Square Lake Triathlon - Short Course - Triathlon

*Updated with official swim time*

It started out ok. I hung to the back and got swimming within a few seconds. I came up the inside and was mostly without contact or trouble. Swam pretty straight. Once I turned the sun glare became a real problem for me. The course was basically an inverted V from shore and when I made the turn buoy I started swimming back to the last buoy instead of to the next one. D'oh! The time loss, plus the disappointment, was detrimental to my overall swim. After that, with the continuing glare, I struggled with focus.

I used to have a LOT of trouble with swims and this would have been a "good" swim overall. But I have been more successful lately, especially in the half mile range. So, it just wasn't my day! I also have let swimming take a major back seat. MAJOR.

*updated with official T2 time - whoa!*

Transition is a run across the park and then up stairs. I walked up the stairs and even that left me very winded. It was a mental effort to jog from the top to my t-area. I think I got my stuff on fairly quickly and made it out of transition. It was a very small area, so pretty quick. Although quite a bit of traffic.

Make less excuses and execute the transition I know I can do well.

Started out TOUGH! My friend, with whom I have friendly competition, got to transition right when I was leaving. She started 2 minutes behind me, so I knew this could happen but I hoped it wouldn't. I started out feeling in a rush.

After a while I settled into the ride. The middle section was moderately hilly, but not as bad as the start. The roads were rough but really didn't bother me too much. Although i didn't feel like I could drink on the pot hole section. I did the best I could to maximize downhills but totally wimped out on the big turn onto 95. Chicken! I did manage to drink the majority of my sport drink, which I felt was crucial for a successful run. Overall this bike was very average for me.

More hill experience would have helped a lot. I wouldn't have minded having my Camelbak to take the pressure of when I could drink vs. keeping my eyes on the road!

This is the official time, although it seems so unlikely to me! I put on tight socks and tied my shoes! I did grab my other stuff quickly and head out, so maybe... As I was leaving for my run I heard my friend's name being yelled by her family, so I knew her bike was over. SHOOT, the lead is smaller (I did beat her bike time by about 45 seconds, not enough).

I can't shake a stick at this time! I just can't believe it. Others had a matter of 3 seconds. I can't guess what might have caused a timing mistake like this, but it seems weird.

Actually I think this went really well. I would have guessed I did better than 51 minutes, which is why I wonder about the T2 time, but whatever.

It was hard to start out and I walked more of the hills than I felt I should have. Everyone (in my view) walked the bigger hills in the dirt area, but I walked the smallest of the them too. I had a gel about halfway through and took a glass of water at each rest stop to dump on my head. I felt pretty good overall, other than fatigue on the hills.

I looked behind me around mile 2.5ish and saw my friend. I was surprised she was not past by now. I kept waiting and waiting. Finally around 3.5ish she said from behind "I am not trying to pace you, I cannot pass you." Well, that put a spring in my step! We started a long downhill and I booked it for all I was worth. She caught up to me and we ran for a while together, then I pulled away! Then the road turned flat again and she passed me for good. The last stretch was an out/back, sort of, and I was just DONE. My friend ended up finishing :30 ahead of me at the end, so that's how much I slowed down in the last mile. Shoot!

Maybe I was a little mentally weak. I wanted to do well on the run and was enjoying myself, but I couldn't talk myself past the fatigue. I probably was low on nutrition, for me, because a race like that shouldn't have tired me out that much.

After regaining myself, and having a bottle of water, I jumped in the lake for a bath. That felt great! It really is a nice clean lake.

I walked around and chatted with a friend who was there on a relay team. They were first in their division and I discovered I was also first Athena, so I stayed with them until awards were called. I think I won't bother with awards for Front Runner events any more. I don't really cherish the medals and there's no real prize for winners. It takes too long.

I would recommend that anyone who wants to wait for awards should get their car and drive it back to the transition area, or at least pack their car. The awards were quite close to the parking area, so it would be easy to get packed up and then head back.


It was fun. The results are still incorrect after a week. It started late but there were 3!!! water stops on the run, which is amazing. The finish line food is very limited - Chex Mix and Gardettos, water. They often have Gear West making hot dogs but I guessed I missed it. And frankly I'm not into supporting the hot dog industry. It's always a mixed bag with Front Runner.