mini-Mussel Sprint Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

I don't understand what is wrong with me. I can swim - I'm a good swimmer, but for some reason, I end up doing back stroke in the middle. This time I started out pretty well - purposely held back to avoid going out too fast. I don't know if it's the contact that throws me. I do know that I don't like the tightness of the wetsuit on my forearms and calves. Maybe I need a sleeveless suit. Luckily I'm almost as fast doing backstroke, but I can't sight that way. I almost crashed into a kayak and one other time I had a guard ask if I was OK. Yes, I'm OK, I just shouldn't be doing backstroke!

I need to do something differently as this is becoming frustrating for me. To start with, I should have spent more time in the pool. I guess I should look for opportunities to practice in open water with the wetsuit, but I don't know where or how that would be practical. Perhaps a sleeveless wetsuit would help with the tightness on the arms?

T1 was OK - I've been faster, but it wasn't terrible. I had more trouble getting my shoes on (while trying to keep tape over bandaid on blister) than getting wetsuit off. Took a good drink while still in transition too since it was pretty warm out.

Not much - I've gotten pretty good at getting the wetsuit off. I think I would've been faster if I wasn't fussing with the shoes and I guess I could've waited to drink on the bike.

It was a fun ride. I knew I would be slower than normal so I made sure to stay to the right and well out of the way! I really hate the part where you have to go across the carpet to get on 5&20 and then back! I was a mile/hr slower than I was last time I did this race and that's from doing nearly NO training.

Training on the bike would be a good idea for starters!

This wasn't too bad - again I've been faster, but had trouble with the shoes again. Gave up on the tape and just tried to keep the bandaid on.

Not much to differently here other than try to move faster!

I should have been faster, but I think my lack of bike training did me in. My right calf was very tight until about mile 2 - after that I at least felt faster.

Train for the bike!

Got handed a cold wet towel as I crossed the line - that was a nice touch! They had cooling pools set up so I did sit in one of those for a few minutes. Walked around, talked to the guys, and then got some food.


Lack of bike training and a mostly pathetic swim.


This really is a nice race. Well organized and a fun course. I know they are trying to be green, but it seemed like water was lacking at the finish line. There were big coolers of water at the food table, but nothing to put it in unless you walked all the way back to transition to get your own. Supposedly the water pipe by the cooling pools was a drinking fountain, but I couldn't figure out how it worked (and there didn't appear to be anyone around to ask). Overall it's a great race though and I'm tempted to try the half one of these times!