Jacksonville Sprint Triathlon Series #1 - Triathlon

Through the bullhorn the race director gave us the one minute warning. I am confident in my swim ability to know I can keep up with the lead pack for at least the first 100 yards, especially in an ocean swim, so I lined up right at the front and waited for the siren to go off. Horn goes off and I sprint into the ocean jumping over the breakers until it was time to dive in, I felt I had a great start.Stayed with the lead pack to the first turn buoy. Turned right at the buoy smoothly. About 25 yards or so after the buoy the lead pack dropped me, but I was in a large group of fellow red swim caps so I knew I was still in the main pack and all I had to do was hold my pace in this group to the last turn back to shore. Made the last right turn around the last buoy and I was still in the main group. I knew it was going to be a fun ride back to shore riding the waves, or so I thought. My last few seconds of swimming before standing up, right after I exhaled in the water, I got hit with a strong breaker with an undertow and I couldn't get up and I couldn't get my face to surface, I had just exhaled so I had no oxygen so I was in trouble. I got that panicked feeling in my chest, the "this is the end" feeling. I threw up my arm for help but my hand wasn't even getting to the surface. My goggles had been taken away when the breaker hit me so I couldn't see anything. I said a little prayer that I would come out of this alive and not leave the earth this way. Finally the undertow and breaker subsided and I was able to stand up, gather my composure, and run to the beach. The whole scary experience lasted a total of just a few seconds, but it felt like so much longer. I know I must have looked rough emerging from the Atlantic like that, but I still gave my support crew a smile as I ran up the beach to T1. Swim time include run up the beach to T1

Not get caught in an undertow

Nothing, good transition

The bike was a simple out and back course. I felt great on the bike. The new bike fit has me feeling fast and comfortable, I felt like myself on the bike again. This is the first race this year where I have felt fast and "like myself" on the bike. We had a nice tailwind to the turn around point so I hammered it, expecting to have a difficult headwind after the turn around. To my surprise and delight, the wind seemed to shift with us and had some wind help on the return trip as well. Myself, and other racer's Garmins and bike computers had the course at almost 17 miles. The official results have my average at 21 MPH for 16 miles but my Garmin has me a 22 MPH average for almost 17 miles. Doesn't matter, everyone had to do it so everyone was subject to this. Coming to the bike dismount line my support crew was there, Jennifer yells "slow down so I can take a picture!" HA! I'm racing, not slowing down! Made it to the dismount line and unclipped, got off the bike stumbling a bit and almost knocked over a sign but was able to laugh about it

Nothing, good bike

nothing, good transition

I can be brutally honest to say that lately my running sucks. Coming off of illnesses and foot injuries run training has suffered. My only speed work has been short brick runs off of bike rides. Regardless, I did my best here. Was glad I brought my own fluid, I was thirsty throughout the run. A guy I ran past just before the first mile asked me if the tattoos on the back of my calves were real or temporaries. I was running high 7's per mile pace but it felt much tougher than usual. Good indicator that I still need the speed work. Made it to the turn around point and was relieved it was half over. I did the best I could on this run, today was high 7's, maybe next time I can go faster. Finally left Fort Clinch and was heading to the finish. Right before the finish line straight-away I looked behind me to check for any women who looked around my age to see if it was going to be a sprint race to the finish line. Only one guy behind me. I still picked up the pace since I just wanted to be done. I heard my support crew cheering and the kids were ringing the cowbells

More speed work!

place 3rd in age group, so waited around for awards


getting sick and lack of speed work


DRC puts on great races! Looking forward to the next 2 races in the series!