mini-Mussel Sprint Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

The swim was my first OWS, and the worst part of my race. After 100 yards I was totally breathing out of control, heart rate through the roof, goggles fogged up, and I had to flip over to catch my breath and reduce HR. All I could do was elementary backstroke, but with the wetsuit, that saved me. About halfway through I thought about quitting, but the thought of getting out of the water and facing my son, and going home early, that spurred me on. I was figuratively over my head, but not drowning, so to speak. A guy kept following me and risked getting kicked in the face, I am not sure why he did not move away from me. Eventually he passed me. I tried to freestyle a couple more times, but wasn't able to. Once my HR was something more reasonable, I swam the final 200 yds or so breast. Some white caps from the next wave passed me, but I could have cared less. When I exited the water, someone said "great job!" I'm thinking, are you freaking kidding me? Haha!

Swim more building up to the race. I had six weeks between my first triathlon in June and this race, and I swam all of twice. Also, I should have trained in open water prior.

I walked to my bike. At my first tri, I did not recover cardio-wise from the pool swim until five minutes into the bike. I wanted to take a little time to calm down and focus. I had a little trouble getting the wetsuit off until I remembered to use my feet to pull it off, and that worked perfectly. I ate a package of Clif Bloks, wore my shoes through transition (grass), walked to the start, and got on the bike with no trouble. All the bad things I did in my first tri I corrected at this one.

Run. Move faster. Run.

The bike felt good. My average was higher than my last race, but that was mostly the course was easier. I did not have enough to drink, just one bottle of Hammer Heed, I could have used two. I wished there was an aid station on the course for water. I tried to eat a gel, but that hurt going down with dry throat, I washed it down with Heed. Stayed left, and passed many more riders than passed me, that felt good. Especially down hills, I could not believe how many were not pedaling down hill.

I could have biked harder, but did not want to calf cramp like I did in my first race. The Heed and all the water I had been drinking helped with that. Next time, two bottles, one with Heed, the other with water. No gels, just Clif Bloks, they go down easier.

I had a great T2, really the only thing I could have done better is use a flying dismount, but there were too many people at the dismount area, and I did NOT want to crash myself or especially anyone else. I popped my shoes off way too early, rode for about a mile with my feet on top of my shoes, but I think the extra time stretching my feet actually helped my running.

Have a water bottle at transition. I had given it to my son, but he still had it. I was dying for water, but the first chance I got was 1.25 miles into the run. Parched!

I cooked right along at my easy training pace, around 10 minute miles. I could not go faster if I tried. I gained 4 pounds over the past six weeks since my first race, and I was feeling it. It was HOT almost 90 it seemed in the sun. The two aid stations were awesome, cup of water, cup of Heed, another cup of water over my head.

Nothing.

Enjoyed the kiddie pools full of cold water, than walked around looking for my son. He had left the bike exit to get some water, and missed me coming through. We found each other 15 mins after I finished. :( Enjoyed the post race meal, connected with a potential youth coach for my son, and then got everything and drove home.


Lack of training in the six weeks leading up to the race. Time commitments for other things, and the kids, killed me. I am committing and working harder over the next six weeks before my next race. I hope to lose 12 pounds prior to my next race, and already dropped four since Saturday (most of that water weight).


Only knock was lack of water on bike course (one aid station would have been nice) and I would have liked the run aid station come sooner than 1.25 miles.