Dirty Grizzly - TriathlonShort Course

Swim seemed very short/fast. The water was cleaner than it appeared, what appeared to be scum/algae was grasses (elodea, I think) which was reaching out and grabbing arms, feet and legs. Sport distance was started after the majority of the full distance folks finished their first of 2 laps.

Had I known this was a very tenative group of swimmers, I would have put myself in the front instead of the back. I got stuck behind a pair of people doing the breast stroke and another doing the backstroke and generally had a very trapped feeling because I couldn't find 'clean' water to just swim. This really slowed me down and limited my performance (not that I am a fish, but I think I generally was a more confident swimmer than those around me for this race).

Took a lot of time with socks, tying shoes, putting on gloves. Not my speediest by far.

I guess in this circumstance there wasn't much I could do differently.

I am not happy at all with my bike segment for this race, and it was no one's fault but my own. I rode like a weenie and chickened out on spots that were totally rideable. I guess not being in the right mind-set partnered with only being out on the MTB 2x this year (which may go hand-in-hand) was my biggest limiter. Also I was very nervous about other riders passing (didn't want to be in anyone's way, so I kept ultra-alert for those coming up behind me). I walked/pushed my bike way too much. Not happy with myself, and had some very dark moments.

Ironically, I slid out on a non-technical spot on a turn and received some lovely gashes in my knee and elbow.


Ride with more confidence. Not crash.

Since I am a weenie and don't have 'big girl pedals' on my MTB, there was no need to switch footwear, just drop-off bike, remove helmet and gloves and go. Forgot my hat (I always run with a hat) which didn't thrill me. Hats keep sweat out of my face, and boy do I sweat!

Not leave my hat in my transition bag in the car.

I was hot. I was tired. My knee hurt from my crash. I was sweating madly as usual but didn't have my hat to help sop it up, so I was getting a lot of sweat in my eyes. Plus my asthma kept flaring up.

These are not excuses for my bad day, these are just an account of what was going on. My horrible times were no one/no thing's fault but my own.

Not forget my hat. Maybe dump that water over me in addition to drinking it to try to cool off.

Drink, drink, drink. I was so hot. Changed clothes. Ate a banana eventually but didn't feel like eating until much later in the day.


Lack of confidence on the bike from not riding MTB much this season.


My first DFL (which I am not proud of), but at least I finished. And since there were only 2 people in my AG for the sport distance, I won an award (which I am also not really proud of, but do appreciate the prize just the same). Did that make sense? Wow, DFL and still get a prize (sarcasm). The award I AM proud of is the one I won for best wound (since the guy with the smashed up face already left).

If I want to continue doing Xterra races I need to get out on the MTB on the trails more to get the confidence back I used to have. I had a very trying day, physically and mentally, but it was (again) no one's fault but my own/my mind. MTB requires confidence and just riding, not thinking of the consequences (to a degree). Race day I wasn't in that mental place. I was nervous and tenative, which are also not good. I was thinking of past crashes, and hearing/seeing others crashing around me, which were not good.

I must say all racers and volunteers that I encountered were very friendly and helpful. When I pulled off the trail for other riders to pass, they would ask if I was OK and/or offer encouragement.

The race was in a beautiful location and was well-run.