, picked up a bunch of spots here, got passed by a few of the super fast cyclists.

I knew coming in to T2 that my run was gonna suck. I was dehydrated, I was tired, my legs were on fire. UGH.

Drink/eat more. My pace was too hard for the amount of nutrition I had with me. It's not that I'd go less hard, I really should have planned for better bike nutrition.

Perfect T2. Less than a minute in to out. Just threw off the bike stuff and put on running shoes and race belt. I was already feeling really pukey again though, so I knew the run was gonna be a challenge. But I just put one foot in front of the other, took two cups of water as I left the transition area, and went on my way.

Nothing.

Usually I'm in the top 3 or 4 on the run. This was NOT my best run. It wasn't the course...it was my nutrition that kept me from doing well here.

Pure hell. It was hot...I knew I was dehydrated, I probably wasn't absorbing anything. As I left transition I took two cups of water and immediately felt nauseous again (seeing a pattern here??). I got to Mile 1 in 7:30, Mile 2 in 15:02, but then...pukage. Took a swig of water and Gatorade and it happened. I spent about 20 seconds throwing up, then continued. Got up the big hill at Mile 3, took some water, got to the turnaround, ran back to the aid station, more water...more pukage. That's three times for the day. I was ready to just quit. I already "knew" my 2:29 was out of reach so I thought... I'll just slow down and maybe I'll still PR the course (went 2:32 last year). But no, I had to keep going. At Mile 5 I had 12 minutes to go 1.2 miles so I thought...ok that's 10 minute pace, I KNOW I can keep that. BARELY. I had absolutely nothing left. My body wasn't absorbing anything, there was water sloshing in my stomach. At the "1/2 mile to go" sign, I started cursing the sport of Triathlon for sucking me in to this lifestyle!! But I was at 2:25 and I figured, OK, at 8 minute pace, it's less than 4 minutes. It took most of that to get to the finish area...when I saw the clock, it said 2:29:02 and I was about 40 yards from the finish...I said alot "fuck it...I'm not sprinting".

I crossed the line at 2:29:24 and immediately just about fell over. Race done.

As far as the run itself, nothing. I did the best I could with the condition I was in. There was no way to bring back my nutrition at the start of the run, so I had to just do what I could.

I tried as hard as I could to get water in my and ON me...but they were running out of water. I took a water bottle that I saw on the ground and filled it up with the melted ice in the water cooler...it was full of dirt but I didn't care. I just swigged it, dumped it, swigged it, etc.


I was extremely dehydrated, core temp was way over 100, and I couldn't see or breathe. Jeff Parr had to help me up a few times. I threw up a fourth time I think...I can't really remember.

Yeah I PR'ed the course AND the distance but I definitely didn't race smart. Part of me thinks I should have DNF'd. I think I came pretty close to needing an IV.


My stupidity in not making a solid nutrition plan for the effort I gave. This was fine nutrition for a training day, but for race day, it was probably only half to a third of the calories I needed. WHAT IDIOT DOES AN OLYMPIC TRIATHLON ON 500 CALORIES?!?!?!?!


Other than running out of water at the finish line (it was 95 degrees dammit...how can you run out of water?!?!), the race is always great. It's one of my favorite races of all time. That's why I go torture myself in the heat there every year. Since I went 2:29 there, I feel like I don't need to go back now, but Idunno...I might be able to do better next year...