Columbia Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

Went out strong and then tried to settle in. Lots more pond weed this year early on on RHS so came across a bit earlier and tried to find some feet to draft from. The one pair I found were too fast. So just settled into some sort of rhythym. Navigation seemed fine.

Almost exactly the same time as last year on far less swimming. Wouldn't change anything apart to learn to find the right person to draft.

Terrible trouble getting wetsuit off. So much so that someelse can into my aisle after me and left probably a minute before me. Also couldn't get clipped in initially.

Cut the bottom of the wetsuit. But alas I'm not going to need it at Eagleman.

It's interesting that all the people above me in the division had faster bike times. I can't seem to generate the power on the downhills and flats that bigger cyclists can. And yet I cruise past them on the hills. So it was a pattern all the way round with a couple of M45-49 people who I would pass on a hill and then they would come screaming past me.

More time on the bike. Even though this was nearly a minute faster than last year's time I still haven't been on the bike nearly enough this Spring. Too many other things going on .... I still feel I've got a couple of minutes to find on this course - and then i'd be more competitive with my (new) peers.

Fast.

Nothing.

Not sure I was 11th in M45-49 on this performance but the results have been screwed up online. I'll come back and check. Bottom line is that even though I have been concentrating on my run early season (and breaking 20 mins for 5k for the first time ever) today I just felt wiped at the start of the run and never really got going.

I did have a battle for 10th place though from about 4 miles in. First time for me to be in the position of properly racing someone else in a triathlon. Sadly he pipped me at the line by a second. And he was a fellow Brit.



I've got to sharpen this up or get out of town. All the times of those in the first nine places in the AG were several minutes quicker than this. I know Columbia is a hilly course but now it is relative run speed that is becoming important.

Nothing.


Not training enough. Moving back to the UK in 8 weeks time and preparing for that !


TriColumbia always put on a really well organised great race. Great swag bag as well this year.

This is a challenging course and one that I find extremely difficult to pace. After three goes at it I'm still learning but sadly this is going to be my last Columbia Triathlon, probably ever. I am going to miss my annual trip to Centennial Park in May.