Toyota Desert International Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

Got a dolphin start. I'd just read about that in Triathlete magazine and figured why not try it out. I was about midway between. Kept pace with another woman to my right and got a mouth full of water when she was splashing and I was coming up to get air. Had to re-group and started swimming again. Then, my cap felt too tight since I'd put on my warmwear and the red race cap on. My head felt like it was getting squeezed. I realized I still had a long way to swim so I'd just better deal with it and get going. The green buoy kept getting closer. Not too congested around it, except the faster guys from the wave behind us caught up and I promptly got konked on the head by some guys elbow. Funny, how I knew it was a guy from the sheer force and weight of it. He was a bigger guy, too. So me in my red cap and several others in red, some in white from the previous wave and then a sprinkling of blue caps. The rest of the swim went pretty well for me. I just kept my rhythm and started trying the hip flip instead of just powering it with my arms.

Maybe just keep working on my speed. Maybe start a little further up. I did not once think "Why am I doing this" on the swim. I usually do. So, a small victory.

I knew this would be a long transition. It was raining and I wanted to make sure I got my jacket on. It did take me a little longer to get the wetsuit off and the sock on, esp. with the rain. But I wanted to be warmer on the bike so I took the time to put on a long sleeve.

Maybe jumped up and down to get my wetsuit off my feet or try LOTS of body glide around my legs?

I had to put my gloves on in the first couple of miles. I had put little heating pads in them which may or may not have worked, but my hands weren't numb like last year. I went down in aero and used my teeth to pull my gloves on. I think I could find a better way? But having those long fingered gloves probably made a huge difference in my comfort level.

Not much.

Again, because of the rain, I had put extra socks in my running shoes and my running shoes in a plastic bag. It was a good move. My bike socks were soaked and I didn't want to risk blisters. So dry socks to start and dry shoes (at least for a while). I did grab my ipod, which I'm sure took some time away, but I got out on the course fairly fast after the shoe/sock change. My hat was soaked so I wrung it out and just put it on, figuring it would at least keep more rain off my face. I grabbed my Garmin and stuffed it in my back pocket.

Not mess with Garmin or get a new one that I don't have to "mess" with. :)

It kept beeping from all the motion on the bevel and when I pulled it out it was on some funky screen. I tried for a little bit to get it on my wrist and set up, then just realized it would take more time than it was worth. Again, just used my body. No aches or pains during the run, which is nice. I kind of trotted and focused on my form. I picked up the pace the second half. I do wish I had a split time.

Forget the Garmin.

Walked to find a banana and water. Lots of puddles and mushy,grassy mud. People huddled under tents. I just wanted to get my stuff, get to the car and have a hot shower.


Rain? I didn't taper for this at all. It was a tune up and training race for Oceanside.


I like this race. I think the organizers do a fine job. Some people would like more food choices, but I'm so damn picky as long as there's water and a banana right away that's fine. I don't go for burgers and pasta or beer anyway. I brought my own hard boiled egg and choc. soymilk anyway.