Tri-Shark Classic Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

276 out of 537 including all the pro's, elite, clydes and athena's. Bottom line is I am just not a fast swimmer - lol - but I am starting to feel like I can hold my own in a mass start and then settle in. After the initial 100 yards of beatin and bangin - I got into a groove and just swam. Felt I sighted really well, was on the inside hugging the bouys on the way around - couple peeps were just holding on to the bouy and floating, so it made for a little challenge.

Hey - shaved over 3 minutes off my swim time her last year, so I can't complain too much - would have like to been under 2:10 per/100 - but, I knew I could make up that 1.5 -> 2 minutes on the bulk of my age group on the bike.

ehh - could not find my cord on the suit as I came out of the water. Started walking for about 15 feet or so til I knew I had it and got the top half down. Started running into transition and ran up behind Nate - we racked next to each other, and I thought............this should be interesting - we got a chuckle - Nate had a seat and said go for it dude. Chucked the suit - little heel stuckage, no socks, slipped into shoes, on with the helmet and gone - as I am leaving, I see Glen coming up the hill into transition - he racked next to us also. This gave me a little 'juice' heading out for the bike.

Thought I was a little slower than my time indicates - think I could have taken another 10 seconds off this, but I was 1:43 in T1 last year without a wetsuit, so not going to complain.

Hey - 5th in AG on the bike and 39 out of 537 pro's, elites, clydes and athena's............damn right I'll take it. My fastest bike split in any race or TT to date. I worked my arse off for that 23.0 and I'm not giving it back! I struggled once again getting clipped in, but buckled down and hammered that entire ride and didn't give a squat weather or not I had anything for the run - 2010 is not about Tri-Shark, so I pushed the chips to the middle of the table and said..........'All-In'

Not a whole lot really - I may need to adjust my cleats and I would like to have this course on a dry day, but still felt it was my best effort. Shaved 4+ minutes off last years time of 37:40 and 20.7 avg. Diff course this year, so I thinked that helped some.

I was trying for a 1 min transition here..........so close, yet so far away. I figured I would be quick as I didn't worry bout socks due to the wet conditions and went with the Zoots all lubed up. I was out of my bike shoes and barefoot coming in - slid on the Zoots, and pssd around with my race belt (which cost me) - grabbed my hat and off. Had some traffic coming by my rack that I had to pause for.

I watched Chris do this in pictures from Petersburg, and I did it with my hat but not belt. Just grab the hat and belt and run with it til you put both on, instead of standing in transition buckling the belt - which I did and still put it on upside down - lmao. Was 1:33 in T2 last year, so gained some ground again.

lol............I was 85th overall of 537 coming out of T2 and finished 101 out of 537 (pro's elites clydes and athenas) and 79 out of 436 after the run. Ouch - 16 peeps passed me on the run.............and I felt I was running a good pace. Oh well - the bike was fun!!!!! lol

Not much - in hindsight, not sure how much I had left in the tank.......maybe some fumes that could have got me that 13 seconds and into the 24 min bracket, but again..........26:31 last year, so another 1:20 shaved off overall time.

2009: 1:24:06
2010: 1:15:13

Met CKinsey at the finish line...........gotta be honest here: Last year, I felt like everyone was waiting on me to finish, and I got to be 2nd in this year and cheer folks in, so there was a little pride here - but at the sametime, I focus on stayin humble as well............I'm just enjoying seeing the fruits of my labor and it motivates me to train even harder. Cheered in rest of T3 teammates, checked times, packed up transition and loaded bikes for the ride home - oh, and can't leave out a few bites of Firehouse pizza!


Genetics? lol...........kidding. Just continue to put the effort and time into training and it will come.


Once again - one of the TOP sprint tri's in the midwest - Great Venue, Race Director and Volunteers - it was a difficult day with the impending weather, and they pulled it off without a hitch! GREAT JOB Colleen!