Patriot Half Triathlon - Triathlon

Well..........I was hoping to be around 30-31 minutes, and based on pool swim times, I thought that was realistic. However, I quickly lost touch with the small contingent of swimmers in my wave and did a horrible job of sighting. I was continually drifting to my left and wouldn't be surprised if I swam an extra 300 or so yards. I actually felt pretty good in the water, but knew I was way slower than what I was hoping for.

This swim was only 30 or so seconds faster than on this course two years ago, and I have increased my swim fitness significantly since then. Just a crap swim. I put it behind me and moved onto the bike.

Get in more open water swimming. I plan on trying to get in 3-4 a month over the next two months leading to IMMT.

2nd fastest T1 of the elite wave, but not nearly enough time made up.

Two years ago I went 2:21 on this course on 255 avg watts, so I felt I could be close to 2:15-2:16 on 275 or so watts. Not really sure what happened, but it seems like overall times were slower than in previous years.

I made a concerted effort to go easy to start on the bike, holding back. Instructions from coach Steve said to stay under 280 watts, so that was the goal. Over the first loop I slowly built power (maybe a bit too much), and was around 283 avg watts at the end of the first loop. By that point, I'd moved from 10th (out of 10) in the elite wave to 6th.

During loop two there was far more traffic on the course, and I was able to pass one more guy a few miles from T2, so I came into transition in 5th in the elite wave.

My power had dropped a little on the second loop, but I was able to average around the same pace. I felt good coming off the bike, and felt I could salvage the race with a decent run.

Not all that much. I pretty much hit my goal wattage (275-ish), but the pace I expected just wasn't there.

A few seconds off quickest T2

Was shooting for the 1:25-1:26 range, and that seemed pretty feasible after a 1:20 open half marathon three weeks ago. I was pretty close on the first two miles, which were both at 6:36, but then I couldn't get any more leg turnover and the pace slowed to 6:50 miles.

There weren't any drastic hills on the course, but there were lots of exposed sections and the sun was out in force and it was also quite humid from rain over the previous few days. I made a point of taking two drinks at each aid station, one which I drank and one to cool myself off.

I didn't pass anyone on the run and didn't get passed either. It was pretty lonely out there, but I kept plodding along. I know I'm capable of a better run, and hope it will happen in nine weeks at IMMT.



Go faster!

Chilled at the end with some of the guys that finished ahead of me. Got a few drinks and a little food in, a quick massage (that was pretty lackluster) and went over to transition to gather my stuff.


The focus for the year is IMMT and getting to Kona. Steve gave me essentially a shorter taper than if this was my A race. I feel confident that I'll have a better performance at Tremblant in August.


This was a very well put on race. I had fun and enjoyed my first race in the elite wave. I feel like I underperformed, but still set a PR by six minutes. Time to move on and get in some intense training over the next two months.