Kansas City Triathlon - Olympic Distance - TriathlonOlympic

Although my time was not the worst ever, this was for whatever reason a brutual swim for many people, me included. I saw at least a handful of people swim to the boats or the boats coming to them. There were a lot of people on their backs gasping for air. This was all in the first few hundred yards. I never got in rythym and could not get enough air in my lungs the enitre time. It was awful. I basicall "swam" with my head above water trying to talk myself out of quiting for 90% of the race. As I finally reached the beach, I was dizzy, very light headed. This surprised and scared me a little. I swam a lot in training (granted all in the pool) and swma a mile and a half more than once and felt fine so, I was worried. With each step I started to feel better.

Forget the drills and all that in trianing and just swim for distance. In warmer weather, do as many OWS as possible. I am almost to the point of saying pool training is a waste of time. There is no relation in swimming pool laps and an OWS trithlon, for me at least. I am very comfortable in the water, don't have panic feelings ever but again, for whater reason, this wasa brutual swim and I never got in a groove.

Needless to say after my swim report, I was in no hurry here. I needed to get my head together.

After deep frustration with the swim, I felt pretty good on the bike. I always get passed and did here too but also passed several people. I felt pretty strong but time wise ended up in the 75% quartile for my age group. At the end of the race when i was getting my stuff together to go home, I realized I had a completely flat front tire. Not sure when this happened. I didnt notice it on the bike but I will tell myself it was starting to go flat and slowed me down! Regardless, I felt ok on the bike and was gaining confidence.

Not get a flat.

Again, no hurry here.

Uh oh. This was a disaster. I had severe cramps in both legs, all muscles. It was awful. I had to walk probably 25% of the course and when I "ran" it was slow and labored. Again very frustrating for me. I didnt understand why I was hurting so much.

Get a ride.

Crossed the finish line and sat down!


Too much to type here.


This was my 1st Olympic distance. I had a lot of trouble but I finished, I didnt quit and fought through a lot of pain. Better than sitting on the couch all day I guess. BTW, nothing to me is more motivation than the better triathletes who finish and come back to the course to cheer you on. Not just standing there clapping but looking you in the eye as you pass and talking directly to you. This always impresses the heck out of me. Thanks to all of you that do that. You make a difference.