Niantic Bay Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Started a few rows back figuring I haven't swam enough lately (third swim in about 6 weeks) to try to get on anyone's feet and that I would just get into my own zone. Right away felt awesome, very comfortable. Would site every 6-8 strokes and realized I was swimming dead straight. Had nobody around me at all the entire swim, no contact. I just kept swimming straight from buoy to buoy and rounded each very quickly. At one point I was concerned I was going to come out of water and be told I was DQ'd as every time I would site I would see folks way to my left and what I thought was my next buoy right in front of me. Didn't miss any. I was just right on those suckas. Swam all the way into the shallow water passing about 20 people walking/running in through knee high water as I swam until my hands hit bottom.

Swim more in weeks leading up to race. Otherwise nada. Executed perfectly.

Said it before but racing HIM and IM distance races exclusively the last 2 years has spoiled me by providing wetsuit strippers. I was a comedy act trying to get my wetsuit off. Running up beach got top over my head but couldn't get off either wrist. Picture someone running in a straight jacket. Dropped goggles and had to turn back to retrieve. At bike couldn't get wetsuit bottom over heels. Gave a good yank and yanked my feet out from under me falling on my knee, cutting it and landing on my ass. Laughed for a moment, got the suit off and then shoes, helmet on looking "tough" with blood now dripping from knee and down my leg

Convince RDs for sprints to get wetsuit strippers (?). Practice getting the wetsuit off, perhaps cut it some to make it easier.

Happy with my effort and mentally staying alert to push pace while navigating all the people in front of me. Started in Wave 5. Passed a large number of people from earlier waves. Not exaggerating when I say it felt like I passed at least 100 people. Started flying by people right away and after turn onto Main (?) I was cruising at >25mph. Had a car pass me and then slow to turn right in front of me. Had to slow and swerve to left to get around it. Each turn on this course was hairy/scary. Normally I would've felt comfortable carrying speed but too many other racers. Some turns we were 3 wide with others breaking and not holding lines. A number of people just didn't understand what they're supposed to do when overtaken, many riding well to the left making it difficult to pass. Slowed a number of times so as to not have to either pass on right or cross yellow to pass despite yelling out and giving folks fair warning I was passing on left. I guess the nature of the beast starting in Wave 5. A very defensive ride but happy with my effort.

nothing.

Time ok as compared to others but it just seemed like I was moving in slow motion on this one. Dismount line came quicker than anticipated so had to quickly get out of shoes and didn't have time to swing self over bike to jump off moving bike which I've gotten good at as of late. Very crowded dismount line. Ran down hill with bike while barefoot which was way to go. Others in bike shoes struggled some. Even barefoot the hill was steep and a little tough. Put socks on and shoes on quick. Rack was very crowded with bikes and stuff by the time I came in. While I started in Wave 5 I had been assigned a number with the 40-45 year olds who started in earlier wave and came in ahead of me.

Anticipate dismount line sooner.

No way this was 3.5 miles! I cannot,nor do I, run 6 m/m; especially at this weight I'm currently racing at. I'm guessing distance more like 3.2 miles which is what I guestimate from MapMyRun. 1st mile marker came very quickly (i.e. 6:30). Others also felt first mile was short given their 1st mile pace. Anyway. Regardless of whether it was 3.5 or 3.2 miles my run could not have gone better. Got into a groove right out of transition. Soaked my head with a cup of water and that would be it for the run. Too short to drink and absorb anything. Just stayed in the zone, ran comfortably hard and just focussed on trying to run tangents where possible, not let anyone pass me and on catching the next person in front of me.

Nothing. About as perfect a run as I could come up with.

Grabbed some water and then went into the nice cool water in LI Sound to soak the legs.


Weight. Currently about 10 lbs over typical race weight. Lack of swimming over the last 6 weeks. 3 swims include 2 in sprint races. That said my execution and performance today exceeded my expectations going in and I'm quite satisfied with how fast I raced.


2nd HMF race I've done in the last few weeks and similar to previous I really enjoyed this race. Good organization, packet pickup easy (went day before to Niantic). I tried registering too late and was on wait list. Learned the Wednesday before that I was in. Not a big fan of beach finishes but fortunately time of day and tide meant a lot of hardpack sand so not too bad. First time I've done this race and now regretting not having done it in years past. I need to take more advantage of these local races in my back yard.