Boulder Peak Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

Hmmmm...I started out front/middle like I ALWAYS do. Remind me not to do that at BPT ever again. I got CRUSHED. Never seen a wave of chicks take off that fast. I can usually stay near the front on the sprint but this time I just got trampled. Finally recovered from that and settled into a decent rhythm. Swam fairly straight. It was just really crowded. On the second leg (so, after the first turn) I caught up with the wave ahead of me. After that it was like bumper cars...so many slow swimmers. Got hard to pass folks.

This is also when I decided that I felt like I had to pee again. WTF. I just peed during my "swim warmup". Ugh...hate that feeling. But I didn't want to stop and I have peed on the move in open water before so I kept trying. But I was having a really hard time going. So weird. I don't remember it being that hard. I probably lost a good 30 seconds in all the trying. Finally gave up. Rounded the turn towards home and the fast boys from the wave behind us started to catch up with me. About halfway down the homestretch I still felt like I had to go so I just did some "pull" for awhile while dragging my legs until I could make myself go. REALLY hope there wasn't anyone drafting off me! :) But I felt TONS better after that.

Picked the pace back up and headed for home. Stood up and saw 27:30 on the watch and wasn't very happy. The extra time is the LONG run up and over a hill into T1.

Learn to draft. I don't ever draft and I should.
Learn to pee on the move more efficiently.
Get a better start. Maybe know what kind of field I'm up against and seed properly or just learn to sprint better at the start.

Big transition area. I had to run ALL the way across it to get to my bike. I did a good job getting the wetsuit down and the goggles and swimcap off before I got to my spot. Found my spot easily. Wetsuit came off easily too. Put on the helmet and sunglasses and stood there for 5 seconds trying to believe that YES, that was all I had to do...dammit, grab the bike and GO! Ran ALL the way back across the transition area in my bare feet (shoes were on the bike).

Not stand there and wonder if I have everything...it isn't Rocket science, ya know.

Well, since the ankle is crap and we knew I probably wouldn't run well, Mike gave me permission to blast the heck out of myself on the bike. AND he loaned me his PowerTap. I was geeked.

Did not do a flying mount, but stopped to get on the bike. Did a better job getting feet into the shoes. Slightly downhill out of T1 so I got my right foot in then I had to pedal uphill for a minute before I could coast enough to get the left shoe in. Didn't see how long it took me, but it had to be less than a quarter mile. I am definitely getting better.

After I got my shoes on, I took off out of the Rez at FULL steam for the climbing. It starts out really gentle so I found an intermediate gear that worked. Had to go to my really easy gears once or twice for a few inclines. About 6 or so miles in you get to Olde Stage. I felt REALLY prepared for this hill because I had ridden it before AND I've been riding big hills here in SD for months. No matter how ready I felt, it still hurt! Though, I was able to sit down once or twice for "breaks". I think the first time I went up this hill I had to stand the WHOLE way. Minor improvement! The spectators on the hill were awesome. Lots of fun. Some of them made you feel like you were doing a TdF climb by waving stuff right out in front of you then pulling it back right before you got there.

I crested the false summit, but really you've made it then. Got up to 17 or 18mph before the last little inclines slowed me down. Now...time for the "speed limit zone." If you hadn't heard, there were a couple of very serious bike accidents on the downhill part of this course last year. So on the steepest 0.6 mile section, they put in a 35mph speed limit. I didn't care. I don't think I wanted to go more than the 30 I was going! I had to hit my brakes a lot, but seriously...I wouldn't have gone much faster!

Got through the speed zone just fine and now the FUN began! I probably averaged 30mph for 5+ miles finishing the downhill then onto this newly paved and slightly downhill road that came AFTER the big downhill. SO much fun. I was just in aero position and ZOOMING along! I passed a lot of people here. Kept pushing hard throughout the flats and rollers. Got passed by some of the men in the wave behind me. Also did some passing. Probably one of my better bike rides in a race for sure. Normally I'm just sitting there spinning along and get passed a TON. I also spent much more time in my big ring than usual too. Stood up on a couple of rollers to keep from having to drop back down to the small ring.

The last quarter mile is all downhill so it was easy to get my feet out of my shoes. Probably the only quarter mile I really relaxed on the whole ride!

I thought my bike handling skills were pretty good...but after watching people zoom down hills and around corners...I suck. I don't think it really lost me a LOT of time. But some.

Since I had the LONG run for T1 I got the SHORT run for T2. A little disoriented as I came into transition even though I'd walked through it before the race. Settled it out quick enough though and racked my bike. Had to stop and put on socks, shoes, hat, race belt, grab gel, and GO!

I could probably just do it all a little faster. It's not like I lollygagged. And I was excited that it still looked a LITTLE empty when I came in!

Okay, if you DID NOT know, I sprained my ankle BADLY about 7 weeks ago. Couldn't stand on it at all for like four days. Probably tore it up pretty well. So I haven't been able to run since. This run was a HUGE experiment. Had NO idea if I was going to pull it off or not. So out of T2 I just started to JOG. HR was high (LT already) but I figured it was just my legs wigging that I'd been on a bike for 1.5 hours and now wanted them to work. So I just took it easy. Waved at Mike as I passed the D3 tent and slowly jogged. Ankle was well taped and holding up fine.

First mile went by quick (sub-10). I began to think maybe I could have a good day. Only problem was that I started to feel queasy. I had to start really slowing down trying to settle my stomach and it showed! Next miles were 10-something then 11-something! Everything else felt FINE. HR was back down to 160's, legs were okay, ankle was wenching if I rolled it (which I did mildly at least four times...owie), but my stomach was doing somersaults.

About at the turnaround it started to feel better so I made my attempt to speed up for the last three miles. Did a 10:20 then a 10:42 so I was a little faster, but not much. The ankle tape started to cut into my achilles so I had to keep flexing my foot to take the pressure off. That probably hurt the most during the last mile which just seemed to drag. I really had to pee. Probably a GOOD sign, but annoying nonetheless! I knew I was close enough to the finish that I could hold it. I never saw the 6 mile sign so all I have is a split for my last 1.2 of about 12:20, so still 10 minute miles. I THINK I either even split or slightly negative split.

I was very happy to make the corner to the finish. Did my signature cartwheel and crossed the line!

Not sprain my ankle seven weeks ago so I could actually train for the run. This was a really slow run for me, but I could not ask for any more than what I did. Considering how hard I pushed myself on the bike I am rather happy with it.

OMG I had to PEE. But on my way to search out the porta potties I actually got stopped by the Denver Post reporter. He saw my cartwheel and wanted to interview me. Gabbed with him for 5 minutes. Then BEELINED for the porta potties. Oh, I felt much better after that. Started walking in the direction of the D3 tent. Passed the food tent on the way...oh, don't mind if I do, thanks...mmm...Chipotle. Found the D3 tent and parked it for awhile to eat. Watched some of the pro race, listened to the awards, and generally hung around. Then dismantled my transition (I was like the LAST person out!) and rode my bike back to Mike's house.


1. Tired arms from the swim volume I have been putting in for the 10k.
2. Not running for 7 weeks due to a sprained ankle.
3. Nutrition...damn, I gotta figure out what makes me feel all queasy.
4. Olde Stage. I'm still not a great climber...getting better though.


Ah, Boulder. I LOVE Colorado. Fun times. STACKED field of mostly local Colorado athletes. Damn, those Colorado peeps are in shape! 5430 puts on a GREAT event. I had fun. I am happy I got to race despite the ankle. All things considered, this went from being an A race to just going out and doing some experimenting and having fun. I may not be happy with my time, but I will be okay with it. Highly recommended race! It's considered a toughie but it's a lot of fun!