HITS National Championship: Palm Springs - Sprint Course - Aquabike

My overall rank was 65 of 239 total sprinters. My pace was 1:53/100yds.

I did a little planning, wearing dark goggles since we swam straight into the rising sun, and picked some landmarks to sight with each way. I did my best to pick a line to avoid the densest part of the crowd.

The swim was warm for a wetsuit, and almost too warm by the end. I'd been in the lake the previous Friday and knew that more than one cap was too warm - a very nice surprise since I'd panicked that I'd left my neoprene caps up the coast.

This was the most crowded swim start ever for me, with all of the sprint guys funneling between two start buoys. I was comfortable with the washing machine, and had a fair amount of contact for a few hundred yards. I did try to swim outside the crowd early on, but it was still crowded.

By the turn back, I finally felt comfortable with my stroke and breathing. I sighted on and swam a line to the far buoy, and noticed that most people near me swam the curve made by the buoys. I felt good the whole way, still trying to pass guys on the way to shore. Loved it. Even though I was slower than I wanted to be, it was nice to be in shape for this.

There's not much I can think of to do differently.

T1 was uneventful. We ran from the lake to the far end of transition, then to the racked bikes. My wetsuit came off easily enough, a lot better than the one I used to have problems with.

I ran with the bike fairly well, and did a running mount for the first time since Oceanside! I'm glad it worked!

As always, my key to a faster transition is to run fast.

Okay, I've put what little time I've had into swimming, but this bike leg showed that I'm a cyclist:) I only rode 40 miles a week the previous month and hadn't been on the TT bike for a long time, so was thrilled at this ride. I plucked people off the whole way, and the only draft pack that came by me near the end got dropped again at the top of the hill on the way to the gate like seems to happen for me at this venue. No one passed me.

I'm pumped that I did so well, especially since I'm not nearly as strong now that work has gotten in the way of triathlons. Since the Desert tri and Oceanside are just a few months away, I'll start riding twice a week so I can get my speed back up.

I just hung out and waited for my buddy in the Olympic aquabike to finish.


It's funny, not much.


The HITS guys did a good job, and it looks like they'll continue to improve.