TRY SPORTS Battle at Buckhorn Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Started out drafting well except I kept getting too close. I let up a little to avoid getting kicked, but then I lost a lot of ground quickly. I drifted a little inside of the 1st buoy, but corrected in time. From here on I was with a small group in the back except when the next wave's leaders were flying by me. This one guy was doing elementary back stroke and was killing me with his frog kicks. Went wide around him. Almost got sick in the water, maybe from the late PowerBar. That would have been really gross. Overall, I felt slow but steady.

Eat earlier and stick with the wave as long as I can kicked or not.

This was just ridiculously slow. I come out of the water too disoriented. Maybe I'm just so relieved the swim is done that I feel like the race is over. I talked to the family a little, lost my balance getting out of the wetsuit, and folded it up neatly out of the way.

I did remember to take my gel coming in.

Something, I just don't know what.

I started out too slow, stuck behind a guy getting into his shoes and having trouble with the intial turns and not staying at all right. He almost crossed the yellow himself not passing anyone. I just wanted to go a little faster, but didn't want to waste energy sprinting by him.

Once on the 1st main road (wonderful new pavement) I passed and was rocking along >20, but it was a little more uphill than I thought. After one hill I just couldn't get any speed back. I started checking for flats or rubbing breaks. I did get back up to a good speed after the turn onto rougher roads which I guess were not as generally uphill.

This was a really enjoyable ride. I even enjoyed the one killer hill. I was standing for it and calmly (and slowly) picking my way through other riders. I was spent at the top, but it felt great!

I managed to take a gel on the bike 36 minutes in. I was starting to feel sluggish so I took it a little early than the 45 plan.

Pass when I feel like passing and let them repass if they need to.

Great dismount at the line. Really tired running in, I had literally just said, "I'm done," right before seeing the park entrance. I racked my bike the handle bars this time wich is more stable, so faster to set it up straight. Switch to the shoes was good. Grabbed the visor with race belt attached and ran.

Nothing.

Decided first thing that my earlier gel was too early to get me to the finish so I took another. I felt like I pushed hard most of the time and was on the verge of overheating the entire run. Drank very little but dumped most of a cup on my head at each aid station.

My feet were hurting, or maybe just falling asleep, late in the run. I switched my yankz from a really old pair of shoes to my current shoes and they had some tight spots.

Don't switch laces the night before a race. In my defense, this is just a tune-up race for me to try to break some speed goals at Gary Kirby.

Going to get an ice cold Coke. ;) I continued to walk and I did stretch, but nothing specific.


Training. I have improved in my competitive spirit.


Although I tend to look for races that play to my strengths (or away from my weaknesses) and this has a long swim, it was great! The bike course is the highlight for me, but the swim is nice and the run is fairly flat. I think they should make this an oly or half and really take advantage of those rural roads.