Texas Stampede Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

The first turn was in about 2.5 feet of water. My hands were touching the bottom as I completed my stroke. As I turned, I had to stand up and run as convenience. I managed to swim the first ~350 meters freestyle before having to stop for a moment to catch my breath. I swam backstroke for ~ 25 yards. After catching my breath, I was able to swim the rest of the course freestyle, slowing down on occasion to focus on my breathing. Overall, the swim was better than my first race.

Spend more time focusing on my breathing and stroke in order to endure the longer swims in the future. I need not focus on speed at this time.

The run from the swim exit to transition was harsh on the bottom of my feet. The trail has small pebbles. I removed my cap and goggles as I ran to my spot. I dropped them and picked up my helmet and glasses. I stepped into my cleats, foregoing the socks. I ran to the mount line and hopped on my bike. I didn't have any problems getting on the bike.

Shake and wipe the small pebble from my foot before stepping into the cleats. This caused me some pain initially as I was riding my bike.

The first loop was challenging as my hamstrings and gluts were tight. It took about 2 miles for them to loosen up. Gear shifting was great both up and down hill. Average speed going uphill was 12 mph. Average speed going down hill was 28 mph. Max speed was 24 mph.

Nothing at this time. Practice on getting faster and sprinting uphill.

Again, I slipped into my shoes barefoot as I took off my helmet. As I bent down to finish slipping into my shoes, I picked up my race belt and hat. Bike was racked in the opposite direction from when I exited transition from T1.

Wear socks of find a lubricant to reduce friction. I had a few blisters after the run.

Just before the 1 mile mark I began to cramp. Had to stop a few times during the run to let the pain subside. Without the cramps, my run would have been better I think. I bought new shoes two weeks ago, Asic Gel Cumulus. The run was more comfortable than the shoes I wore during my last race, which were intended for off-road courses.

Better nutrition to prevent cramps

Banana, water, powerade, granola bar. I stretched for 15 minutes.


My best segment was the bike, with swim and run coming in second and third respectively. I need to focus on my nutrition and the effort I put into my ride. I worked hard to get up the hill without losing momentum. I think I may have worked harder than I was physically able to, resulting in cramps during the run.


More volunteers would be helpful for the event. I was not too fond of the turn around within the first 50 meters of the course. It definitely kills the momentum. For my second race, it was a good benchmark. I volunteered for the Playtri Festival in June, so I got a discount on my race entry. If it was not for the discount, I do not think the event was a good value. For a beginner, this course provides a good challenge and highlights areas for improvements.