Steelman Triathlon - Olympic Distance - TriathlonOlympic

No wetsuits.

I took a very lackadaisical approach to my swim training this year and I think this performance proves it. I guess I always just think "eh, the hay is in the barn and I am good enough to get by". This is true but I have had much better swim performances.

First off I just plain love swimming in a smooth lake. Being in and of the water for most of my life I am always comfortable in the water.

Drafting...wtf? I don't get it. I can't seem to find the right feet, ever! Just when I think I am on some, I either start swimming up their back or they just pull away from me.

When the next wave caught me I tried to stay on some faster feet but, they/she was way faster then me and by now, we were almost coming down the chute so, eh. Just swim on.

Take my swim training more seriously

This really felt way faster than it seemed. Time truly is relative. Thank you Einstein. Not sure why it was so slow. Could be the running with shoes on. I think I am just going to rubber band them from now on.

Rubber band shoes and drop 20 lbs.

ummmm...several months ago I decided that biking is no longer fun and I need to put in some serious work if I am ever going to see improvements...

So, with my again lack of training serious, I am not surprised that I was 1 MPH slower than last year. Again, no surprise I asked for this.

Somehow find the fun in the bike again and lose that 20lbs

I lost time heading back to my transition bag as I wanted to pop an electrolyte and I didn't take any on the bike. Again, much like T1 I am not sure why these are so slow? Everything is where it supposed to be be in the order that I put them on. Maybe I am just that "gassed" getting off the bike.

I love running now. Funny, I used to hate it and now it is the sole source of my enjoyment these days. I really need to get a couple more Oly and 10K's under my belt to learn how to pace right. I really thought I was leaving it all on the course but when I started kicking at the end, I passed 3 people in the chute. As I passed the last girl I heard her pick up the pace as if she was saying, "no you don't, you can't pass me". So dropped into another gear (?) and finished strong? What was that last gear? Where did that come from? Is there more of me I am not aware of?

I kept saying, I know this is going to hurt so make it hurt. It just never quite "hurt". I think I could have pushed harder. My legs started feeling cramped in the last 2 miles which makes me think perhaps I should have popped and electrolyte.

Cool towel on the neck, cold shower and packed up.


beer and pizza


This race report from the start to T2 feels more like a confession than a report.