Big Shark New Town Triathlon - Triathlon

Longest OWS yet and I was pretty comfortable. I did take in some water a couple times when I sighted. I swam pretty straight (for me) but I need to breathe different when I sight.

I stopped a couple times to collect myself even though I wasn't tired. I need to not stop just like I try to make myself not walk on the run.

T1 is a guess because they messed up the mats. No big deal. The bikes we racked a little close so I couldn't stand on my towel. I sat down to put on my socks which probably cost me a few seconds. No big deal.

Nothing.

My bike speed has been improving every week (first year of road biking). My goal was 20 mph average. I was at 22 on the way out so I knew I had a tailwind and kicked it up to 23 (fast for me). Tried to maintain 18 on the way back. I passed a bunch of people (so they would feel good passing me on the run). It's fun passing people 10, 15, and 20 years younger than me. Then I hear the whoosh of someone passing me fast, 58 on his calf. I think his wife with a 53 passed me a bit earlier. Very inspirational that I can do this for another 15 or more years if I choose to.

Just keep putting on the miles. I'm not at full speed yet and I'm not fast enough to buy speed. If I spent a couple grand on wheels, I could have moved from 252 to 239 overall and 2 places in my age group. I need to keep working on the engine.

Kept it simple. My goal was under a minute.

Nothing

I was hot and I run slow. My number one goal was not to walk no matter how slow I ran. It was very tempting to walk, but I never did. There were sprinklers set up (which I ran through), lots of people walking, etc. I was running slow though. I passed walkers that passed me when they started running, then I passed them when they walked, over and over.

I did have some lower GI cramping. I was drinking water with Nuun on the bike and that wasn't sitting well. I planned to drink when thirsty until the last 5 miles, but I stopped drinking at the halfway point. It just wasn't sitting right. I wonder if the couple gulps of lake water I took in on the swim messed me up. I did see some floating nasty stuff on my practice swim the day before.

I need to run more. I have a 1/2 mary in October and start ramping this week.

Drank lots of water and gatorade. Chit chatted with my daughter. I was so excited she came to watch me. Really a cool event.


The engine. I'm happy being MOP though. Never been an athlete, so every tri is an accomplishment for me.


The race was very well done. The volunteers were awesome. I thanked the ones I had the energy to thank.