Hawk Island Triathlon - Triathlon

Once again, I show up with not having swam since the last tri we did in August. Correction...I jumped in our pool at home Saturday night and swam 2 lengths, 72', just to make sure I could rotate my shoulder as it was a little sore from a hockey incident earlier in the week. No problem. Last year I was late getting started with our wave so this year I positioned myself to the outside at the front of the pack as I knew I was only a mid pack swimmer but didn't want to fight the slower guys. Worked out OK except that I was a bit too far outside and probably swam a little longer getting to the first buoy. Very little contact though. Goal was to be at 9 minutes or less and I acheived that. Someday I hope to include swim training in my life!

Train. Input results in output but the amount of training time that I can put in is better served on the bike and run as I can make up more time there. One day I'll train for the swim........promise.

4/39 for T1. With no wetsuit and my shoes clipped in already it's a pretty easy T1. Cap and goggles off at the exit of the water. I did slip a shirt on over my shoulders quickly, sunglasses on, helmet on and clipped and run to the mount line. Swing a leg over, set foot on top of shoe and go. I slide my feet in after getting up to speed. Caught my wife there just leaving as she was in the wave right before me! Passed her about 1/2 mile in to the bike.

Nothing. Tri shoes and rubber bands hold my shoes in place so they don't dangle and since I haven't done or practiced a transition since August of last year, I was pretty happy with T1.

I wanted to average about 22mph as the bike is my strongest discipline. Not because I train on it, I rode it once for 12 miles Memorial Day weekend just to make sure it worked. Playing hockey has always kept my bike legs strong so that is my training. If I rode any further than sprint distances, my arse would not be used to the seat for sure! At any rate, riding North I was able to keep it at about 23 or 24 and then heading West got the tailwind and kept it up between 27 and 30. Because I was in one of the last waves I was flying by a lot of people. Only got passed by one guy but ended up keeping him in my sights for the last few miles. Turning South I hit the headwind and had to work a bit to keep it at 18 +/-. Once we turned East I picked it up a bit as the trees seemed to be knocking the wind down. I coasted the last 2 miles as I wanted my legs to be OK for the run because, as you guessed, I didn't train much for that either! My goal was to be off the bike at about 40 minutes total so it was close.

Nothing really. You always look back and say "if I just pushed it a bit harder I could have improved my age group rank". Oh well, next time.

Only 34/39 in my age group. I have to slide on a couple knee braces as I'm dealing with runners knee. Really hurts to run without them. I did therapy for most of the Winter and they seem a little better but I've got a long way to go. Anyway, probably lost 45 to 60 seconds there so..........what are you gonna do?

Fix my knees!

Love/hate running. I love the thought of running but the pain in my knees takes it away. With my braces on it's OK most of the time especially after the bike. No pain today, just lack of training. I did start running about twice a week starting back in February. Just a few miles at a time on the dreadmill at home. When it warmed up I ran outside and some weeks did 3 times a week. I might have run maybe 20 times this year, 3 to 4 miles each time. The month of May I think I only ran a couple times due to work, my hockey schedule, my daughter's travel hockey schedule(I coach), etc. Anyway, hoped to be at about 27 minutes but fell short. The first mile I had to walk a few times and my calves felt a little crampy because I probably had not taken in enough fluids. Sucked down a Gu and whether it kicks in that fast or is a mental thing I started feeling better after 1 mile. Caught my hockey buddy at the turnaround and we pushed each other to the finish. Nice picture of us crossing the finish line together giving each other a fist bump.

Have to keep up with the therapy. My dad had to have his hips replaced at 54 and he was planning on knees just before he passed away this Winter at the age of 76. Cancer is evil. My dad lived a very healthy, christian life. He played college baseball and basketball and was always very active, I don't know if I'm genetically predisposed to have things fall apart but that's what may happen. I try to eat right and do my therapy but sometimes it just seems like there isn't enough time in the day (as I sit here in my office wasting time typing this up). No pity party.........just gotta do it!!

Grabbed a bottle of water, walked back to the swim start area to pick up the clothes my wife and I left there. Stretched out and waited for my wife to finish. She was at 1:24:33, good enough for 11/22 in her AG. Then we went over to get some food. Those bean burrito's were delicious! I had 2! Got our stuff out of transition and left at 10:30 as planned! Felt pretty good all things considered. When I was 48 I did it in 1:09:50, skipped 49, at 50 did it in 1:11:00 so was hoping to be somewhere in there. I'd say the wind and the knee braces kept me from a 1:10: or so but I'm happy with the result seeing as I don't really train. That's the nice thing about sprints, if you keep yourself in reasonably good shape (and my beautiful wife keeps me on track with that as she looks great for 47!!) you can show up as a weekend warrior and still enjoy it! Now, back to work........................


Lack of training................as usual


Love it. Will race this every year as the season opener!