Black Bear Olympic Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

I was pleased with the swim. I practiced OWS 3 times prior in addition to practicing in the pool since January. The swim time was faster than I was doing in the pool...hello wetsuit, race pace and trying not to let my neighbor (wave 4 minutes ahead) get to far in front.

Although not a fast swimmer I got fairly proficient at bi-lateral breathing this year. I was surprised to mostly bag that and breath on every left side stroke. Swimming with 100+ other dudes changes the game mentally and its something you just can't practice in the pool. Controlling your brain not to panic in OWS with 100 others is paramount.

I lined up on the outside left a few back. Seemed to work pretty good. I don't know if I should of stayed left longer or not. There were lots of hands and feet that never really went away.

I used a 2 strap Sidi road race shoe. Left the toe strap secured and the mid foot strap through the eyelet but not velcro'ed. The tongue is not secured so I had to wiggle it a bit. TRI shoes would help. Definitely think the uphill run barefoot and getting into shoes on board is faster. The distance from t1 to mount was a long par3.

Thanks Joe B for pressuring me to ride without socks and leave shoes clipped to bike.

At some point get tri shoes.

Lots of back pain from mile 1 through mile 15. Not something I had during training. I had gone lax on core workouts since April. I passed about ~40 people and had 1/2 that sustained a pass. I think many of the riders weren't training for the hills.

Continue core exercising daily.

took time to spray feet clean of grass with water bottle and put socks on

Maybe try a "sock-less" shoe for OLY races. It takes at least 30 extra seconds to put socks on...esp when feet are wet

I felt like I was running in slow motion. I passed only a few people and was passed by 20 or so. Some of that was the fast age groupers since this was a out and back x2. Some of it was probably people I passed on the bike. I wasn't hungry but I took the gels at the aid station that offered them before the dam. It gave me something to do to take my mind off the run to open it, squeeze it out and pocket it....sometimes the little mental things can make a difference.

My family was near the finish to cheer me on. That was nice since I got to pass them on both loops. On the last loop they put there hands out for high 5. As I passed them running I put my hand out and the runner behind me struck my calve with his knee. Not painful hard, geeze if it were the swim it would have been nothing...but it was enough to throw my hamstring into a full on cramp...instead of high 5ing my wife I came at her with a scream....I yelled "sorry, cramp!" and hobbled 100 yards to the finish staying ahead of the 4th place CLYDE by 20 seconds.

More bricks.
No high 5's till after the finish line.

Shivering packing the bag in transition.
Checked the race results thinking you don't know if you don't look (thanks Josh)
Ask my family and neighbor to stay a little longer because I think I'm the 3rd place fatty!



I think I could have done with less steps in transition. Maybe a sock-less run if that works in training. TRI shoes for bike.


This was my first TRI. It was a mental challenge throughout staying on top of how much energy to use in each event. The swim takes effort to stay focused and in control more than the transition, bike and run.