Lake Meridian Triathlon - Olympic - TriathlonOlympic

Deep Water start. Still swimmming around warming up when called to the line with 10 seconds to go. Found a good starting point in line with the buoy's about 3 persons deep.

Got a good start and held my position to the first corner. swimming a strong free style. Breathing on the left side. Could not find the corner buoy. Depending on the pack to find the first corner. SWerved around a couple of breast stroke swimmers. Stayed on the heals of the swimmer in front of me until the corner most of the pack went wide and I turned close to the mark.

Good navigate and drafting down the long side of the course. Swim 10-20 strokes and then take a quick look for the next buoy. As I approached to next turn I decided to swim through the corner without checking nav. This seemed to work really well. Usually get hit in the corners, but nary a touch this year.
quickly crossed the short side. Did not find anyone to draft. The group was a bit farther outside. I decided to try to stay on the shortest path between the corners.
Final swim down the long side. Again did not find many drafters. Swimming into the sun, had some difficulty trying to find the bouy line. Went inside of one of the intermediate bouys. Easy to see the support kayaks, Used these guys to navigate off of until got close enough to see the final marker buoy. Caught up with many of the sprint distace swimmers. Did not draft, passed.

Swam right up until my hand could touch the bottom and then popped up in the shallow water and ran. Found my sipper and had the zipper down before I was off the beach running. Cap off and arms out running. Almost tripped running up the stairs. Just as I reached 'Rin' and started to pull my leg out, I suffered a wicked cramp in my left hammie. Slowly stretched out the muscle and then continued stripping the suit off.

Helmet on, shoes on, grab bike and running to the mount line.

At the mount line three riders fussing with their bikes. Ran a litte bit past them before mounting. Left pedal was in an unfavoriable position. Jumped on and started riding before taking glassed from helmet to face.

Put a rubber band on the pedal to hold it in a friendly forward position.

Very strong bike. Made goal of ave 20.0. New disc cover on the rear wheel work perfect. Found myself very fast on the flats. Lost a bit on the climb but still passed many many riders. Not a single rider passed me, that I did not cover the attack and break away.

Excellent acceleration through the corners.

Great dismount and run in shoes to the rack.

Could have gone faster at the stop sign when the course turns from Moneysmith rd onto auburn black diamond road. Did not need to slow to check traffic. Got passed here, followed the RTB rider on a 'Slice' Stayed back 30-40 yards all the way from moneysmith until the turnaround at Lake Sawyer. The passed him on a corned and stayed away until the last hill before the Covington store where I passed him and two others before turning into the park.

Some difficulty finding balance to put on shoes. Leaned on rack for support. Running shoes not as tight as I would like. This would lead to blistered toes. But did not feel or suspect feet troubles until after the race.

Running out of T2 with hat, gel and number in hand. Put on hat and number running. First gel saved until just before the next aid station.

Body glide on all toes. Especially on the inside and points of big toes. Better not try running without socks until get more friendly shoes.

Good run.

Could have pushed harder.

Walked around drinking water.
Blisters on toes and heals.


Slow swim and run.


This is a very hill course, that suits me.
Need to get faster in the water.