St. Mary's Medical Center Tristate Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Swim was much better than last time. Hard to focus on technique with people around, and every bump brings you almost to a stop. Need to work on how to efficiently sight. Never got in a great groove, but never panicked, which was huge. I was 1 of last ones in water, and then had to try to weave through people. I don't need to be in the front, but not in the back either. Actual time out of the water was 17'47"

1. Better fitness, particularly long continueous swim runs.
2. Learn to swim on side with 1 arm.
3. Learn better how to sight.
4. Instead of letting everyone go ahead, and then trying to weave through, need to start wide and stay wide. Longer distance but cleaner water will help me a lot.

I had longest total transition than anyone in my division. Had things a little better organized, but fatigue keeps me from thinking straight. Practice would help of course. But I brought all the right stuff without having extra stuff. Was raining during T1, which did not help.

1. Practice.
2. Bring a dry bag.
3. Learn how to get on bike with shoes on pedals.
4. Debate on whether to use gloves.

I did not ride the bike much going in, and I was not adjusted to my new saddle. Position seemed ok, but thinner shorts made it uncomfortable. L knee was also bothering me throughout, and back was pretty tight. Ride was ok. Garmin was on my wrist so a little harder to monitor speed. Went through a few lulls with slow speed but snapped out of them several times. Bike gears definitely helped me on the hills, but weight/fitness would go much farther. Not used to riding wet pavement, especially turning corners - about hit concrete wall on bridge. Need to pay more attention to gradual hills to make sure I'm in the right gear.

1. Ride more leading up
2. Stretch more
3. Hydrate better.
4. Get cadence meter.

Slow. Went the wrong way (thought run course was all pavement like 2 years ago and tried to exit wrong end, then had to stop and double check). Took extra time to put on ipod and headphones.

1. Hydrate better.
2. Debate use of ipod
3. Pay attention to where I am supposed to go.

Worst of my 3. Just did not have good fitness to get anything going. I was very tight off of the bike, and had to stop and stretch - felt like calves were going to lock up. Walked up most of the hills. Struggled on the mud (not prepared for). Got in a little groove toward the end when i had sufficiently rested/caught breath, but couldn't sustain. Knee bothered me the week leading up, but was not too bad during race.

1. Better fitness
2. Hydrate better on bike
3. Stretch better leading up to race and pre-race.
4. Practice hills

Not much - ate a hot dog then rode bike back to car.


Weight
Lack of fitness



Good race - 1st one I have done 2x. Better this time with experience. Nice to have medal at the end and gave away a nice bike shirt and hat.