Columbia Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

This was my longest swim in a race. I am please with my time as I was planning on 30-32 minutes for the swim. I was tempted to look at my watch during the swim but I never did. I was a little off course twice but with the long straights it was easy to correct. I started in the middle and it seemed like an open section. There was some bumping at the start but not too much. I was looking for feet to draft off of but could not seem to find any. I was able to get into a rhythm early and was tight on the turn buoys. I do not really remember the run from the water to T1 but I think that is because I was excited about my time and knew I had a good pace going.

Push the swim some more and sight a little more,

I walked to my bike once I got to T1 to collect myself. I place an orange towel on my handle bars to find my bike and sometimes dry off. I left the rack with my towel on my handle bars (uuuggghh) so I turned around and went back to the rack probably added 10-15 seconds to my time.

Make sure I take my towel off my handle bars.

I knew this course was going to test me! I had driven the course the day before to make some mental notes about different sections. This was a good challenging course with both down hills and up hills. I knew I need to not go out too hard but I think I got stuck in that mind set for the whole ride. I was working but not working enough. It also helped to know I had a cheering crew at one of the traffic circles so that kept me moving!

I made one error on this ride at the first traffic circle were I came in way too fast……I almost found the curb but in avoiding the curb I scrubbed all of my speed. Thankfully no one was next too me as I may have taken them out.

One interesting note was the argument I heard on the bike course about cutting a corner and staying right……this went on for about 1 minute.

Push the uphills more and stay focused while riding

I was feeling good in T2 and knew I was on a good pace.

nothing

I came out of T2 and knew I was on pace to break 3 hours just needed to put together an okay run. The run went out the door at the first hill in the park……I felt my calves tighten up and knew I needed to walk the hill. The run then became a run/walk. At the 5k point I made my mind up to adjust my goal and said to myself to keep moving the best I can and finish strong.

I had been following a woman for the first 5K and when we got to the up hill in the neighborhood I passed her and told her to come with me and help me finish since she helped me get through the first 5K. I lost her but hope I had give her enough encouragement to keep going. I did keep moving and made my way back to the park and closer to the finish. Once I got to the dam I knew I was in reach of my goal and put my head into finishing strong. I let go my thoughts and just let my legs go down that last hill into the finish—looked at my watch and saw I completed in under 3:05!

I have recently changed to a more run focus training so I am hoping to see some improvement.

crossed the finish line to find my brother in law who was in the wave in front and I never caught and find my cheering crew.


my Run and some bike fitness


I plan to be back to kick this courses butt!