Tri Santa Cruz - Sprint Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Swim: awesome start. Good job seeding yourself in the group. No one swam over you. Relax and keep the buoys to the right. Relax, reach, relax reach, relax, reach. Beach is just ahead. Good job. 12:24 in the water but you've got a long run to the timing mat in T1. Hate running in bare feet. Good marshaling by the volunteers. Well marked route. Keep going. Ow! Oh shit. Walk, walk walk. Oh hell. Season's over. (one of my left hamstrings popped like a rubber band). Don't freak out. May just be a cramp. Walk it to T1. This is not good.

T1: your season is over. No, don't think that way. See how the bike goes. Wetsuit off, shoes and helmet on. Walk, don't run, the bike out of T1.

Bike: this is a fast course. Flat. Well marshalled. Left leg is working but man, hurts even here on the bike. This is not good. New water bottle set up is an improvement. Keep drinking. Stay hydrated. Pass, pass, pass. Oh, just got chicked. At least she's a pro. On her second lap probably. Great view of the ocean. Stay left for second loop. Face it, Tim, your season's over. The leg is not good if it still hurts on the bike. Pass , pass, pass. Great views of the ocean. What are you going to do in T2...Quit or walk the run leg?

T2: what are you going to do? Walking is better than hanging around, right? Bike shoes off. Socks and running shoes on. Helmet off, hat on. Grab Gu. Go. Try a slow shuffle. Nope. You're walking this one kiddo.

Run (walk): this sucks (angry, bitter thoughts for first mile), oh, there goes Alex. He must have had a great swim! go Alex! Wish I hadn't already paid for the big kahuna. What are my options? No more run training. Try aqua jogging up to the day of the race. See if you can get this mostly healed...enough to run 13 miles by September. Back into physical therapy again? Why is running always so difficult for me? I don't want to go through this again. Stop thinking that way. You have a lot going for you. Maybe it's time to focus on the open water swimming which you love. Throw in some cycling. Get back in the gym. Sports doesn't have to be about triathlon. You like other things. Strength training would be good to pick up. Wow, I love the fog. Everything looks so peaceful. Here's Alex again. He's having a good race. Sea lions barking on the beach-that's a happy sound. Damn, my leg is really burning. Walking may not have been a good thing. Oh, those dogs are having fun playing catch. Don't waste time being bitter. Focus on swimming for a spell. You're responsible for your own mental state. You have a lot to be grateful for. Maybe you can set things up so you can read and write more. Focus on success, not failure. Finish line.