Peasantman Steel Distance Triathlon - Full Course - Triathlon

Was choppier than expected. Alternated breast and freestyle to try to minimize fatigue as I had never trained for mare than an hour before this and just tried to take it very easy. Thought I was at the back of the back but I guess I was somewhere in the middle. With a 'mass' start of 27 there wasn't much of a whirlpool effect! After first lap I nipped out on shore to my stashed bottle of Infinit and drained it. Got back in and started to enjoy the swim at last. Started to see a few yellow caps before the end.

Swim further than 1.5 miles in training

Still a few bikes on the front rack which made me feel good. Dried my feet and took my time. Walked bike with my shoes on for a change.

Beautiful course, no real hard climbs but definitely rolling, with a gentle overall climb over the first 28 miles and a thundering descent for the last 1. Hmmm... I would have preferred the other way round I think. Loop one saw the family and some other boosters which was a real boost (I guess thats why they call them that). Stopped each time round to swap bottles. Was going quicker than plan and it was cooler than expected so I needed less infinit than I planned. Tried to be discrete bur sorry if I grossed anyone out - peeing plenty despite sweat crusting up my suit. It got pretty lonely out there for loops 3 and 4 as the halfers disappeared. Had a bacon and marmite butty (yes I used to be British) on lap three that was delicious but slowed me up some I think. Passed an ex-colleagure on lap 4 - 20 years younger and super fit. Ha! That felt sooooo good even though I knew he would destroy me on the run (he did). Then passed a girl who I would later find was the Robin that had all the road writing in her honor. She deserved it - she came back by me on the descent and showed me how it should be ridden. I topped 40 mph trying to keep up with her plunge back into Penn Yann, but she was moving away. Wow!

Ride that hill like that every time. Train more than 88 miles beforehand.

Got changed into running shorts, new (dry!) socks. Felt good to be in clean, dry clothes. Gooped up my feet with body glide

Use a little less body glide. My feet were sliding around in my shoes and I had to stop several times to unbunch my socks - but Hey - I didn't get a single blister.

Ouch! Stuck to plan. 2 minute walk, 8 minute run.This had allowed me to do a 21 mile training run in 9:30s - not here! Felt good setting out and a friend jogged with me for the first mile (thanks Gary!). Damn it ! The sun came out and suddenly it was sweltering - I don't do well in heat. I came across the first turnaround and there was no one there so I wasn't sure and I kept going a couple of minutes past it - oops! After 6 miles it was getting very tough - everything hurt - it hurt more to walk than to run, but I was too exhausted to keep running - kept at the 2/8. Going past the finish 3 times before finally being able to cross it was just plain mean. Kept on my Infinit plan - used water at the aid stations to dilute a concentrate - and kept hydrated. It was getting very quiet out there, just 25 of us on 3 miles of road going back and forth - back and forth. The sun was dropping (thank heavens) and the aid stations were now self-service. Got handed a flashlight at the last turnaround and I now knew that I would make it. Hobbled across the line with Karen - did I mention my wife had been there the whole day for me? what a effin' hero - and was knighted by the King of the Fingerlakes and, holy crap, I am a Steelman!

more training

OMG - I have never been so uncomfortable driving (being driven) home. No matter how I twisted, reclined, put my legs on the dash; everything was cramping up and I was whimpering like a girl../


As always,I dedicate my complete lack of athleticism to my parents (read 'The Sports Gene' by David Epstein). Oh yeah - that and the fact that I only completed about one third of the planned training.


First year and this race was just awesome!!!! I would recommend it to anyone - it was relaxed friendly and fun and delivered a full distance event on my doorstep for a fraction of the cost of 'other events' (yeah - keep my $700 from the IM I couldn't attend, you won't get any more from me). Keuka lake and Penn Yan is just stunning. Two niggles - a few people had trouble with the lanes coming back in from the bike course and not enough volunteers left in the evening when the few full distance guys were still going. This race will be HUGE next year.