Buffalo Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

I was a bit nervous, as I didn't know what to expect. I was hoping to start to the back and side, but nobody around me seemed to want to be in the lead either. After the start, needed to swim around the side of a pontoon boat, so I tried to avoid a bottle-neck there. During the start, had a little contact with other swimmers, but not too bad. I tried to swim on the right outside (left turns), and that seemed to work well. I took the turn around the buoy wide to avoid the bottle-neck, and that worked well. Tough to get into a rythym as I felt like I needed to lift my head to sight a lot. On the way back, my left goggle was leaking and foggy. Tough to see, but I could vaguely make out the balloons on shore to aim for. I started to pass more swimmers and others from previous waves. I started to feel a bit tired, like I was working harder than expected, so I tried to smooth out my strike on the return. I breathed on my right side the whole way.

Nothing. This was my first Tri, and first OWS race, so I was please with how I did.

As I exited the water, I tried to find my pull string, but had some trouble. I took off my hat and goggles and also my watch to pull of my wetsuit arms. I checked my swim time and hit the lap button when I crossed the timing pad. I was very surprised and pleased with my swim time. As I was running through the shoot, I saw my wife and kids cheering for me. I felt great seeing them and gave a big smile. My wetsuit was slightly stuck, so I sat down to take it off and to put on my socks and bike shoes. Helmet and sunglasses on, stuff a gu in my pocket and go. Ran to the mount line and stopped to get on and click in.

Time seems really slow. It was a long run to my bike. I'll need to practice the transitions more to speed up.

Got up to speed very quickly. Tons and tons of bikers to pass. The bike course was busy the whole way due to how the waves were organized. Mentally, this was a nice change from the Duathlon I did last weekend. Had to pay very close attention to the other bikers as a lot of passing was going on and varying speeds on the hills. I tried very hard to keep my pace going from the downhills into the uphills to power over the top. I did have one uphill where someone pulled in front of me, and I almost had to stop since a car was coming in the other lane. The bike computer clicked by 12 miles and kept going. The course was longer than advertised by about a mile. I feel like I earned that mile, so I'm counting it! Did not drink or Gu on the bike.

Nothing. My training is helping, now I will just continue to build from here.

Tough dismount line, as it was at the bottom of the hill. I had unclicked my right foot as I was slowing down. Came to a complete stop and unclicked uneventfully (Yeah!). Ran to the rack and put on running shoes. Using speed laces, but the tongue in my shoes doesn't like them so well, so I spent some time adjusting them. My wife and kids were near the rack cheering me on - Neat! Ran out of transition and my right calf seemed near cramping. Shortly after getting on the run course, realized I forgot my race belt!

Not forget race belt, just work on making myself faster.

After debating whether I needed to go back for my race number, I decided against it. I figured that I would know what I did, even if I got DQ'd for it. Also, I had so many markings on my body, and the timing chip, I figured that I was covered. I was hoping to really push the run, but I just tried to keep my legs moving. I had a slight side-stitch most of the way, and just kept a fairly even pace. I passed quite a few runners, and some from my age group, and only got passed by 2 people. Felt even, not strong, not wiped out, but good coming into the finish. Saw wife and kids again cheering me on! Checked watch on finishing, and broke the 1:12 goal I had set for myself (that without knowing about the extra mile on the bike!)

Need to get back to my speed workouts.

Not too much. Had to get going to a niece's baptism, so ran around getting gear loaded up and kids were ready to go.


Nothing. I'm happy with the result. I will continue to train and build base.


Good race. Lots and lots of people!