Northern "Orillia" Triathlon - Try-a-Tri Course - TriathlonMini Sprint

I had a great start. I decided to start at the front of the wave. As the horn sounded I bounded like a frightened deer into the water for about 5 steps and then the water was too deep. I hit the water and thrashed my way forward like a pail full of snakes. ( water snakes though ). I then fell into my swim rhythm and looked to see where I was. Low and behold I was right up front where I was hoping to be. Great start. One you guy slowly pulled up and passed me. I snuck in behind his swirling vortex and drafted most of the way to the first buoy.I had caught quite a few of the previous wave before I reached the first buoy. It was a bit of a bar fight (Sugar's terminology but quite appropriate) at the first turn but managed to get through nice and close to the buoy and missed getting kicked or punched. After that it was just hit the jets and let her rip to the end of the swim.

Noting except hope to swim a little faster. I thought my time was OK but I am sure if I had swum in the last 2 weeks I could have been a little faster.

I had set up my bike in what I though was an excellent position, straight down 5 rows from the swim entrance and run exit. As I got back into the transition they had changed the run and I had to turn left and run to the end of the transition area around the last racks before I could cut all the way back across the transition area to where I had racked. I was disoriented and looking in the wrong row for my bike until I realized what happened. When I got to my bike I was frazzled and took too much time getting my wet suit off. Once I got it off my brain kicked back in and I grabbed my gear and ran out to the bike start. probably a 150m run to the mount line,

Not much. I thought I was well situated and set up. Nothing you can do when they change the route 10 minutes before a race and you've already gone to the swim start.

Overall not a bad ride. I had a little trouble getting into one pedal. I had the shoes on the bike but one elastic had broken and it took me a bit to get my foot locked and loaded and the shoe done up. Didn't help that we started on a tough up hill grade. There were quite a few people walking their bikes up the last part of the hill. I didn't think it was all that bad. Great coming back though :). Overall the course was mostly rolling with only a couple of very short hills other than the first one. Once up the first hill I was able to get into aero position and was able to stay there a good part of the time. The ride was a little slower than usual due to the first hill and the slippery turns. There was a fair amount of water on the road due to a down pour just as we were starting the race and I saw several people flopping around like fish out of water on corners they missed.

Get better rubbers for my pedals to hold them in place :).

great transition. Very happy especially with the 150M run from dismount to racking.

nothing.... smoother than goose poop slipping between your toes.

For a change passed a number of people on the run. Definitely one of my better ones. Had some unexpected friends cheering as I came out of transition and then about 200m from the finish. I did a negative split which was exactly what I had hoped for. It helped that I ran like I had stolen something for the last 200. Whatever it was I stole though couldn't have been very expensive cause I think I could have gone faster with a cop chasing me :)

I still want to improve my running. I felt much more comfortable but I know I can do better. Probably work intervals more to improve my speed.

walk around. head back to the finish line to catch my friend finishing. He got 5th in age group. Same age group as myself.


short legs. rain and no cops chasing me.


Other than the change in the transition area after a lot of us had left it was a well organized race.