Waseca Triathlon - 1/3 Ironman - TriathlonOther

I've been open water swimming once a week for the past two months and it's really helped. However, this swim just didn't go my way. The water was warm but very murky. If I wasn't getting off course I was bumping into other people. I went wide on the way out and on the way back. My swim has vastly improved over last season, but I think I finished in the lowest third on this particular swim - 4 minutes slower than my current 1 mile PR.

Breat stroke about every tenth stroke to keep on course.

My T1's always suck. I seriously tore my westuit last year (hung up on a chip while I stomped it) and I had to send it to 2XU to get it fixed. Since then, I've been perhaps overly careful. Add in the fact that I absolutely have to wear socks because of my orthotics, it makes for a long transition.

Practice practice practice

This was my first race with a cadence monitor and it made a huge difference. It really helped to maximize my efficienct and gear selection. I was cooking along great until I hit the headwind in the last 9 miles or so. That tore into my average and I was sure wishing I had a sleek Felt bike and an aero helmet like the people who were passing me. Oeverall, I'm quite pleased and wouldn't change a thing.

Buy a tri bike with my next bonus.

Left my shoes on the bike for the first time and that worked out quite well. Soem ding dong dropped their bike across 3 spots so I needed to find a new spot for my bike. That messed me up bit I still managed to get in and out in about a minute.

set up next to experienced athletes

I suffered on my first training brick for this course three weeks ago. I overheated and walk/ran the last 3 miles. My original plan was to do the first five miles at my half marathon pace and then try to finish the last 2.8 at something or better than my 10K pace. I was feeling good so I settled in at about an 8:15 planning to hold on to that and perhaps do the last 3 at a sub-8:00. I wound up just traing to maintain after the first lap. I ran 9:xx on miles 6 and 7 but finished the last .8 below 8:00.

It wasn't my plan, but this worked out. More negative split training is in my future.

I grabbed a slamwich and chatted with some other guys in transition. The awards weren't until 1:00 and I didn't place (no surprise there) so I headed home. I rewarded myself for my performance with a very large beer and chips and salsa at Acapulco. Upon unpacking later in the evening I relized the I had grabbed the WRONG WETSUIT! I blame the mofo who pushed me down 3 bike spots. I'm pretty sure that it was the only wetsuit in the generla vicinity as I packed up late so I'm guessing someone grabbed mine by accident first. I emailed Final Stretch to see if anyone else had a mixup or if my very new and expensive wetsuit was found when they took down transition. No email return yet so I'm calling them tomorrow. It's going to be hard to sell my wife on a new wetsuit if it never turns up. The one I grabbed doesn't fit me.


poor sighting on the swim,


Why in the world has Final Stretch not posted the age group results and all split data?