New Jersey State Triathlon - Olympic Distance - TriathlonOlympic

I am just a slow swimmer. I have been trying to work at it but I can't seem to get any faster. So this time was on par with what I have been doing in the past. It was my first OWS without wetsuit so I was a little nervous about that. Even though I am slow, I am pretty good at sighting and holding a fairly straight line in the water. Some girl obviously could not and she zig zag swam into me probably 9 or 10 times. I just could not get away from her.

Work on my technique even more to try and improve my speed in the water.

Nice little hill to run up coming out of the water. I was out of breath when I got to my transition spot, not sure if it was from the swim, or just the heat or trying to sprint up that little hill after the swim. I took in a gel and a little water. I had a long run with my bike out of transition to the mount line. I felt like I didn't waste too much time at my spot, just had far distances to run in the bike shoes.

Not much.

They said it was supposed to be 25.5 miles but I think it was a little short, at least on my bike computer it was. I took in one and a half bottles of water (one of the bottles had NUNN in it). My stomach was growling about 16 miles into the bike, and that is when I realized that I really did not take in enough at breakfast. Gatorade does not sit well in my stomach so I get no liquid calories right now on the bike until I figure out my nutrition a little better. I felt like I was riding at better than a 16.83 avg, but I guess not. I was definitely beginning to feel the heat by the end of the ride and knew I was going to suffer on the run.

More time in the saddle. Very simple. I don't ride enough.

Very long run back through transition. I started running from the dismount line, then walked some, then jogged a little more until I hit my spot. Took time to reapply sunblock to my arms and shoulders ( I am pretty fair), grabbed my inhaler and garmin and was off.

I just have to learn to move a little faster coming in off the bike. One day I may learn to dismount leaving my shoes on the bike, but not ready for that yet.

Ran about a 10:10 pace for the first mile, then it went downhill. It was brutally hot! I went from my plan of run 4min/walk 1min to shuffle as far as I could and walk even slower when I had to! I don't think I have ever seen so many people walking the run at a tri as I did yesterday. I was taking in water at every aid station (about every mile) and dumping water on my head as well. The cooling rags at almost mile 5 would have been better at about mile 3. I was behind a girl in my age group at about mile 4.5 (we had been leapfrogging for about a mile before that). I decided that I was not going to let her beat me, so I ran past her at about mile 5.5 and did not stop running until I crossed the finish line.

Run more.
I have been having issues with re-occurring blisters for the past month and that has hindered my run.
The heat definitely played a part in my poor performance. I think the heat index was at least 100 degrees and I have not trained in any heat that is that brutal.
I was hoping to keep my run below 11 min miles in the heat, but this was a real reality check.

Went through the misting tent. It felt great. Grabbed a bottle of water. Took a bite of the pizzas they were handing out and spit it back out. Gross. Walked around for a few minutes to drink and eat a pretzel then gathered my gear and headed out.


Not enough training. Hot/humid weather.


Very well organized race! Lots of volunteers, course was well marked. My only suggestion would be to hand out those cooling rags sooner on the run on a hot day like yesterday.
I would definitely come back and do this race again!