TriAmerica Series: Clermont- Sprint Distance - TriathlonSprint

The further right you started on the beach, the shorter you could cut the course. But they sent everyone 20 and over off at the same time, 74 people. So I decided to start on the left side and knew with a good start I would grab the hole shot. Ran out good and got to the point where I needed to start swimming. Other people were still trying to run, but swimming was better. Went out really hard and tried to push out to the front. The water was actaully pretty open on the inside since everyone stayed outside. Had some problems breathing and fight like my chest was being constricted by the wetsuit, but I kept going knowing/hoping it would get better. Turned the first buoy and there was not many people around so I knew I got out good. After this turn I was getting into a better rymthm. Grabbed some feet and just drafted off them. Had a few times were people would swim side ways and run into me. I would look up and be on the same line so it wasn't me. About half way through I started passing people from the wave in front of me and never got passed from someone behind me. Had a good strong finished as I followed someone in. I would try to pass him and he would just zig zag into me.

Nothing

So the run from the water to the transition area was actually a pretty good distance. My wetsuit is pretty tight around my legs so it makes running a little hard. I was in such a zone I didn't even noticed they had wetsuit strippers out there. I ran right past them and into transition. Got to my bike and got my suit down around my ankles. Stepped out of it while I got my helmet and glasses on. Already had my shoes on my bike.

Nothing. Maybe not strap shoes on bike. See below!

So the course was initially listed at 25k. Then the results had it at 22k. But the speed was calculated at 20k. I think the course was still shorter then 20k.

So got to the mount line and hopped on my bike. Got one foot in my shoe and the other on the top. Started going up the big hill right out of transition. Figured I would get my other in at the top. But about half way up my foot feel off my shoe and everything was down hill from there. Tried to start up again, but the hill was to steep. Got both feet into shoes and tried again, but couldn't get both feet clipped in. So had to run up the hill and clip in at the top. Worst possible start to bike leg ever.

Course was hilly then I expected but was doing well. Hit the first big hill and was probably in too big a gear but make it up the hill okay. There was another big hill on the out and back section. Just before our turn around almost got hit by a car. I was passing someone on the left and a car coming towards me goes to pass a car and comes out right in front of me. Fortunately i had time to get back over and not hit him. Otherwise the bike was pretty uneventful. There were 2 really nice downhills, however you couldn't take full advantage of them because there was a right hand turn at the bottom of one, and transition at the bottom of the last. So i see the sign for transition and get one foot out of my shoe. But then hit the big downhill and didn't have time to get the other foot out. Hopped off the bike with one shoe still on. I'm sure I looked like a pro at this point.

Know the course better.

As I mentioned, I only got one foot out and had to run into transition with one shoe still on. Well they make you run all the way around transition to enter it, so its no short run. But overall I was fine in T2

Nothing

Started out and felt pretty fatigued. But pushed through it. Hit the first mile marker at 7:30, so I was at an okay pace. Hit mile marker 2 at 15:00. So stayed on pace and started feeling pretty good. Had a rabbit in front of me the entire time. We played leap frog on the bike first, then he was about 10yds in front of me the entire run. When he slowed for water I would catch him, but then he would take off and get the 10yds back. Well at the end I put in a good kick at the 3 mile marker and out sprinted him and another guy in the finish chute. The chute was about a 110* turn off the trail. Wanted to finish the run in under 23:00, but was still happy with this.

Nothing

Walked around, stretched for a minute.


Not knowing the course


Not a bad race. Had the awards ceromony at 11:00 for the sprint, which was nice. Overall, I would do this race again.