Gateway Triathlon - Olympic Course - TriathlonOlympic

Kept things nice and steady. Actual swim time was probably more like 34 minutes, but I stopped just short of getting out to sit down in the water and peel out of my wetsuit, rather than do that in transition. This worked for me at Racine (the wetsuit will practically fall off if you get water in it). It got stuck on my chip, however, so took longer :O
Seemed like kind of a small field of women doing the Olympic. I started toward the back and just swam easy, focused on staying calm. In talking with a member of the race crew the day before, I had learned that the lake was only about 3 feet deep at the far end. When I got to that point, there was a guy panicking and backstroking trying to get his breathing under control. Told him he could just stand up and take a break and then demonstrated this. It was kind of cool. He was very appreciative.
Coming back on the long home stretch, I was pretty much alone. Actually passed a couple of guys from the wave before me who were breast stroking. A big guy with a handlebar mustache was swimming somewhat erratically and seemed to be gasping for breath. He seemed to be having trouble siting. I tried to give him room and he hit my feet a couple of times. No big deal, but next thing he swam over me. I pulled harder and got away, only to have him come back and slug my shoulder. That time it kind of ticked me off, mostly because it's such an open body of water and there's no excuse for that. Swam wide and escaped him, probably added some yardage that I didn't need.
Overall felt like a decent swim.

Just need to get faster.

Long run up the beach, then up a little hill. They had you run all the way around transition to the run out, rather than being able to enter from the side. I was camped out over by the bike out so had a fairly long T1 time.
Took a hit off the inhaler and headed out.

Had filled my hydration bottle with Ironman Perform and made myself take a sip every mile. I think this helped, as I had no cramping issues today. The hills were tough but didn't kill me like they did last year when I was enjoying an asthma attack. I think there was quite a bit of pollen today, and part of the course went through a hayfield, but the Zyrtec and Advair did their job.
Tailwind on the way out, headwind coming back (of course). Averaged 19+ going out, more like 14 or 15 on the way back.

Just need more hill riding and longer distances.

I was really not looking forward to the run, so kind of took my time here.

I knew I was no match for the heat, so made a decision from the very start that I would walk a minute/run a minute. This strategy worked pretty well. Lots of great volunteers out there with water, HEED and cool washcloths. I poured water on my head a couple of times and that really helped. I find that every year, the heat is harder to deal with.

I guess just train in the heat more.

Got a sub sandwich and sat in the shade watching the awards. Took a shower. Troy's wife, Mary, was here and she rode back to Springfield with me.


I'm just a slowbie!


3 Discipline Racing puts on a very good race, very organized and on time. Love the light blue shirts they gave out this year.