Vineyard Warrior - TriathlonOlympic

THIS SWIM WAS EPIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wind was up, surf was big and hard, 3-4 foot rollers and breakers. Huge current against to the first buoy, and with you the rest of the race. This is what open water ocean swimming is all about, big waves, up and down them, breath, try to site on top of a wave, point your body and go. Being tossed around like a rag doll. the swim waves were small, we had 12 guys in ours, no one to draft, just kinda swim and go in the general direction you need to go. Got to the first turn pretty well, felt good, relaxed and started out to the point, the current which was hurting is now helping, it felt like i had a motor in my butt. At one point i was going along and went to breat just as a breaker and roller hit me, big gulf of salt water, rolled on my back, and coughed and blew it out, water coming from my throat and lungs like a whales blowhole!!! turn back over and continue on. rode the waves in to shore, got out and looked at my watch...AWESOME, so much better than the 35 mins i was figuring.

nothing

Get into T1, got out quick, went to do flying mount and MISSED!!!!!! landed on the boys and naval, held onto bike and somehow i did not fall off, it was freaking hilarious!!!!

everything

Well, since i had not ridden much, i just figured i would hammer till i had nothing left and hang on, wind was strong and gusty, i had a disc and tri-spoke and it was a handful. averaged over 24 for first 13, then i was running on fumes, i had power, but not much endurance, so i rode it like an interval session, coasted when i could without losing speed, and took it easy on the few hills there were. I lost 1 full mph in the last 5 miles, due to the road going up a bit, more corners, heavy wind and fatigue. All in all a good ride.

train

Standard T2, smooth and quick. I walked out of T2, which i usually run, legs were a little crampy and i was not really rushing.

nothing

Other than the missed turn for the finish, this was my best run EVAH!!!! Came out of T2, and calves were a little tight, shuffled along a bit, things were going well, got to first aid station and walked it, took some water and gatorade. no mile markers so i was running on feel, and i kept feeling better and better, passed some gorgeous oceanfront homes and a few competitors. came down a hill and there were some kids handing out water, so i asked a little girl if she wanted to trow it on me, her face lit up like a christmas tree, i bent over, she tossed the water and MISSED!!!! i laughed and told her to get another cup and try again...this time...BULLSEYE, right in my grille, choked on it a bit, she was elated. Best 15 seconds i ever wasted running!!! By about mile 3 i got a partner, he was from 3 waves ahead, he just shook his head when i told him i was wave 7, and he said, great i was wave 4, lol. We ran the rest of the race together and BS'd. His name was Kevin, we chit chatted and ran and talked some more, he asked what my goals were, and i said that i was hoping to run 9's or so, helaughed and said, yeah...we're running a little quicker than that, i asked how much, he goes....like 7:45's. WOWZER, this is a good run. So we are getting ready to finish, and one volunteer tells us to make 2 lefts, so we go along the back and side ofthe finishers park, get to the last corner and there is no markings or signs, where do we go???? the volunteer says go straight, but that seems wrong, i turn around and ask the lady behind, she says go straight.....hmmmmmm, kevin and i look at each other, both knowing its wrong, but we go straight. we go a few minutes and i turn to the lady and ask, finishing or starting?? She goes...STARTING...ARRRRGGGGHHHHH, i reply, we are done...we missed the turn in. FFFFAAAAQQQQQQQQ, so we hit the next left and head back towards the park, a volunteer lady yells, you are going the wrong way, i yess, we are done, there is no volunteer directing the finishers at the last corner and we just ran 4 minutes extra, so goes....OH.... head down finishers chute and done. What should have been a 46-47min 10, was now 51 mins. It would have been a 4 minute PR for me and top 10 overall race. But i do not play the iffa woulda coulda shoulda game, i screwed up, and paid the penalty.

not miss last corner, other than that, my best 10k ever

walked around, ate a ton, best food ever


lack of training in the last month


this was the first year. I am giving a bunch of passes on stoopid things like no water at finish and such. The RD poured his heart and soul into making this race happen, It was understaffed and unorganized. He still pulled off a great race for 90% of it. He knows what went wrong, he knows what went right, and by meeting and talking to the man, i know the next version will be light years better prepared.

As far as destination races go, the Vineyard in September is breath takingly gorgeous, the weather is perfect, and a great way to spend a long weekend with friends and family.

I would say that i would HIGHLY recommend this race, even with all the snafu's, just for the sheer enjoyment of the event. It will get better, the RD will make it so, and then it will be one you HAVE to do.