Black Bear Triathlon - Olympic Course - TriathlonOlympic

This was a good swim. I was able to draft well off several people.

My navigation could have been a little better. At one point, I realized I was swimming at a slight angle, but was able to correct right away.

When I came out of the water, and looked at my watch, I was surprised to see a 21:xx swim time. It felt good, but it didn't feel crazy fast. Wow!

Nothing. This is the fastest time I've ever posted in an Oly.

13th in AG and 56th overall.

My legs felt heavy early in the ride. It took about 30 minutes before I felt good. I think it's probably because I didn't train enough this past week.

I dropped my chain once during the first few miles (still need to fix that!), and was very careful with shifting the rest of the ride. I didn't have any more problems with it.

I rode my own race, moderately hard, holding back enough to save some legs for the run. My original goal for this race was a sub-50 run, and I knew my training wasn't where I'd wanted it the last month and a half between the back problems I'd been having and the sinus infection that I had finally been able to shake only a week earlier. It felt good to get out, and just go, but I still wanted to be able to move on the run!

The only hydration & fuel I took in were 1 bottle of Gatorade and some water that were combined in my aero bottle. This turned out to be a good amount, because the weather was a little cool - Only around 70-75 degrees.

Nothing. I think this was a good pace for me on this course at my current fitness level.

This transition went well. I was 7th fastest in my AG, and 31st overall.

Nothing.

I knew it was going to be a challenge to break 50 minutes, but I was going to give it my best shot!

I'd grabbed my FR305 in T2, and used it to push myself to hold a pace as close to 8:00/mi as possible. I had to keep forcing myself to slow down during the first mile, turning it in 7:40. After that, things got hard.

I took 1 cup of water at an aid station about a mile into the first loop, but that was it. No other hydration or fuel during the run.

I finished the first loop in about 25:30, but I was really hurting at this point, struggling to maintain a pace a little slower than 8:00. My lower back hurt where I'd had problems on and off for the last month and a half, but it was bearable. I wondered how I was going to hold on to this pace?

Hang in there! Only 25 minutes to go! I can endure anything for that long, right? Keep going! It will stop hurting at the finish.

I focused on smooth, quick strides, landing under my hips, and leaning forward slightly from the ankles. Let gravity help!

Only 1.5 miles to go! This is all I've got! Nothing else to give!

I knew by now that it wouldn't be under 50, but it would still be a good time!

There's the finish line! God, that finish chute looks so long!

Finally there!!! Where's my watch? Oh, yeah, I stuffed it in my tri top pocket when I put on the Garmin. That can't be right, can it? Under 2:40? Woohoo! It is right! A new Oly PR, on a tough course!

Nothing. This was a great run for me. It's a PR at this distance by a few minutes.

Walked around, ate food at the Team in Training tent, and cheered on the other finishers as they came down the chute.


Nothing. I had a great race! This was one of those races that even the little things that went wrong didn't seem to slow me down.


This is a good event, and I like that the organizers go out of their way to warn beginners of the dangers of open water swimming.

The event is well organized, and everything runs on time.

If I have any criticism, it's just that the expo really isn't one. For the way the rest of the event is run, it would be nice to have more than 1 vendor.