Mini-Mussel - TriathlonSprint

Got in the water, warmed up, and I could tell my swim would be good....just felt easy. Started off hard, typical sprint swim, nothing too exciting...came out in good position

Got on the bike and wasted little time, as this is my strength. On the way out, there was a tailwind, whenever my speed was over 30, I soft pedaled or coasted as I wanted to conserve for the headwind on the way back. Passed a few riders, and was told I was in 3rd by a volunteer, and felt really good, and thought I had a shot, though with wave starts it's hard to tell. Not the position I expected to be in today as the bulk of the competition was in this wave.

Headed back into the wind, and conserving power I believe helped, as I was able to extend the gap on some folks behind me. Did get passed by one guy, a local rival of mine, however from experience I can out run him, so just tried to stay behind him 4-5 lengths. He gapped me at the end by a good 1-2 minutes, but a fast T2 on my part had him leave for the run only 5 seconds ahead of me.

good T1!

I thought ... holy shit, wasn't expecting this based on how I felt... now just run, it's only 3 miles, top 5 is in reach, from there maybe I can sneak into BOUS....

I actually felt good, and was about to pass 3rd, then out of nowhere, side stitch comes on, I think it's just like any other, and it will pass, so I push through it. Then, it feels like someone is twisting a knife into my mid section--a sensation I'm sure we've all had.

Crap. No. Not now.....6:30/mile becomes 7:00, 7 becomes 8, 8 becomes I got to walk.

What is this I think? This is a 5k in a sprint? Suck it up. Start running again, each footstep causes the pain to become more intense. I have to stop. Don't. Run. It's only pain. 15 more minutes. Chase him down. Block it out.

None of the mental tricks work. Sadly I walk again, embarrassed to look as I am being passed. Darwin Theory of Evolution and Natural Selection has never been more clear. I'm the wounded buffalo in the heard; the "inferior species."

In the end, I walk 2 times for 1-2 minutes each time, quite a bit for a 5k...but I do find a way to suck it up, and run (I use the term "run" loosely).

Hit the tape fairly discouraged; but such is IM training I suppose.

slowed down as soon as stitch came on. I tried to push through it and that took me over the edge.

lack of motivation during the run. Side stitch.


I simply love this race, but both last year and this year did not perform. Last year it was the bike, this year the run.

After thinking more, I believe it was a combination of dehydration and pre diet.

Though I really think it was just a bad day...we all have bad days sometimes.