Cranberry Trifest - Olympic Course - TriathlonOlympic

Very warm. Could have totally been a non-wetsuit race segment. A few area where it was very shallow. 3/4 back, rounded an area where my finger tips were literally scrapping the bottom. Had to veer off to the side alittle to find a little deeper water.

Nothing, swim went at planned. Reached my swim time goal and then some.

Since this was an olympic distance, I choose to put socks and biking shoes on while in T1. Figured the few extra seconds would pay off in comfort later in the race. We exited swim, up some granite steps, alittle slippery, then a nice litte run, down a chute to get to transition.

Nothing, went as planned.

Wanted to finish the bike segment in 1:12 to 1:15 minutes. Finished in 1hr 17mins. Happy with that. Think I could have pushed harder in some areas, but I knew with my running history that could make the running harder. Sat back and enjoyed the ride, not pushing hard.

Maybe push harder. Would have liked my average speed higher. Since this was my first olympic distance I didn't know what to expect coming the bike and running a 10K.

Switched into running shoes, helmet off, switched Garmin from bike mount to watch-strap. Had a great transition. Loved seeing my wife and two boys, cheer me on while in T2!

Nothing, went great.

This is where things got interesting for this race. Started off great leaving transition, felt great! Popped off right around a sub-7 minute mile for the first two miles; and then I could feel both quad muscle in both legs starting to cramp! I keep going to mile 3 and right after that, mainly my right leg, LOCKED up! Ouch! Had to stop briefly, walk a few feet and do some exagerated stretching. Started running again and only made it about another 3/4 of a mile before, my leg locked again. Mainly the right leg, but I could feel the left getting worse. Repeated this, run a mile, walk for 10-15 seconds and stretch, and then continued. Last 4 miles were far slower then I wanted. Was hoping to hold 7 to 7:15min/mile pace. Not much to do but, push on. Was hoping for a 42 to 45 minute run segment; ended up with 49min. Not bad considering I had a great two miles before I cramped up severly on the back half of the course and had to walk/stretch every mile or so. I watch less then 10 folks pass me on the run, and I think 4 of them were in my age group! Wanted to keep up with them, but I just couldn't. Did have nice encouragement by each person who passed me, telling me to push on! Helps. Got to high-five my son coming down the finishing chute; don't know if he or I were more excited to see the finish of this run.

Not much. I don't think I pushed that hard on the bike, maybe? Iam use to racing sprint distances, which is all out, all the way. Doubling the distance on the bike and run, makes me think I have some work to do on my bike to run conditioning for my next olympic distance.

Stretched, sat in an ice bath for a couple of minutes. Ate and rehydrated. Chatted with my wife and two boys about how the race went, before they left and then hung out, for post-race meal. Ate and watched some finishers come down the chute.


Severe cramping on the run from mile 3 thru 6. I feel I hydrated well all week long. Sort of dissappointed because I felt I could have had a great run, minus the leg cramps. Still managed to finish in the top 17% of the overall field(plus or minus) and a tenth place age-group finish! My season has included a 1st place Ag win, a top 5 AG placing, and now a top 10 AG placing. Happy with how things went for my first olympic distance race and overall how my season has gone.


Great event! I see why it sells out every year. Very, very organized, great race management and volunteers. Post race activies included meals for races (olympic distance), a live band, ect. My wife did the sprint on sat and I raced the olympic distance on sunday. Nice for each of us to bring our kids out, have some fun and watch their parents race. My oldest is bothering me about doing the kids duathlon next year...maybe? If we do this again next year, my oldest son may do the kids duathlon. Great family involved weekend. Event location had a smaller park for the kids to burn off some energy, a skate park and some wide open soccer field to run thru. Would definately do this race again.