Turtle Crawl Olympic Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

I breathe bi-laterally fine, but prefer right side. Swim course was south bound, along the beach, so breathing right side was good for sighting the shore. On the final 100 yds, breathing right was looking into the sun, so breathing left was better.
I thought I had a good swim, but I was 52nd, vs. my final overall place of 33, so I guess it was a slow swim.

I wasn't mentally focused during the entire swim. Perhaps a few more long swims in training and/or more open water swim training. Goggles fogging up a couple of times, was a distraction.
I swam out, well past the breakers, but I may have gone too far out. The swimmers were spread out. I don't think I was the farthest out.

Good. Quick, including socks. 2nd fastest T1 overall.

Nada. Nailed it. Free speed.

It took me a while, like 5+ minutes, to get my HR to settle down. I checked my HRM regularly during the ride. My bike LT is 165, so I targeted 160-165. I backed off a few times from the 170's, I picked it up a few times from the 150's. I was trying not to over-do it and save something for the run. I rode in aero bars 98% of the way.

Add a few solo training rides of race distance to practice staying focused and keeping up the pace. I faded mentally during the 3rd quarter of the ride.

Good. Quick. Estimated T2 time. Official results didn't split out T2. And I'm not certain where I hit my splits on my watch.

Nada. Nailed it. Be sure to hit splits on watch at T1 and T2 entrances and exits.

By run time the sun was high and it was starting to feel hot. Fortunately there is a lot of shade on this course. I had a good strong run. 7:50 pace first 3 miles. I faded slightly by mile 4 and was feeling tight in my left hamstring. At mile 5 I felt a sharp twinge, almost a cramp. I slowed for a couple of minutes and it didn't get any worse so I kept going. 8:04 pace for last 3 miles.

Maybe hamstring cramp due to need for more electrolyte. I had one bottle of sports drink and ate 3 gels on bike which I thought would be plenty. I burped and tasted gel early on the run, so I don't think I could have handled any more. Perhaps next time 2 gels and 2 bottles.

Walked around, ate, drank.


I finished 32nd overall. I was 52nd after the swim, but the 32nd swimmer was only 2 minutes ahead of me. I was 41st off the bike and 25th fastest runner. So did I hold back on the bike too much? Or others faded more than I did? Probably I could have gone harder on the bike, even if it cost a little on the run.


Beautiful, interesting venue. Race organization has a few kinks to work out. Website listed my age group as 50-54, results posted as 46-50. WTH?
Packet pickup the night before closed at 6pm, too early. Then packet pickup was slow on race day, so they delayed the start 15 minutes. Lame.
No electrolyte drink on the run. Good music and food, but no beer at finish. Awards ceremony was painfully slow and too long (2+ hours). Results didn't give a T2 split. Results didn't list age of competitors.