Binbrook Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

This felt like a very good and strong swim. I started off a little too hard and had to lay off a bit. There was a decent amount of contact, due to the next to zero visibility underwater. My sighting was actually very good, which is easy when there aren't any bodies in front of you.

Wait a sec. There wasn't anybody in front of me? It was too strong of a start. It did feel good to have some clear sightlines. I could tell there were people in front of me, but nobody was directly within my view. I managed to get around the buoys very well. I swam very straight.

All in all it was probably one of my best swims. My placing didn't prove that (top third in AG—same as last week), but it was still very confidence-inspiring.

Maybe do a bit of a warmup, and pace slightly better in the early part.

My wetsuit is still getting stuck. I should have done Milton's race report before this race, because I completely forgot.

I got onto the bike well, and it was much easier getting my feet in the shoes.

Lube the suit.

FASTEST BIKE SPLIT EVER!!!

For real this time, not like last week. The course was very flat and very fast. My heart rate was very consistent from start to finish. It peaked at 171, and averaged 161. Again, like last week I had a bit of a mushy middle. I played a little cat-and-mouse with a group of three (who were spending a lot of time sucking off each other's wheels) during the one minor ascent. Then after the second turnaround I turned it on.

After passing that group, everything opened up. The closest competitors were far ahead of me, and it felt like there was noone behind me anymore. I don't think I've ever been that far ahead, where I'm actually no longer in a pack. After my lap splits were showing super fast times, I felt like I was only minutes behind the leaders. It was surreal.

This feeling continued when I got back toward transition. The people there seemed like they were caught off guard, like so few people had come in already. Usually the volunteers at the dismount line are freaking out when I come in fast with my feet on top of my pedals. This time they seemed to understand that I was comfortable, and just motioned where the line was. The people cheering sounded like they were actually genuinely excited, and not just going through the motions, or trying to encourage the slow guy.

This continued until I got to the rack for my bike. There were only two other bikes on my rack that had come in already. I was super pumped for the run. I figured if I could hold on to this position (which granted, I thought was much higher than it was), then I would have my strongest finish yet!

Eliminate the mushy centre.

Just a decent T2. Nothing to report here.

FASTEST RUN EVER!!!

Seriously, the fastest run I've ever had. I don't know what happened, but I started off the run super pumped, and that feeling never faded. I just wanted to try to maintain my position, and try to keep as many people from passing me as possible. Last week it was discouraging when I got passed that much.

At the first 1k lap marker I couldn't believe my time: 4:34. I've never run that fast. I knew it wouldn't last long, but I pushed through it to see just how long I could maintain it. The next lap marker: 4:36. This included a short and steep climb out of the park too. So I kept going on. 4:51, 4:45, 4:27, 4:36. I only got passed by a few people, which is extremely rare for me. I run at 6:00! This isn't me!

I only realized how well I was doing until the turnaround point. There were a *lot* of people in this race, and relatively so few in front of me. I saw Marlene, who I had completely expected to have passed me by this point (she was a wave or two behind me, but she's a faster cyclist and a much faster runner). It was awesome to high-five across the road!

Soon after I felt a twinge of pain from my IT band again. Not anywhere near as bad as last week, but it was definitely bothering me more than I would have liked. My pace slowed to 4:58, and descending that short but steep hill on the way back, I turned my ankle and nearly fell. It was close, but I made it (as I got passed for position).

The finish was strong, working down to my quickest pace of 4:26. I didn't even feel like I was going to puke at the end. So I suppose I left a bit too much in the tank there!

I can't believe how well that run was. Whatever I did, I'm going to have to capture that and save it in a bottle.

Nothing. Nothing at all.

I ate burger and stretched!


Oddly enough, maybe my swim. My run technically *could* have been faster, but wow.


It was a nice touch that race organizer John Salt right at the finish line, shaking everyone's hands and congratulating them.