West Point Lake Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

I went out slow and did breathing every 3. I caught up with folks pretty quickly and passed about 5 or so folks. I took a better line than most of the folks for the first 600m or so. I made the turn towards the 200m leg and swam right over some woman going slowly around the bouy by mistake. We all had to stand for the first shallows. I jogged across and dove back into the water. I felt very good now and the prerace jitters were going away. Per my stategy, I swan within myself and kept percieved effort at moderate to moderate easy.
The last 500m I started passing a bunch of folks. They all stood up in the shallows and I kept swimming. I altered my stroke to delve less into the water and kicked more to keep my feet from sinking. I usually delve to the 3:30 position in the water to counterbalance my rump.
This worked great and I passed a few more people as they waded.

I can be faster in the water with the same amount of work. I was trying to save for my other two events. Once my run improves more I won't need to keep so much in the tank after the swim and I can put more effort into the swim. I think I can be a 1:45 swimmer eventually. For my first Oly, this was great and I was very happy with this leg.
A slight ego boost, I got out of the water and ran up the ramp to T1. A nice young cutie thought I didn't hear her but she said 'I wish I cou;ld have that one!' Not sure what she meant, but I'll take that to mean my bod even if it's just the swim time. sorry lady, my wife has been to every race and is a babe! (Thanks to Erin my VERY supportive wife and hot babe!

I have to get these from the official results. I took my time as this was my first Oly. It was at least in part what had me miss 3:00 for my total time.

Beh. I would go faster. I was enjoying the race and taking my time. We'll worry about transition times once the run is not the major factor for lame time.

Ok, I haven't been able to ride during my taper week, but overall I'm happy with this as my first Oly performance. I tried to stay comfortable. Whe I left T1, there were not many bikes off the second row of racks and I felt pretty good. As the race went on I was passed, and passed and passed. WTF? isn't 18mph ok? I started to get pissed off about it, but then I talked with Mjolnir, my bike, and he and I calmed each other down. I started to say to myself, 'ride your race, Steve, ride your race'. I knew if I felt comfotable on the bike, I would have more left for the run.
So I calmed down and then started feeling really good. The nutrition was too much! I ate all my Clif blocks and drank a bottle of water. I felt soooooooo full at the turn. I tried the clif bar I had in my nutrition plan and it was soooooo dry. I looked like Tom hanks in Big with the caviar. I had to chuck the rest and tucked my wrapper under the leg of my trisuit (no pockets! bad purchase. damn you all3 sports!).
The back end of the ride was down hill and i began to feel better. My legs had warmed up and my Clydesdale rolling down hill was paying heavy (pun intended) returns. I passed 7 (yes i counted) people. One passed me again in the last 50 m before transition because he went too fast despite being warned by race folks.

In the last 1/4 of the bike leg, I knew I was goin gto finish the race and it felt great. I started talking to my bike again, out loud, to help me keep my pace. 'You are Mjolnir, hammer of Thor, that makes me Thor, and Thos would be an asskicking triathlete. Let's go Mjolnir!"
p.s. It's nice to pass Felt B2s and Cervelo P3C on my Trek 1200. It makes me want to keep it even though I'm thinking of buying a Felt B2 soon. Go Mjolnir!

Well, I hate to make an excuse, but this shin injury has heald me back some. I was also worried about the run too much to push harder than this. Still 18 mph aint so bad for my first Oly in my first season.

I jogged to the rack but once again I took my time.

Care more about my transition time in my first Oly. Not gonna happen. I'll work on it at Tugaloo.

Ok, before I write this, let me tell yall that I haven't been able to do anything except elliptical and water jogging for two week hoping and praying my left shin splint would go away. To be fair, it didn't limit me for the race as far as pain, but my running endurance was crap.
The other issue was that I forgot my watch and it's replacement, so I was running completely by feel. I would have run ten minute miles if I knew I could beat 3 hours, I know I would have! I'm so angry at myself as normally I would be obsessed about having all my equipment. We went to all3sports yesterday and I was going to buy a Garmin 305, but Erin said that would be a great x-mas gift. So that put a monkey wrench in the plan.
So, I ran blind, without a watch.

And it hurt, oh man it hurt. Not enough training you fool! Passed passed passed passed. Lame.
Mile 3-5 were the only that felt any good. By mile three my shoes were filled with the water I was dumping over my head and every step was squish. It struck me as funny so I started counting squish noises to keep me going. Finally at mile 5 a hot chick ran in front of me who ....let just say she was worth following. I stuck with her until 5.5 and she must have wanted to get away from her stalker. She turned on the afterburners and I couldn't keep up. Soon a clydesdale came up behind me and patted ME on the back (Karma) I ran with him for a bit and then he took off. Finally wee turned the last corner and a 40 year old dude passed me. I coul dhear the crowd and I got pumped up . I stared at this guys calf and kept up his pace. I was not going to get passed anymore! Enough already! One of the crowd saw me behind him and said, 'don't let him pass you!' I turned on the afterburners and beat him by a fair bit.


Watch.
Watch.
Watch.
Garmin.
Train more, train more and hmmmm train more. Running is by FAR my rate limiting step as a triathlete. The winning Clydesdale time was a crazy 2:22. If I want times like that we need swim 25, bike 1:10, run 48. That is sooo doable in my lifetime. I just need to learn how to love running and not become injured while training for it.
While I'm happy I finished just over 3 hours, I could have easily broken 3 hours. I enjoyed the race, but I wish I had not looked at the times. I also wish my competition was a little less buff. Eat some ring dings will you!

Walk around. I felt a little sick and weak. No appetite. No thirst. I had some oranges and a cookie. I hugged my son and wife. too tires to ride or walk around.


The run was soooo bad.


Well, I learned a lot about racing this time. I learned more about my ability to push myself. I'm a good swimmer, OK cyclist and a lousy runner. I need to be more systematic about my training and more patient.
In a few days I'll be satisfied with my performance. I should have realized that the Oly folks would be a bit more fit and that this would be a greater challenge. I can do this distance. I can do a HIM if I put in the work. I'm ready to do it.