Nanticoke River Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

The water was MUCH colder than we were told. I wore a lycra cap underneath my swim cap - perfect. As soon as we were allowed into the water, I bobbed up and down to get my face wet and get my breathing steady. Swam around for the 1:30 we had before our wave started. Great swim! Started up front and to the right of the pack, stayed close to the buoys and sighted every 6th stroke on the way out and every 8th stroke on the way back in. Lots of confusion out where the two orange buoys were near the yellow marker for the 3 mile swim. People did not know which buoy to turn at and folks were treading water to ask each other. Plus the buoys were bouncing all over the place - got bonked in the head with one. Small craft advisory (3 foot swells) delayed the 2 and 3 mile swim starts. We had about 100 yards of some pretty tough water. Just told myself not to fight it - roll with it. Did fine - only one face full of water. Now understand how someone could get sea sick swimming - only one fleeting moment when my stomach rolled with the waves.

Nothing. Was really glad to get out of the rough water and back into the jetty. Started to pick up the pace on the way back - passing lots of folks at this point and feeling pretty strong. Swam until I my hand touched bottom then stood up and ran through the shoot.

I knew this would be tougher with the long sleeved wetsuit and that I would have to put on a long sleeved shirt on a wet body. No way, was I heading out on the bike without the warmer clothes. I hate the cold and didn't want to waste energy having to maintain body heat that I really needed for the bike. Good decision. Also wore a skull cap inside my helmet and fleece gloves on my hands. So all of this took a bit longer to get on in transition.

Not sure how to dry off any quicker - roll the sleeves up on my shirt to put it on and then unroll them as I ride? Sleeves got stuck on my hands/arms.

Target power 140 watts. Started out 150+ and was worried I would not be able to maintain. HR was in the 160's so needed to get this down. Eased back and settled into 140 watt range. Crosswinds for the most part. For the first time in any race, I was passing several riders, both men and women. This was pretty awesome for me - - my strength is increasing and all my weight training and nutrition is paying off. Sipped Gatorade throughout the ride. Watched heart rate - -stayed mostly in the upper 150's occasionally I saw 160 or 161. A little high, but figured it would be a short ride, so I could handle it. I was really hoping to finish in 45 minutes - a real stretch goal for me. Might have been able to push it a little more (was worried about the run) - had a few minutes were I lost focus and found myself day dreaming. My feet froze - problem with the cold. I opted NOT to wear my shoe covers because they take to long to put on. VERY glad I had the skull cover for my head, the fleece gloves (probably cost me some time as I was putting them on while I was riding out of the park) and the long sleeved shirt.

Perhaps reconsider the shoe covers - they definitely impacted my run. My toes were frozen until mile 2 when I could finally feel them again.

Actual Watts : 142
Average HR: 156 bpm

Love my dismount, I always come in very strong and stop short at the dismount. I think the volunteers think I'm going to fly on through (I just want to get the most out of my ride).

Stripped off long sleeve shirt and gloves, swapped out helmet for visor,switched shoes,ditched the sunglasses, grabbed my garmin, gatorade bottle and gel and then headed out of transition.

nothing.

I am completely amazed at my time on the run - especially since I couldn't feel my feet for the first two miles. I grabbed my gel and my gatorade and didn't use either one. I ditched the gatorade at the water station. Good decision. My heart rate was too high to digest anything anyway and I was plenty hydrated from the bike. I kept passing folks and thought I had passed all the women within reach. Turns out there was one more just :15 seconds ahead of me.

nothing. This was a wonderful run :)

walked around, chatted with Jen and Ellen. Found Andrea. Checked the results. They stopped posting after the first 100 finishers and I knew my time was seconds after they stopped posting, so I had to wait around 1.5 hours to find out if I actually placed or not.


hesitant to push harder on the bike, knowing I wanted to do well on the run.


This is a great race. The course is fun (flat and fast) - the water can be cold (and choppy), but lots of volunteers, well organized, great food available to everyone (not just race participants). Nice shirt! (and swim cap) - - wish I had won a pair of socks (always useful, especially on a cold day).

Temp (per iphone) at start of race 48 degrees, at end of race 51 degrees. Winds 15 mph ENE.

This was my first EVER triathlon in 2009 where I placed 12 out of 12 in my age group. I was thrilled to win 3rd in my age group today (out of 14). NOTE: There were 14 in my age group and the first 2 placed first and second for women overall, so we all moved up two spaces, making me the third place winner (I'll take it!!).

2013:

Time 1:36:08
Swim 17:26
T1 3:33
Bike 49:15
T2 :57
Run 24:58


2009:

Time: 2:07:00
Swim 23:06
T1 3:59
Bike 1:07:33
T2 1:21
Run 31:03