Louisiana Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

The water was 82 degrees. This meant that I could wear my wet suit but not be eligible for prize/awards (which was of no consequence to me) AND start in the last wave....OR I could go without the wetsuit and start in the first wave with the other 200 people.

Peer pressure caused me to go without the wetsuit.

I treaded water and waited for 30 seconds to let the people clear out before I started. The only problem was I quickly caught up to them and was bumped and jostled anyway. Even with that being the case, it was pretty tame for such a big start.

The bouy's were very small and hard to see. I finally just sighted off the kyakers and followed the crowd.

The swim was long at about 1000 meters. I spoke to the swim course organizer and he said it was long and gave me what he thought it was based on the times of the leaders. I personally think it was because the bouy's were in a circular pattern and not a triangle.

I would definately wear the wet suit. Not only would it have made the swim easier, I would have had the valuable practice in transition. But most of all I would have started in a wave less that a fourth the size.

If I had to change anything that would be it.

I am glad we had timing chips for this race. I like to have the transitions separated from the bike.

I felt pretty good coming out of the water but glanced at the time clock and saw I was off pace. At this point I didn't know the course was actually longer than the 800 so it briefly bummed me out.

The bike is definately now my weakest link. My hips and butt got tired fast. There were no hills on the course. My cardio wasn't there for the bike. Compared to last year I am much better. But even when I was going 19 or 20 people were still flying by me.

I need to learn to drink water while riding. Currently I just drink in transitions.

Cramped transition was better this time because for some reason I managed to get back to the rack before half the people on my row.

I need to figure out why my feet go numb on the bike. Makes for a very strange and challenging T2.

Okay, I need to do more bricks. My hips and glutes were already wore out from the bike... this was the most uncomfortable run I have had in a long long time. Several times I considered walking.

I deem this run course evil. There is a lot of deception involved. After trudging to the first turn I could see the end of the race about a half mile away...tents, I could hear the annoucers, people were cooling down with slow jogs.... I figured I could make it all the way without walking even if it hurt a little bit.

Well as it turns out you have to run right past all that and finish up another mile. That mile was the hottest and most unconfortable mile I have had in the last 6 months. I'm not sure if it was lucky or unlucky but having spectators lining the area I wouldn't allow myself to walk.

I did make it the whole way.

Drink more.

Drank water!


I think that the lack of bricks and my over all weakness on the bike is becoming a problem. Maybe the heat is catching up with me also.


This was a big race. It was the biggest turn out ever for this venue. I don't think I could have ran 10k today. MiM is going to provide plenty of challenge. I'm glad I didn't attempt anything longer yet.

I was relying on that wet suit today a little to much. Not having it sucked. I need to get my ass back into the pool and start swimming my ass off.

Despite weak performance in all events I don't consider this race a failure. I never stopped and kept a *decent* pace. I would have liked to make a stronger showing though.

I am beginning to see a trend with myself though. I am not a "race-day" person. I do better in training and usually perform worse at races. Why? I haven't figured it out yet.