Gull Lake Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Not sure on my overall rank, but probably wasn't very good. Just lack of swimming makes me want to do a duathlon sometime! No panic attack, so guess I am over that, just need some yardage. Long up hill run from the water to T1 so that added about 45 seconds. Yeah I wussed out and wore a wetsuit, while a few women swam in their bikinis, sue me! LOL

Just get in the pool and lakes and swim it out, need to work on overall endurance, worry about speed later!

This transition was much better, still had difficultly with the suit, but that is the nature of the two piece without a zipper! But hauled butt with the bike in tow and went sockless for the bike.

Work on wetsuit transition practice, or get a cord to assist getting top off, still can cut this time down some.

I really hammered the bike course. I knew it was fairly flat and knew the roads from way back, so I poured it on, knowing that my swim time sucked. Just got out there and went into hunt mode, passed scores of folks, was passed by only two, 3rd place female and one of the top males. Started to get mad at a few amateurs who were blocking by riding the double yellow and pissing me off by not moving to the right, so I safely passed them on the right, giving them a sarcastic "on your right!" and a "nice block!". I really hate folks who don't follow the rules, but I'll survive. Didn't see any drafting, so that was good.

Was overall happy with the bike, thought my MPH average was higher, but still was good. Was aero 95% of the time, might start to think about aero wheels and helmet, but still rode hard and fast.

Wasn't too bad. I think I scared a few folks with my dismount and run into T2, I bet I look like I am out of control, but my legs felt great and helped me get ready for the run with the kamakazi dismount and run in!

Nothing much, might try a few sockless runs in the shoes, but put on socks and might have made the difference between 1st and 2nd, but not much

Oh yeah, I CAN run off the bike very well! Actually, I felt like easing it back and calling it a day because I thought I blew up the legs on the bike, but after a few surges and a few guys trying to pass, the legs told me to HTFU because they were not done yet, so I told 'em, OK! paced behind a guy who wouldn't stop complaining about the heat and lack of water on the course, I took that as weakness and attacked and left him in my dust and started to hunt after the turn around and picked a few more off during the run, and even had a good sprint kick. It was good to have the garmin working the right way, so I knew when to surge and where my mile marks were at. Some folks didn't like the fact that the mile marks weren't marked, but I guess having my watch beep every mile was a good advantage and something to keep doing!

Nothing but get healed and better and get back to running. My legs still have the jump after biking, but could be faster with more running (can't run much because of hip injury) and less weight. But still getting good results with little running training, but don't want to make it a habit!

Walked around and talked to a few folks that I just met and chatted them up. Went to transition and cleaned up my "yard sale" because it looks like my transition area exploded, and helped a nice lady rack her bike since she was having trouble (she was the winner of the 70-75 women's age group; hope I can still move at the age, she is great motivation!) Chatted with a few new friends, Jason (birdog41), a BTer, Paul, a cool guy from Iowa, and Donny, a guy who grew up with my dad and aunt! As usual, great folks and love chatting with them, which is something I don't get to do much when I bring the wife (sorry babe!), but I enjoy taking in the atmosphere at races! Nothing like it in the world! Thanks guys and new friends!


Umm, duh, my swim and my stupid hip / neck thing. Getting MRI after I get back from vacation and a trip to the chiropractor, so that might help a ton!


This race has room to be one of those "I must do this again for the rest of my life" type of races. First year jitters aside, it was very well put on, and despite the lack of marking on the course(s), all I have to say is, it is on the athlete to know the course, maps were on line! No excuses for the three race leaders to take a wrong turn, that is on them and not the RD. Look at the map, look it up on google earth(I did) and pay attention to your surroundings. Don't bag on the RD if you screwed up. There are too many in our sport that don't read the USAT rule book (blocking and drafting, as well as the old "know the course" rule), ok I am off my soapbox. I hope that I will get to come back to next years race, if I can get leave!