Gatlinburg Gateway Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Decent swim for me. Everyone had to share a lane but that was not a problem. I had enough room, just had make sure that I stayed to my side of the lane. Since it is Gatlinburg, I expected the swim to be hilly too but it was flat.

Still need better technique

Walked from the pool to the bike rack, maybe 40 yards. Could have jogged it and been faster otherwise reasonable transition. Fifth fastest transition.

Checked my bike the night before and learned that my front derailleur was broken and would not go out of the big chain ring (poor planning indeed). I made it up the first hill in the big ring albeit very slowly but no way I could make it up the last one like that. Stopped partway up the hill and put in smaller ring by hand but forgot to shift first so the chain went right back to the big ring. Stopped again and did it right then made it up the hill and into transition.

Check my bike with enough time to get it fixed.

T2 time was included with the bike but I didn't spend much time here. Water available in transition. No aid stations on the course but not really any needed for a sprint tri.

I was suprisingly still ahead of a friend from work at the turn around point. I thought he would pass me on the bike but I had a bigger lead on him after the swim than I thought I would have. He got right behind me at the end but I out-kicked him up the steep driveway to beat him by a few seconds. That is good for me because once he learns to swim better, I will never beat him again.

Horizontal in the grass 10 feet after the finish line. The sprint up the hill was harsh.


Banana pudding, oatmeal raisin cookies and ice cream


I like this sprint tri because it is a half mile swim. The other sprint tri's in the area are in a pool and have a much shorter swim due to a time trial start and swimming up and down each lane. Well organized and inexpensive. Be prepared for cool and sometimes rainy this time of the year. I plan to do it again next year. Not sure why less people did it this year than last year only 16 individual entries and 6 relays compared to about 30 - 40 last year.