Blue Lake Olympic Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

Started out right off rthe bat and got into a good pace and started to find a person to draft. About half way to bouy one ended up alone and eventually ended up able to draft again as we got closer to bouy 1. Maintained contact with one person all the way to shore after bouy one. It was a great swim. This was my first Olympic Distance Race so I was pretty stoked when I got out of the water and checked my watch. Was shooting for anywhere between 27 and 28 mins. At the beginning I was actually thinking 30 min. sounded good.

Nothing really. I thought I had a pretty good swim and drafted well. Some minor drifting but my sighting every 8 or 9 strokes helped. Felt strong at the end.

It was muddy as all get out. Put helmet on and glasses while stripping wetsuit. Should have just left the glasses. My calves were cramping up real bad while trying to put on my socks, but just kept at it and tried to stretch them out on the bike.

Try to stretch more before the swim and get a warm-up swim in to loosen my legs some.

Took as much advantage of any wind at my back I could in sections that allowed me to push the pace over 20 MPH. Was trying to average high 19's. Ended up in that range. Tried not to respond too much to other age groupers passing me and stay within myself and my planned race.

Need to get more miles in on the bike to be able to push the pace more. Given my run time I think I might have been able to push it a little harder than I did. However, it was my first Olympic Distance Race and I believe I made the right decision to stay with my original plan.

Forgot to take my phone out of my running shoe prior to the start of the race. Went to put my shoe on and there it was. Also my race number ripped away from my race belt and had to stop and reattach it to the bottom hole. Lost my Gu pouch as well as I went to put on my belt. Found it after the race laying one bike rack away.

Put everthing in its place before the race. Don't let the conditions alter your regular pre-race routines whensetting up your transition area. Use regular race belt with snaps and keep gu in back Trisuit pocket or one with water flasks or Gatorade Flasks. Use flasks regularly in training and kind of missed having one with me on the run.

Wanted to run about a 9 min per mile pace in the first half. Came in under that by about a min or more. Used it at the turn around to take in electrolytes and walk for about 30 sec. Was able to get my heart rate down and maintain running form when I started running again. Second half I quickened my pace until about half mile left and then up'd the pace again. Passed two same age groupers in the last half mile. One of them tried to pull me back in at the end but I was too far ahead and was not about to let him catch me. Last year I may not have taken advantage of these opportunities for fear of bonking right at the end, but I generally have a pretty good feel for how far out I can begin up'ing my pace and finishing strong.

Where a flask belt and keep moving without having to stop and walk at turn around. Was able to gain ground I lost. Actually ran a strong race so may not have done anything differently this time. Good opportunity to evaluate after the race and get stronger and learn from how my body responded to the race overall. Need to develop a faster overall pace which will come with more mileage and speed work.

Too muddy to really do anything like short jog. Did end up riding back to the parking lot after the race 1.5 miles.


More bike miles, run miles and having experience at Olympic Distance so I know how my body will respond.


Very muddy conditions. Well run race. Volunteers were somewhat subdued due to the conditions they were working in. Basically huddling up to stay warm and dry as possible; don't blame them especially the ones out on the bike route. The volunteers on the run were wonderful and cheering.