Nantucket Hero Triathlon (Olympic) - Triathlon

At least there were no seals here (they did chase me out of the water the next day). :) Very shallow, with many people walking. I chose to swim as long as my feet didn't hit the ground, and swam past many walkers at the start and end of the swim. Even if it was the same speed, pretty sure my legs were more fresh coming out of the water! A high elbow catch is a good thing on this course...

Swam steady, although I did kick for about 50m with ~300m to go, as I looked back and saw a dude drafting for a couple hundred and wanted to drop him. Otherwise, an uneventful swim.

I was only intermittently on feet this time (as many would intermittently dolphin dive hitting a bar or such). There were only a couple folk ahead of me from my wave, and I didn't do a great job of finding and sticking with them as we went through the back of a couple other waves. I might also push a bit harder - still trying to nail the pacing for this distance (only my second Oly).

This included the run up the beach. No fuss, no muss (was top 10 or so).

Not much, other than practice getting my shoe flipped around and my foot into it without losing any speed (but only lost a couple pedal strokes, so not a big deal).

Pushed hard and tried to keep HR a few beats below threshold (and did), although I found that I was pushing the legs hard to keep the heart where I wanted it. Worked out OK, as I had a decent run (wasn't sure about how that would go!). The two loop bit was not my fave, as you have a lot of different speeds mixing it up.I 'm happy with the way the bike is coming along, although there is always someone faster!

Oh, and really good crowds! There were a lot of islanders in the race, and I think the families came out to support them and others. Lots of COWBELLS!!! Love me some cowbells on a race course (of any kind). :)

I would like to get one of those aero bottle setups with a straw on my bars, as I think I would drink more easily (and perhaps a bit more - hydration was good, but maaaaybe a couple drinks shy?). Even if I don't drink more that way, it would certainly be easier...

Good. Probably could have sprinted out of T2 and been even better, but I view the transition as only what happens at the rack proper. Once my shoes are on, it's the start of the run, and I don't care so much about rankings in T2 (although I think I did about as well here as T1).

Went well. Might still try yankz instead of body glide around the opening of my shoes (pre-tied and pulled on is my current practice).

Have crowds in transition with COWBELLS?

Happy with this one, although it felt slower than it was. My 10k time was a bit less than a minute off my open 10k, so I was happy with that, but feel there's significant room to improve. vThe extra 0.6 miles after the 10k does play with the mind a bit, though... ;)

As there was no one from my AG (or any AG) visible in front or back of me, I think I could have pushed a leeeetle harder. Still, happy with this, and I was able to cross the line with a smile on my face rather than a rictus grin (more typical). My family appreciated that, although they do like to rib me about my "race finish face!"

Despite training as much for an upcoming HIM as this Oly (this was my A race), I think I could use more peripheral endurance (as in, my legs got weary more than tired). I could pick it up at the end, and had some pop left, but just couldn't hold that form through the middle miles (used a shorter stride and high cadence until the last mile where I opened up a bit more).

Not sure if that means more speed training in longer intervals or more loooong slow distance, though. Will be fun to figure out!

Grabbed two bottles of water and hugged my family - all of whom were waiting for me at the line!!! Started to pour right then, so we hustled to the tent and hung out. Normally, I'd stay at the line and cheer folks in, but the kids and Kim were freezing so we boogied for cover. We did stay to cheer everyone during the awards, though!

So, my warmdown was a cookie, some water and hanging with the family. :)


The run focus from last winter is definitely helping, but I feel like I could use another run intensive block (good thing, as Kim signed us up for a marathon in October!). That and more hours on the bike.

Tough to get the time for all that, though!

I was very happy to place where I did. While I got the top spot on the podium, the official results show me as second. I think that's because there was one person my AG who was faster but finished as an Overall winner and so was out of the AG podium (?). Either way, I am very happy with my performance and the results (and that there is definitely room to improve - makes it even more funner!).


Beautiful venue, great volunteers and racers - everyone was hanging around the island and having fun! Would have been better with a bigger crowd, but I think that will change as word gets out (hope so, and let it start here!). Not much they can do about the two loop course, and I think they did a really good job organizing around the limitations that the island puts on them.

Would definitely recommend!