TRI for FUN Triathlon #2 - TriathlonSprint

Since I wasn't able to get into a steady rhythm in my first 2 races this year I wanted to really focus on getting that steady rhythm from the start. I started pretty wide left (the turns are to the right on this course) and in the back. I floated on my back and relaxed for quite a while until they were about to start, then just before the 10 second countdown I gave my wife (who was videoing the start) a thumbs up and off we went. -- The plan went almost perfect. After a bit of a false start since one guy started swimming off course right in front of me I got right into a rhythm and stayed there. Bilateral breathing and sighting after every 3rd or 4th breath. Once I rounded the first buoy I took a quick look behind and I was ahead of about 1/3 of the group. A few times I switched to breathing just on my left side and about every fourth breath I would switch to breathing right side and sight right after the breath. I did have a tendency to to drift left a bit, but I was able to correct well after sighting. I swam until my fingers dug into the bottom and then pulled myself forward a few more strokes before standing and running up towards transition.

I'm not sure I'd do anything different. This was the best open water swim I've had so far. When my wife called out 14:56 I was very happy. I was just a hair faster than last month but feeling so much better than last time.

Ran up into transition and walked from the top of the hill to my spot. Pulled the suit off and dried my feet with the corners of my towel. Helmet, glasses, socks, shoes, and bike gloves all on. Grabbed the bike and ran for the bike mount line.

Bring an extra towel next time to make drying my feet easier.

The bike was fantastic. Smooth gear changes. I actually spent quite a bit of time on the larger chain ring and still maintained above 90 cadence during parts of the ride.
At the turnaround I checked my average speed and I was at 19.0 mph I swallowed down a vanilla bean Gu pack just after the turnaround.

Nothing. This bike leg was faster than I expected and I'm really excited about the progress.

My transition spot was a little far from bike finish and run start so this time reflected the longer run through transition. I took some extra time to put on my patellar tendon support strap. I had a little trouble getting my GPS watch onto the right screen and that took a few extra seconds before I was off and running. Besides those things everything else was smooth.

I'm not sure. If I got there earlier I suppose I could get a transition spot a bit closer to the bike finish and run

There is a mental barrier that I was not able to break here. I know my legs can take me faster than I am going, but I can't seem to get my mind to force the issue. I felt similar to last race. I walked the two aide stations to drink a little water and pour some of it onto my chest to help cool off.
My heart rate stayed in the 165-170 range and I know I could have taken it further for so short a distance.

Still need to figure out how to make my legs do the work that I know they can faster. I hope I can get past that barrier before my next race.

Grabbed some water and walked over to where my wife had been cheering me on approaching the finish. A little more walking and then grabbed some of the fruit/cookie food at the food canopies.


That mental barrier on the run is holding me back. I think I need to do some brick workouts to try and get past that point and be able to kick the run into the next gear. Other than that I am extremely happy with the results of this race.


I have really enjoyed the 4 TBF events I have done. Everyone is very friendly and the volunteers are awesome at each race. I hope next year to do some races held by other organizers just for the different venues, but it would be hard to imagine better run events than these.