Belwood Sprint Triathlon & Duathlon - Aquabike

Despite the time, I feel really good about this swim. Felt strong, and able to use the lats and pecs and really enjoyed how I seemed to be going nice and easy but gliding by people. Noticed that on the walk up to transition when I got out of water, and had gotten wetsuit down to hips that HR was 141.

If I had run to timing mat placing would have gone up to about 341.

Just need to pick up the pace a bit.

I riskied running out of transition but then walked from the timing mat to the mount line (for safety of knee) and there was a bunch of people (24 seconds).

Nothing. 2nd best T1 time again in my AG.

Usually race with my cadence showing. Didn't this time. Had my average speed showing which was a good motivator to keep the legs moving.

2nd place beat me by 5 seconds; 3rd place by 1 second; and 5th place was 4 minutes behind me.

Just a tad disappointed I didn't come through with my goal, but I WILL say 'didn't' NOT 'couldn't'. I made some conscious decisions during the ride which did affect the final outcome but I'm OK with that.

At 8km mark, avg speed was 31.8; turned into west wind till about 11km where we turned around and at 15km average speed as 31.36; at 17km it was 32.14. This is where we turned into the north wind with the 5km gradual climb - at 20km my avg speed was 29.9 and finished with 29.3. I felt the best I have on this little stretch but my speed was only 23km/hr. I forgot to look at avg speed when we turned back into west wind for final stretch, but even into the wind it is a slight down hill and I was always about 34km/hr so probably gained back a bit.

Although the route was different than last year, the important stretch where I lose the speed was the same and the winds were the same. Last year at 15km I was 32.5 and finished at 29.0; this year I went from 31.3 at 15km to 29.3 so didn't lose as much, which hopefully means I am stronger.

From 15-17km we are also doing a gradual climb but had the wind behind us so was able to get to 32.14 at the 17km mark.


WHAT ELSE? When I was cycling the first 10km my average speed was 35km/hr for a great part of it, and it was feeling fairly comfy, so I said to myself why push it - this is a good speed. Ken called that lollygagging (jokingly). In retrospect, I think I should have pushed harder through there. I think I only came out of aero 3x to take a bit of 'recovery' and slowed a bit - drank, ate a fig. Even though my speed up the gradual climb was 23, I passed everyone who came into my sights and no one passed me. Have no idea HOW many, but with being in the last wave of swimming and the last 20 out of the water, I ended up ahead of 149 so must have passed a few.

I was breathing very hard but not dying, but my legs didn't have any more push to give, so I think this is telling me that I need more strength. When I had my LT testing, he told me my legs gave out way before my lungs.

Finished strong on the bike and had no hand or feet numbness or tight hips. Last year couldn't feel my r. foot until almost 3km into the run. Didn't eat much on bike - 2 figs and not quite 1 bottle of water. Seemed to be more than enough for this short distance. Mentally and physically felt good to run.

Push harder even when the speed IS high. If I'm feeling comfortable, I'm not pushing hard enough.

Walking around.


My decision making.


I love this course.