5430 Long Course Triathlon - TriathlonLong Course

This was a textbook swim! I wasn't able to draft because I just never found the right person, but I went out strong, exactly where I wanted to be and then I relaxed, and held my line pretty well. I didn't get caught up in too much chaos when I caught the waves in front of me, I was able to hole my line for the most part. Long and strong. I didn't feel like I even pushed too hard and I hit my goal (between 31 and 32 minutes - right on the mark!)

try to draft at least for a portion of the swim

OK, so my T- time looks fast, but what you don't see is that just after crossing the mats, my sunglasses fell off my helmet. I had to stop, pick them up, then I was dis-combobulated, and then I almost fell trying to hop on my bike and had to completely stop and clip in. Felt like a DORK!! So add about a minute to my T and take it off my bike (for THIS transition...)

visualize the T and mount more. I think I have become complacent. I usually go over this a hundred times in the AM and also when finishing the swim, but I thought I didn't need to worry about it...

I was again, EXACTLY where I wanted to be on the bike. I checked my HR data and I was in z3 (actually into z4)for the first 1.5 miles, but I think that was just transition jitters and those damned rollers coming out of the res. My HR steadily went DOWN as the bike course went on and I stayed exactly where I wanted to be :) I packed 5 gels (intending 3 on the bike and 2 on the run) and a heed and a Sustained energy (525 cal + 100 each gel and heed). My problem was that I had NO WATER until the 2nd lap and my stomache started cramping up. Once I got to the 1st aid station on the 2nd lap I was fine as I started with the plain water. I needed to have 3 bottles for this race because I really needed some good old plain water for some of it. BUT I did get in 925 calories on the bike.

WATER add another bottle.

OK if i felt akward on T1, this was worse!!! I came in and got my feet out of my shoes fine, but THEN as I was dismounting one of my shoes hit the ground HARD and unclipped. I had to turn around and get it. AND then I was again, just in disarray coming into T2. Again add at least 30 seconds to T2 and take it off my bike!

WAKE UP same as before. I should have been visualizing this coming into the res.

I don't know where I went wrong, but I think it's one of a few things...
1 - Didn't take in enough calories
2- started the run to fast (or possibly went too fast on the bike, but I really don't thinks so)
3- plain old don't have the ME for this didtance of a race yet (to actually RACE it)
4- set my goal a little too high!

Nothing, I did what I could and what I had planned! I have to be pleased. I just didn't have what I wanted on the run. Heck, I've only been running for a year!

almost puke. walked as much as I could. I knew once I sat down I would not be getting up easily :) ate (probably too soon) and then sat in the sun for too long :)


only one year of doing this stuff! My run, my bike, my life!


I raced my plan. I knew I would either do it or not on the run, but I stuck to the game plan. All in all I was 8 minutes off my goal - 8 min slower on the run (although if I had been 5 minutes faster on the run, I still would have been pleased!) I was faster on the swim and almost dead on on the bike (really dead on considering my problems mounting and dismounting...) I have to say I am happy over all and I now have a benchmark for this race.