Red Hills Triathlon - Triathlon

I was DFL in my age group for the swim. Since the water was so cold I bought a wetsuit hoodie, to keep warm. I tried it out the day before but only 2 - 3 minutes. I did have a hard time getting my head in the water with it on. It just kept my head up and couldn't get my head under.

I let everyone go first since I am such a bad swimmer. I took off and did an immediate left and swam probably 30 - 40 yards off course, so I finally sighted and tried to correct but I kept going off course, no one to follow since they were all gone. I finally had to roll on my back, just could not catch my breath, it seemed like I was swimming and not going anywhere, I was not relaxed. I finally got to the 1st buoy where you make the turn to the right, I made the turn and and again took an immediate left, going off course. When I corrected that I was exhausted, I asked a kayak if I could rest for a second. Finally took off and made it to the 2nd bouy where we took a right, well by now the whole group behind me had passed me, again I had to float on my back to rest and I started again, then I found a kayak to hold onto again...I was just exhausted, so I finally took off again with only about 100 yards to go and guess what about 50 yards to go I took another detour, since I had been turning left, I over compensated and took a right for about a 20 yard detour. Finally made it in. I was exhausted, I was confused, walking like a drunk man to T-1. As matter of fact a volunter got me headed in the right direction.

learn to swim

I was cold and confused coming out of the swim along with being so TICKED! So I went out built a fire, cooked eggs and bacon, and had a cup of coffee,well that is how long I took anyway.

Really I could not get the hoodie off, couldn't get the wetsuit over the timing chip. I decided to put on tights for the ride, long sleeve shirt, both very hard to get on. I could not stand on 1 leg w/o falling, like I said, I felt like I was drunk. Finally got the long pants on, shirt, skull cap, helmet, socks, shoes, helmet and sunglasses.

not sure how to handle the lack of coordination and confusion.

Very hilly course. It was a big rectangle. I again took advice from the Junkies and rode the 1st part of the race hard, trying to warm up, by now it was probably 48 degrees. I was still mad from the swim and this carried over to the bike. It was a good ride but not great, I didn't push very hard, but I never got relaxed or comfortable either. The gloves were bothersome.

Ride more and harder

Again very slow, but I took time to take the tight long pants off, again it got caught on the timing chip, and took my long sleeve shirt off, I had a hard time getting my shoes on. Feet were numb.

The 1st part of the run, my feet were so COLD, I started to stop because it felt like both feet had ice wedges in my shoes but i knew they didn't so I just kept running. It took about 2.5 miles for me to start feeling my feet, the 1st 2.5 miles just hurt. This is about an average time for me. I didn't run hard and I had plenty left when I got back, as I was just warming up, or should I say thawing out.

Just run more

Got back and got gatorade, waited for wife to come in standing in the sun to warm. Once wife got in, we had to hurry and get to son's baseball game and we still missed the 1st inning.


swimming!!!!! that messed up the whole race!


It was a GREAT race. I want to thank the organizers and volunteers, they were amazing. My ONLY complaint was there was not enough bike room, we had about 6 inches between bikes.