Buffalo Triathlon - Olympic Distance - TriathlonOlympic

Overall it was an alright swim. My navigation was a little off, not that I was swimming zig zags the whole way, but I was always about 25 ft off of the buoy line, except the turns which I cut perfectly at the buoys. I wasn't panicky, but I couldn't get into a rhythm until the last third of the course.

Maybe a better warm up would allow me to get into my rhythm sooner. I can't imagine taking much more than a minute or two off my time, so I'll focus my improvements where they'll have greater impact in terms of time.

I felt very dizzy and lightheaded getting out of the water, not sure why yet. It was a super long run, at least two hundred yards or more to my area. I had to walk most of it because I actually felt as though I would fall over and take out the fence. I was able to remove my swim cap and goggles and leave them in my sleeve, but now I can't find my goggles anywhere! Wetsuit came off no problem, but I took the time to sit and put on socks and I don't keep my shoes pre-clipped in. And I decided I wanted to wear my Garmin so I wasted 20 seconds fiddling with that and getting it started.

Figure out why I was so dizzy and disoriented coming out of the water. Get tri shoes so I can pre-clip them in. Learn my new Garmin watch better or skip it altogether. Just simply move a little faster and more efficiently. Had I not wasted time here and in T2 I may have beaten my wife, who edged my out by 1 minute 30 seconds!

Nice course, most say it was too crowded but I never lost any speed or time because of other racers. I averaged just over 20 mph on the first 20 miles, then let up because I wanted to save my legs for the run. I stayed on my aero bars most of the time except at the turns.

Continue training, and maybe not let up. I was trying to save myself for the run and the run sucked anyways. My goal for my next race (in 4 weeks) is to do the entire 25 miles over 20 mph, maybe closer to 21.

I missed my rack at first, went in two racks too early. Probably cost me 10 seconds. I took the time to reset my Garmin to track my run. I also sat and changed my shoes and ate a couple Clif blocks, which I could just as easily have eaten while running out. I bought a race number belt which I put on as I was running out, that helped.

Get better at tearing my bike shoes off and putting on my running shoes without sitting down. Take my nutrition with me on my way out.

I'm a little disappointed by my performance in the run. Running is by far my weak link, but I didn't think I'd do this bad! I just had nothing left, even though I thought I had taken it easy on the bike. Partly it was the bad mental dialogue going on in my head, and party it was the heat and exhaustion.

Train more. My goal for the next race in 4 weeks is to get my splits down to 10 minutes on the run, or try to get it under one hour. Still not a great time, but a certain improvement.

Drank a ton of water and walked around. Stretched a little and stopped by the first aid tent to address a huge blister I developed on the run. Eventually ate a couple bananas and some salty potato chips w/coke.


Nothing out of my own control limited me on this race. I just need to continue training and add on the mileage. It will all come together if I put in the training time.


Very well run race, things seemed to go right on time and very smooth. You could tell they've been doing this race for quite a few years. Plenty of drink stations on the run with water, gatorade and Gu, which I applaud. Alot of people griped about the bike course being too crowded, but I'm often leading the pack of complainers and I thought it was fine. I'll be back again next year, looking to shave 15 minutes off my time.