Mooseman Triathlon Festival - International Distance - TriathlonOlympic

I never got into my swimming rhythm I felt constricted with the wetsuit and I couldn't draft at all. I also forgot to hit my HT monitor lap buttom 2 tims to start the timer. half way through I took a pick to my time to see if i needed to pick up the pace and i realized my mistake! (jeezzz)
I was having issue keeping my navigation straight and I felt I was swimming but my arms were not pulling enough water to propel me forward. WEIRD. On the last 400-500 yds I tried to stick with a couple of guys and I began to push harder and harder. All of the sudden CRAMP! yup crampred my left calf and hurt like a bitch!

uummm still thinking

it was chilly so i took a bit more time than usual

WTF!!! As soon as I started biking HR was through the roof (180+) and my legs felt heavy and without energy. My left calf was still in pain from the swimming cramp and I was having some issue keeping cadence. I try to stand up and stretch it and work a bit but it was painful.it was rainy ALL the time. This made handling a bit iffy at some portions but nothing too bad. I was keeping an eye on my power meter and I was NOT pushing big watts to be that tired. All of the sudden power tap stop working due to rain so I had no cadence, speed or watts anymore. I had to ride blinded with HR. In my mind i was fighting hard to speed up and gain some time but I obviously didn't. According to my plan by now I was supposed to be fighting with the top 10 places. I came out of the water like top 20 but I was not gaining time on anyone and in fact some guys passed me... very frustrating. I tend to drink 24 oz of sports drink per hour plus gel but I lost my gel on a downhill and I barely finished one bottle at the end of the ride. I knew I was just executing poorly due to my frustration and the run was going to be hard. (I began the run in a deficit nutrition wise)

stll thinking about this

I am surpsied I did this T somehow fast. my feet wear numb from the cold while riding so I wasn't able to put on my sneackers as fast as usual.

I knew I was in trouble when I began running, I felt legs heavy and I was thirsty already (NOT A GOOD SIGN). I began taking salt tables like candy to avoid more cramping (left calf was still bitching at me) and began drinking as much as possible. At around mile one in the 1st water station I drank like 3 Gatorade cups. I began to feel a bit better and legs began to loosen up. I figure I was ready to fight one more time and catch some guys to at least rescue a top 15 place overall. But NOOOO! Since I drank too much water at once, now all of the sudden I was having a fucking side stitch and it was hurting like a mother f---er! *sigh* I thought “wtf is going on today?” My run is MY leg and I should be catching people. 2 guys passed me and that was it, that began to break me and I began losing it. I figure I should quit, stop, walk, and bag the race all together. I was still running and saw my split for my second mile and it was like 6:20 (when it was suppose to be like 5:30). I came VERY close to stop but then this voice stuck in my head telling me: “if I quit now, it will become easier to quit in the future” is that what I want? I was having a bad day but for some reason I kept going and began to focus on each step. I focused on my running form, I began to count my steps to make sure I was running 90 cadence, I flat my back look up straight and relax my shoulders. I knew my legs were having issues so I used my arms to lead up the way (TIP FOR YOU GUYS: Arms ALWAYS set up the pace, not the legs, If the arms move with rhythm legs will follow and pace will improve ;)) by mile 3 my split drop back to 5:55 so I began to regain confidence. I never lost sight of 5 guys in front of me I just felt I was not going to be able to catch them. We came down to the turn around an legs began to feel a lot better, so I decided to give it another go. A couple of guys slowed down to drink at the aid station and I passed those two! (Another tip: never waste time drinking on the last 20-25 min before the end. Your stomach won’t have enough time to absorb it and it will only slow you down) I now was running relax, side stitch was gone and cramping was in check. I could see the other 3 guys and I could se another 2 at the distance. I began to pick up the pace and mile 4 was at 5:30. Passed another 2 guys and kept going, I got close to another one and passed it, split my watch at mile 5 and pace was now 5:20! I made a deal to endure the pain and just to run as fast a possible. I passed another 2 guys and saw the final turn to the finish line. This one guy was ahead of me so I sprint my life out and passed him with, with like 100 yds to go I saw another guy and ran as fat as I could I didn’t pass him but I finished 2 seconds behind him. I checked my pace for the last 1.1 mile and it was 5:55, ;) yup that’s 5:13 per mile.

I guess nothing... I survived it and it is all that matters

It was a hard race indeed. I got over confident; I didn’t approach it seriously enough and ended up paying for it. (I deserved a bad race) My body was also still fatigue from FL 70.3 not to race but yes to post a fast time. I also made some stupid mistakes but live and learn, you can’t ever be so relax that you lose focus of the ultimate goal.
I got smack back to reality and it is a good thing. Achieving good results is just the result of hard worn and constant race preparation. But we have to be consistent ALL the time in order to avoid having a bad day. Finally it is impossible to have good races all the time, and we’ll always have good days and bad days. Yes a good race are awesome and makes us feel cool and regain motivation, but bad races are great because it enables us to continue learning, keep us real and honest and most important to keep us hungry and to continue pursuing our dreams and strive for THAT perfect race :
THANK YOU BTers for supporting me :)