Galena Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Yeah. The water was cold. But I've done colder. Got in, and up to the front of the pack but I guess it wasn't a good day for me in the water. I got swam over fairly quickly. And by the first buoy, the goggle had fogged up. Great. This is going to be a long swim.

Turned the buoy fairly well and tried to lock into a good pace. In hindsight, because the goggles were fogging up so much, I tried to site too much. I know. Doesn't make sense. But I did. I pulled my head up WAY too much and I know it slowed me down.

It was a much tougher swim this time. Swimming around and over others and just trying to find an open area. Never did.

Finally made the last turn into shore and popped out of the water to go. Heard Kelly yelling good job (Beth was back at the lodge) and kept going.


Figure out how to stop my goggles from fogging up.

So as I'm running up the long chute to get into T1, my wetsuit gets caught on the metal zipper on my tri suit!!! Ugh. Like I don't have enough to deal with.

Finally get it taken care of, cross the timing mat and into the gravel hell. Next year I think I'm going to bite the bullet and do flip flops or Teva's or something. That crap hurts and I could probably knock off a good 30-50 seconds from transition.

Threw everything into the bag, grabbed the bike and took off.

Wear flip flops? Not get the zipper stuck on my wetsuit?

I have not had the bike volume I have wanted and it showed in this. Of course, the rain didn't help.

First 7 miles are pretty hilly and I felt it. I knew I was going to be slower this year than last and it wound up being about 2:00 slower.

Saw a few folks on the side of the road, chain issue, couple of flats.

About mile 7, the over all women's winner flew by me like I was standing still. Up hill. Into the wind. She is a friggen amazon.

The rain really picked up right before the big beast of a hill in the middle. Just a bit short of 1 mile and about 5% grade. Man that thing is painful, but in a good way.

Finally coming down the back side of the hill and there are two HUGE down hills. With the rain coming down hard now, I had to feather the breaks all the way down so I lost a little time. Not a lot, but some. And really gave my heart a jump at the bottom of the last hill as it gently jogs to the right and I popped up to about 38 and was swinging out wide. Scared the bejeesus out of me.

Pumped up the last hill and into T2. The fun was just beginning.

T.I.T.S. Time in the saddle.

Getting into transition takes a long time. Going all the way to the back, in the chute, and then back to the front where I am.

Got to the rack, put up the bike, put on the visor, threw on one sock and that shoe, then the other sock and other shoe and off I went.

I know this is a long Transition. I really hate them when they are over 1:00.

Nothing.

Again, I hadn't done much speed work. Not that it would have helped on the hills. But I knew I wanted to push it. And just couldn't on the first hill.

Got to the top of it and tried to get get my pace back. Took a bit, like another almost mile, and dialed it in.

I'm still not as fast as I want to be, but I'm faster than I was last year. So that is a good thing. And another race without pain.

Not get injured earlier in the year so I could get more speed work and distance running in.

Walked around with Beth and hung out with the rest of the SCW Tri crew. Went to the awards dinner to see Mark get his medal. He missed 2nd in his AG by 6 seconds!!


Early season injuries


I love this race. Considering it is a point to point, they do a hell of a job. And it is one of the harder ones around. And pretty. As always, I'll be back next year.