Patriot Half Triathlon - Triathlon

Starting with the positive: I had zero anxiety and actually enjoyed swimming in the scrum. I've been able to swim in a local lake pretty regularly the last month which helped a great deal. There was a lot of chop in the lake and I started to feel a bit dizzy after 300 yds although it did subside. I also had calf cramps fairly late in the swim. Nothing extreme but I had to flex my feet several times to work them out. I think this is due to my lack of kick in the wetsuit.

Now for the frustration: I should have finished this 10 minutes faster. Three women that I share a lane with every week clocked 45 mins on this leg. Part of my slow performance is due to poor sighting, but not all. I think my stroke falls apart in open-water and/or in a wetsuit.

More OWS and sighting practice. I also need feedback on my stroke during OWS.

Bwahahaha. I could not get my wetsuit off my right foot but that can't account for all of this. Not sure what else I could have been doing for that long...the swim exit was right by transition.

Get a sense of urgency???

I had my Garmin on multi-sport but rode mostly by feel. My goal was to keep the pace easy as I haven't built the bike fitness needed for this distance followed by a run. Overall, a fairly unremarkable ride although I had to actually stop and unclip for a couple turkeys in the middle of the road at mile 5. With such a small race and people spread out over the course, this really felt more like a training ride. The course lent itself to a fast bike and I would have benefited from riding in aero more than I was able. My shoulders/delts just couldn't handle it. I did feel like I managed hydration/nutrition fairly well. I had about 70 oz of Heed (lived off the course) plus 200 cals/hr from fig newtons/gels. I also managed to avoid the guy who crashed in front of me going into T2 so I still had some of my wits about me.



I've done a lot of Z2 training since January but not enough intensity. Some of my trainer rides needed to be shorter/harder. While I felt good getting off the bike, my legs were not ready to run 13.1. I also need more long rides and more time on the aero bars if I'm going to race in them. I was very well prepared for an OLY bike but not a HIM.

Look....another lounge break in transition. In fairness, some of this (I think) was a porta-potty break but I clearly spent way too much time doing nothing.

I've been dealing with a ruptured L4/L5 for the last few years and I knew I'd be walking a good bit on this run. My run training was fairly light and only included a couple long runs over 10 miles, mostly at 11:30 or 12:00 pace. The first 5 miles were not bad, all things considered. I started out with a 4:1 run/walk which was a 12 m/m. HR was fine (stayed in low 150's) and I wasn't tired, and I even started to consider I'd be able to keep that pace. It felt easy. Then at mile 6 my quads quit. They just cramped. It wasn't fluids or nutrition it was lack of bike fitness. At that point I knew I'd make the cut off easily even if I walked the last 6 miles. Unfortunately, my mind translated that into permission and I probably backed off more than I had to under the circumstances.

Meh, it's hard to quibble at this point. I was going to be coming in with a slow finish and I didn't see any upside to trashing my legs/back to shave off 10 -15 minutes (could have found that time easily in the lounge aka transition area.) So I finished the last 7 miles slow and hot, but happy.

Cold drink, catch up on everyone's results and cheer in the last finishers and head back to hotel.


I performed consistent with my level of preparation. I did a lot of Z2 training but very little high intensity work. At no point during the bike or the run (and the run was hot - mid to high 80's) did HR become an issue. I just didn't have the legs to ride 56 any faster and then run 13.1. This was my first HIM and I haven't raced a tri in 3 years. My last marathon was in 2010. I've spent the last few years dealing with injuries so just getting to the starting line and finishing was a good day.


Well organized race and terrific volunteers. Small and not a lot of hoopla. It was a lot like a long well-supported training day. My tri-club had 20+ members at the race so it was a fun trip.