Graniteman Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

This time included the ~150m run from the beach up to the transition area. This was only my 2nd OWS and we started from the beach so I am still trying to figure out the mass start. The waves were quite large and the beach was not so it was very crowded. In my first OWS I was lucky enought to get out in front and it was not a strong swim field but today was different. I tried to get out in front again but this time a lot of people stayed with me and it got pretty brutal. It took way more energy than I wanted to spend to try to fight through it. Finally after about 200m the field spread out and then the swim went pretty well. Sighting was ok, rythm and breathing were good, ended up being a decent swim other than the start.

Just need more experience with the mass start to be better prepared to deal with it.

Nothing out of the ordinary here. Need to try to speed it up though, I may start trying to bike without socks as it would help save some time.

I knew I was towards the front of my AG at this point but I also knew that the bike is my weakest leg and I knew I had to push it here if I wanted to post a good time. My plan was to stay around 18mph for the first 1/2 and push it the 2nd if I felt I could. Unfortunately I couldn't fight the temptation to push it so I held about 20-21 for the first 1/2. This problem was not helped by the fact that only 2 people in my AG (and only 3-4 total) passed me during this time and I was passing many people so my adrenaline kind of got me going as well. I knew I was pushing too hard but decided I would try to maintain the pace and see what happened on the run. We never really know what we are made of till we try right?

Need to keep pushing my bike fitness, I lose a lot of time on the bike leg.

The course finished on a small downhill into transition and I hit the dismount line and ran it in to the racks. As I threw the bike on the rack I heard psssssss...It sounded like my tire was leaking air...or someone around me, I couldn't really tell. At that point I didn't really care so I carried on and could find out whose tire it was later.

Need to get some speed laces, could have saved at least 20 seconds.

As I feared I had pushed too hard on the bike and paid for it here. This was really a painful run for me and it show in my time. I wanted to hold clser to a 7:30 pace and was a full minute off of that. The excitement of having only been passed by 2-3 AG competitors on the bike quickly faded as they started to file by on the run course. Lesson learned I guess and good information to take in to my training.

Better bike fitness.

Walked around, stretched and drank some water. My family came over and we all talked for a while. I went back to my bike to check on the tire and sure enough my back tire was competely flat. It must have happened on the way into transition. I was so thankful that it had not happened seconds earlier while I was still riding or out on the course. That was a very lucky bit of timing. The post race food was hot dogs which honestly did not sound that great at the time so after cooling down we packed up and headed out to find some lunch in town.


Overall I felt pretty good about the race. Just need to keep pushing in training and try to hold to the planned paces a little better.


This was a brand new race location for this race and I thought they did a good job organizing the whole event. I would do it again next year if it fits into the schedule.