Kure Beach Double Sprint Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

This race was swim, run, bike, run, swim, (4 transitions!) so I'll have to double up the comments.


Swim 1, 410 yards (9:21) - Had trouble getting out through breakers, but once out there I got into a groove. Sighting was ok, but it was hard to see the buoys because of waves. Getting back into shore was challenging, but I did the best I could. Swim 1 time includes T1 time.

Swim 2, 410 yards (12:08), last segment - Had even MORE trouble getting out to buoy since this was the final segment and I was already exhausted from the rest of the race, but once there, found that groove again. My goggles fogged up and I could not get a sight on the third buoy. I thought I was being pulled left towards shore and was afraid I would end up left of the buoy, so I kept trying to sight it which slowed me down. Turned out I was right on course but just couldnt' see it because of the waves. Coming in to shore I was trying to swim as long as possible, but I got pummeled by a big wave that knocked me and I couldn't get swimming again. So I stood up to come in and got sucked backwards. I had a much harder fight getting out of the water that second trip because I stopped swimming to soon. Swim 2 time includes T4 time.



This was my first beach start ocean swim, so I'm ok with what I did. I mostly need practice going out and coming back in.

This race had four transitions which were not chip timed. So chip times are included in the segments.

T1: Ocean to run - Pulled off goggles and cap while running to my spot on beach. Put on sunglasses, grabbed shoes and ran up to the boardwalk where I stepped in the baby pool to rinse feet then shoved wet feet into shoes and ran. I had worn my run number on the swim so I just had to pull it out of shorts.

T2: Run to bike - Kicked shoes off while putting on helmet. Put cycles shoes on and ran with bike. Had trouble clipping in at the bike mount.


Here's my little stick in the sand transition spot!




Me, Ginger, and Carol


Fayetteville Area Tri-Warriors! Jason, Me, and Pete


Just..... focus I guess. Not sure why I had trouble clipping in.

Nothing really to say about the bike; just did the best I could! This was out and back twice on a flat fast course.

A lot of people opted to use cages so that they would not have to change shoes twice. I tried this on Friday night before the race and made it one mile before turning around to go put my clips back on (hated it!). I'm SO glad everyone advised me NOT to change my pedals.

Nothing.

T3: Bike to run - Racked bike by brakes, removed cycle shoes, put on run shoes and ran.

T4: Run to swim - I pulled off my shoes as soon as I crossed the chip mat on the beach so that I could run barefoot through the sand to my spot. Dropped my shoes, grabbed my cap and goggles and headed for the swim start farther up the beach. By now I was overheated and out of breath from the run, so I shuffled rather than ran to swim start to make sure my breathing was under control before jumping back into the ocean. But I was looking forward to the COOL water!

Nothing

Run 1 (13:13) - This was slower than I'm capable of for such short distance. Was already getting hot. At one point I thought, "pace yourself." Then I remembered this is a Sprint... just RUN! No pacing, just RUN! Run 1 time includes T2 time.

Run 2 (14:12) - Was into the 90s by now and HOT. Flashback to White Lake Bake! I felt heat drained and was barely running. All water stops had only hot water. Run 2 time includes T3 time.

I should have pushed harder on first run; no excuse there. Second run was what it was; I could not have done much better with the heat/humidity after already swimming, running, and biking.

Walked it off. Had water, cold soda, and a sandwhich wrap.


Heat


This was my first double sprint and I LOVED it! It was so fun to mix things up a bit. Setup did a wonderful job as always and I would definitely do this race again.

Two things would have made it better. All the water stops had quite hot water. And there was only one small baby pool to rinse feet and it was only 1/3 full of water. It would have been good to have more foot bath pools.