Las Vegas Triathlon at Storrie Lake - TriathlonOlympic

My first OWS race, first wetsuit race, etc. Overall, I was happy with this swim. Had a little trouble finding my breathing rhythm so kept switching to breast for the first 400m or so. After about 800m I really found my groove and was really enjoying the swim. Need to practice navigating though, kept losing momentum when I would look up and my legs would sink.
Very happy with the wetsuit - temp level was perfect and no shoulder soreness or neck chafing (the sportslick worked as advertised). Goggles did not fog either. Had trouble with dizzyness in OWS practice - earplugs fixed it for the race (thanks for that advice BTers!)

Practice OWS of course, also practice sighting in the pool.

No problems. Wasn't in a particular hurry. Took the time to put on gloves, socks, and under-helmet beanie. Also grabbed 3 gels and put into pockets of tri-suit. Wetsuit came off with no issues, ankle zips on the Pro-motion suit are really handy.

Nothing. Compared to the time I lose in the actual events, I am not too concerned about transition efficiency at this point.

About 3 miles in I crossed the rumble strip which caused a spoke in my rear wheel to snap. (The spoke was previously notched when I threw a chain about 4 months ago, but was too lazy to replace the damaged spokes!) Rear wheel became untrue and started rubbing the brake pad. Opened the rear brake cam to eliminate rubbing and was able to make the rest of the ride at a decent pace. Asked for a spoke wrench at the aid station, but none to be found.
By the end of the ride the wheel was untrue enough that it was rubbing pretty hard on every rev. I figure this mechanical added about 10-12 minutes to my bike time (between the stop and the extra drag).

I was very happy with my on-bike nutrition and hydration. Brought 24oz Gatorade, 20oz water, and 3 gels. Had 1 gel near beginning, 1 just before last big climb, and 1 just before T2. Drank most of the water and about 1/2 the Gatorade.

Not ride with damaged spokes :) Ironically, I am the guy that does all training rides with darn near a full toolkit, but on the one ride when I need it, I have no spoke wrench.

No real problems in T2. Again, not too concerned about transition efficiency, more worried about forgetting something important.

Wife had arrived and took some video of me finishing the bike leg. She also mentioned that she saw someone getting penalized for wearing headphones on the bike.

Two things I would do differently:
1) Remember to grab a Gu for the run. Also, maybe a bottle of Gatorade (there was none on the course)
2) Re-apply sunscreen, or have a small tube or spray to take on the run.

Forgot to bring a gel on the run, and the aid stations had water only, even though the packet indicated electrolyte drinks at at least some stations. Maybe they had run out by the time I got there?

Anyhow, ended up doing about 1/2 run, 1/2 walk intermittently. Frankly, I am surprised that my time wasn't longer with the amount of walking done. My run training just isn't up to snuff yet, so my legs were pretty dead after about the first 3 miles. Nutrition was good coming off the bike, I didn't feel severely energy deprived as I have sometimes in the past.

At about the 4 mile marker, I was shuffling along with another athlete when a very fit female runner passed us going the opposite direction on the loop portion of the run. She then caught back up with us BOP'ers about 1/2 mile from the finish and stopped for a few seconds to offer encouragement to each of us before running on ahead to the next person. Found out later it was 2005 Ultraman World Champion Shanna Armstrong (www.shannaarmstrong.com). I guess she was running the course a second time. So that makes for a good story, even though the run was tough.

My pale shoulders, exposed by the tri-top, got fried by the sun.

Re-apply sunscreen in T2 or bring small bottle on the run.

Bring gel and possibly gatorade (in throwaway bottle) on the run.

Hand in the chip, chat it up with the wife a bit, grab banana and water. Go watch the kids playing in the lake. Pack up and head to McD's with the kids for lunch. Did not observe any other triathletes having their post-race recovery meal at the golden arches.


Inexperience in OWS, bike mechanical, and not nearly enough run training. Think I am going to focus on run training (mainly just getting more mileage in) this fall and do a 1/2 marathon.


Happy to complete my first Olympic distance triathlon.

I really like this venue, and it's only two hours away - I am sure I will do this race again next year. It is the USAT regional championship so many of the local elite triathletes turn out for it. I am surprised that only 120 athletes competed this year. Rumor is that the biker rally filled up most of the motel space in town and the resulting trouble finding lodging discouraged many would-be participants.

No post-race activities other than the awards.