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 Swim
Comments: DEATH SWIM! The waves were 3 to 4 feet high! This was like the stuff that ran the Minnow aground! I started off one stroke, two stroke, breath, OK, one stroke, two strokes, brea… mouth full of water as the waves crashed over me. Well, it just went down hill from there. I would get in a couple strokes and the waves would crash over me as I was trying to breath. Well this went on for God knows how long, the safety guys in the boats and kayaks were working double time pulling people out. But I kept dog paddling along, trying not to drown. I swallowed so much sea water, I threw up three times along the swim course, then I got to thinking, not only an I going to drown, now I’m chumming up sharks! As I went to exit the swim, I told myself that it is all easy from here! LOL, boy was I wrong! LOL What would you do differently?: Learn to swim in a very agitated wave pool, with 3,000 of my closest friends!  Transition 1
Comments: I took my time, just happy to be alive after the death swim! I did eat a gel and take a drink of water. What would you do differently?: Nothing  Bike
Comments: Once I got out of transition and on my bike, I got into a groove, I started in the small chain ring and had a good cadence and was getting up to speed. A few folks passed me at the start of the bike course, but I wasn't worried. As I warmed up, I started passing folks like it was cool. Well, the day before at the ‘mandatory’ race meeting, the head official stressed about staying to the right on the bike, also where the speed ‘humps’ were, if you stayed left it was flat and easy. About mile 11 or 12 I get over by a golf course and there are the speed ‘humps’ the official was speaking of. I’m towards the right anyway, cruising along about 20+ mph, I get to the right of the speed ‘hump’ and start to come back up and… BAM!!! The next thing I know I’m sliding down the road on my arse and shoulder, trying to keep my bike from getting messed up. The elevation from the shoulder and the road was about an inch off, so when I tried to get back up on the road, my front wheel went right, rear wheel went left and I went arse over tea kettle down the road! I assessed the bike wheels for still being round, handlebars were still on, but a bit bent and scratched but all in all, the bike was ride able. One of the lady’s that was golfing came over and asked if I was all right and offered to call 911 because I was bleeding and had some road rash. But the bike was OK and I still moving. I got back in the saddle and tried to regain the momentum I had before, but I didn’t get it. I could not get back up to speed; I guess I was just more careful and apprehensive. Overall it was a good bike ride, I enjoyed it! What would you do differently?: Try not to crash! Transition 2
Comments: No worries, nothing left but a little run. Ate me another gel, put on my running shoes and off I went. What would you do differently?: Nothing  Run
Comments: Not bad, I was just slow! I picked it up the last couple miles, but I was just happy to about be finished. What would you do differently?: Run faster Post race
Warm down: I drank gatoraide and towled off with a ice, cold, wet towel What limited your ability to perform faster: I don't know. Maybe it was the swim, or the bike crash that messed up my ju-ju. But, I was slow as a snail after the bike wreck. Event comments: A very good race, pre and post! This was my first 'real' triathlon so I don't have much to judge it on, but I had a great time and met some nice people along the way and I enjoyed it. Last updated: 2005-12-27 12:00 AM
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United States
82F / 28C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 2842/3500
Age Group = Novice
Age Group Rank = 37/42
Hummm, I was supposed to have a routine? I slept very good Friday night, got up had a good breakfast and went to the race venue about 13:30 (1:30 pm), check in, checked my bike in, enjoyed the festivities (they had free beer!), and bought some race souvenirs.
I made plans to stay with a Marine friend of mine in Clearwater (about 30 min north of the race). Mistake! I get to his house about 18:30 (6:30 pm) and he tells me about this little get together some of his girlfriend’s friends are having! I stayed out way to late, I drank way to much beer, but I had a good time! I hit the rack about 0-dark thirty (really late!).
I woke at 04:15 (4:15 am) found some of my cloths, washed my face, shaved and brushed my teeth and headed out to the race.
RACE PLAN ~ START SLOW AND TAPER OFF!
My swim wave didn't hit the water until 0855-ish, so I had plenty of time. I drank bou-coup water, due to the pre-race festivities I partook in the evening before. I arrived at the body marking/transition area about 05:15, got marked and layed my gear out. The swim start was about a half-mile walk around a marina; so I eased that way, not in a hurry due to my late swim start. Once at the swim start area I rested a little and stretched and tried to remain calm as the wind picked up and the waves were looking brutal, but more on that later.