HRCA Tune Up Sprint Triathalon - TriathlonSprint

I started out second in the wave. I quickly caught the first swimmer after the first lap. My plan was to swim sets of 75 free/25 breast but I ended up swimming the first 150 free to build a lead before I had to switch to breast. Around 250 or so I was passed by the guy who started third and I kept him within half a length.
Here's where the bullshit started. As we get to what feels like 500 yards, I hit the turn and look to the other end where the first place guy is getting out of the water. That means I should be getting out too, right? But I didn't get the notice to do so and as I looked at the lane counter, she was yelling at an official about what I think is the guy getting out of the water. So maybe he got out too soon.
So I head back down, do ANOTHER lap in which I get the last length signal, and jump out of the pool. Much too my surprise, as I look back into the pool, there is no one else in my lane! Not only was I in second place for the swim, but the 3rd and 4th place women were a full 3/4 of a lap behind me and yet were out of the pool before me.
So did I swim an extra 50 or was I the ONLY one of four to swim an actual 500? When I got out of the water I looked at my watch and it said 11:02. Based on a recent time trial and the fact that I only swam about 75 yard breast stroke, my time should have been in the low 10:00s. So I think I swam an extra 50.

I don't know. I know they're volunteers and believe me I'm thankful but is it that hard to keep track of ten laps?
I have a hard time keeping my own count so maybe I need to work on that.

Needless to say I was pissed off here and not concentrating well. I still got out well ahead of the two women who got out of the pool a minute ahead of me.

Nothing.

Without a doubt, this is the one place where I have a lot of time to gain so I really tried to push the bike more this year.
I tried to push the hills more, keep my cadence high, and really get as much out of the downhills that I could. I was passed only once and tried to keep him close.

Two minutes faster than two years ago! Finally progress on this tough bike course!

Great transition here.

2nd fastest T2 of the day and four seconds faster than last year.

Legs felt great and my cadence was good. Slowed down a little after the first mile but then pushed the last mile in. No stomach issues, no cramps, felt strong!

6th fastest run of the day and a 14 second PR for this course.

Walked around and stretched a little.


Lap counter.

So I think my actual time would have been about one minute less per having to swim an extra 50. Still wouldn't have had me in the age group awards but would have bumped me up about five spots overall.

Very very happy with this race! It's been nearly two years since my last triathlon and I took a good 5 weeks off back in February to deal with my Achilles issue. I had no idea how this tri would turn out and was shocked to knock about three minutes off my previous course PR. I'm always amazed at how my run comes back. My bike improvement is partly mental and partly riding with my friend Tom, who pushes me on the bike for sure.


A good race all in all. Sucks about the swim. Tom had the same problem last year and had to swim an extra 50.