PelicanFest - TriathlonSprint

It was my first open water swim. It was an experience. I started off okay, trying not to swim up on people but still keep a draft. I grazed a few people but I didn't clock anyone so that is good. I rounded the first bouy about 10 feet off and was swimming wide to the second. I tried to keep people close in sight to my right. At some point I drifted even farther left. About halfway in I was just frustrated and tired. I had nobody around my so I just flipped over on my back and regrouped a little. I was still way wide to the left and realized it but there was a large gap. I thought I was swimming to the turn buoy but I must have made a sharp right somewhere. I practically ran into a intermediary bouy. I straightend that out and actually rounded the third bouy right at it. I then drifted way inside and realized I was not headind to the exit. I corrected this one and finally got out of the water. All totaled I must have swam 850 or 900 meters. Even so I matched my optimitic goal time and beat my realistic projected time by over a minute and that did not factor in the distance from the water to the timing mat.

Learn how to navigate and swim comfortably around others.

Getting out of the wetsuit went better here than when I tried in the locker room etc. I actually felt this was my steadiest T1 ever. Time may not show it, but factoring in the wetsuit, I was pleased. Besides I had just survived my first open water swim and that was what this race was about.

Move quicker from the water to T1

Road the course yesterday keeping in the small chainring. Let it go today and picked up about 2.5+mph. Flew through the loop much faster road well quite a bit. Slowed a bit approaching the turnaround. Was riding comfortably on the way back, passing some people doing 24/25 when this one guy blew by me like I was standing still. Slowed a little bit on miles 7-9 then flew down the hill and into transition.

Build a bigger engine. Ride the bike I am racing on for more than 3 days and get some aerobars.

This was probably my best T2. The race belt was a good investment

Do a better job of tying my shoes, I had a lace come loose and had to retie it about 3/4 mile into the run.

Took it nice and easy out of transition and through the hill sections. Then I tried to stretch it out but listened to the heart and kept a pace that I could. Kept the stride rate up around 90 on the flats and much higher going up those hills (on teeny tiny little steps)

Work on running different paces on different days. I am overall content with how the run went today. It was my fast sprint 5k so I can live with that.

Went and found my family walked back and forth and back and forth finish, car, food tent car, transition, car food tent.


Base engine on the run and bike, lack of aerobars on the bike. No openwater swim navigational skills or confidence.


Low budget operation that has grown quicker than staff believed it would.