Seahorse Triathlon - Olympic - TriathlonOlympic

I seeded myself bad to start this swim off. I should have stayed near the back like I normally would, but I was feeling that my swim had improved so much more this year. I got kicked, bumped and even dunked, all in the first 200M or so. At this point I just panicked and started to hyperventilate. I couldn't get my breathing under control and at one point I seriously thought I was going to get pulled out of the water and DNF!

I literally stopped, tread water for a little bit to let the crowd get some distance and to get my breathing under control. Then I started off again. By the time I reached the first turn buoy, I had things under control and I was in finally going good. I wouldn't say this was my fastest swim pace and I know I could have done a lot better. I did have to take a few short breast strokes on the first long stretch on the back to do some sighting, but other than that I was fine.

Once I made the turn around to head out on my second lap I knew I was going to make it and I just let myself settle into a good stroke and enjoy the swim.

I need to get more OWS in and if possible I need to swim with a bunch of folks around me to get more comfortable with drafting and swimming in a crowd.

There was a very long uphill climb out of the lake to the TA, then you had to run down the length of the TA on the outside and since my bike was at the far end, I ended up running the length of TA twice basically. But all was good, I was closer to the bike out spot I guess.

Need to work on getting the wet suit off better. I have only worn a wet suit twice now and still not sure how to do this faster.

I loved this segment of the race. This was my first Oly and I am using my Oly distance races to really work on my race pace for my HIM coming up in September. My major goal for this race was to keep my HR down and keep a good pace going and be comfortable during the majority of the ride. That said, mission was accomplished for this race.

Now for the bad stuff, and I really wish that more race directors would put officials out on the bike course. My first lap I caught up to a group of about 10-15 bikers. I was playing leap frog with 2-3 of them for a few miles but at one point I was stuck. It was either attempt to pass the entire group or drop back so that I wasn't drafting off the back of the last person. So I kept my distance and I got dropped completely by this group. I am not sure if they where drafting on purpose, or if they just where not thinking about it, but most of them where definately drafting and the entire group was never seen again. Then I couldn't tell you how many times I saw major infractions on the bike course. I saw countless times where people where blocking, again either intentionally or not, saw riders riding 2 and 3 side by side, with nobody really attempting to pass. I saw two bikes at the end of my 1st lap cross the double yellow line near the police car so that they could pass a stopped van. If the police officer had waved the car in the oncoming lane through, these two riders would have been hit head on and no place they could have bailed. In my opinion these two riders should have benn DQ'd, they could have been killed with what they did.

With all that said, I just flat out had a blast on this bike. Anyone that I passed or passed me knew this right off, as I was talking up a storm with them. :) Just seeing how their race was going, seeing if they where doing ok and trying to offer them encouragement. I saw one guy with a flat tire and he was trying to fix it. I offered to help him or give him another tube, but he refused so I kept trucking along.

Not much, I think maybe in my next Oly I might turn up the intensity a little bit on the bike. Like I said, I was trying to work on pacing and I did a great job with it this race, but I think I might have been able to ride a little harder without hurting the run to much.

I was so into the race and the bike that I forgot to get my feet out of the shoes before getting to TA. Oh well it happens. I also dropped my sun glasses and had to lean the bike up against the TA post, go get them and then get into TA. I probably lost 20sec doing that.

Not drop my glasses and remember to take my feet out of my shoes.

I wasn't sure what to expect on this run. Again I was trying to work on my pacing for my HIM in September and I was trying to keep my HR down as much as possible and keep a good steady pace.

On the first loop I walked every single up hill and walked in aid stations to get water. Second loop through I ran more of the hills but still walked at the aid stations.

I saw a number of athletes walking during my run. As I passed them I would encourage them and most of them would pick up to a run again with me for a little bit. I joked with most of the folks out on the course with me still and I had a good time. I wouldn't say I pushed very hard on the run and it is something I will work on in my next Oly.

I got a huge surprise on the first loop of the run also. My two step daughters and their friends had decided to volunteer while at the race today. They where out on the run course at various spots and two of them where at the water station just before the park area. It was a great surprise to see all four of them on my first loop and it really gave me some extra energy to keep moving so I could see them again. :)

Probably run the hills during both laps and push a little harder on the run. I was afraid of blowing up on the run as I hadn't completed this distance yet, but after looking at the race data, I know I can go faster here.

Just me being very cautious. My fitness level is really about where I would expect it to be right now. I held back a lot on my own, which was very deliberate as I was working on pacing for my September race. In the future Olys, I will attempt to race a little faster and see how things shake out.


Fantastic race! First race I have ever done outside of Ohio and I was a bit nervous as to how it would be organized. I think I will be back next year if I can fit it into my schedule again.