Kemah Triathlon - Olympic Course - Triathlon

This swim was HORRIBLE! To start, I was in the last 15 or so people to jump off the boat into the water. This was not the plan but we kinda got caught in a bottle neck trying to get down to the bow. Jumped off the bow, started swimming and within the first 50 meters had an absolute freak out moment. Started hyperventilating, kicking my feet a million miles an hour to stay afloat, not sure what to do. Finally talked myself through it, got calmed down and started trying something that resembled swimming. Seriously considered getting on a boat and calling it quits. One of my first thoughts was "I guess I can cross IMFL off of my list of potential races!"

After the freak out I just tried my best to swim and time my breathing and sighting with the cresting of the waves. The problem is that I had to breath every other stroke instead of bilateral and when I breath to one side it has to be my left as I'm stronger that way. The waves were coming from behind and left so I was getting smacked with a bunch of them. Had trouble sighting the whole way but somehow made it from the boat to shore without dyeing.

Swim better? I only swam twice in the last 6 months so that may have had something to do with it but I really just think that I had a hard time because of the swells.

Long run from swim out to transition. Had a hard time getting the zipper on the wetsuit down so the nice volunteer helped me and then yanked the suit off. Not sure what else too so long here!

15.5 mph avg. but Garmin had the course a little short making the avg 15.1. Headed out of transition for a short <1 mile ride north and then turned south for a good long while with a STRONG 20 mph sustained headwind. The wind sucked, not much else to say. Finally made a right hand turn for a short out and back with a cross wind before the glorious tail wind headed back north to transition. With the tail wind I was 24-26 most of the time with a max of 37 coming down the one small causeway we had to cross. I had a good time on the bike because even when the headwind was horrible I knew that we would have a great tail wind coming back.

The 100mm race wheels might not have been the best choice today. It was white knuckle riding at times just trying to stay vertical!

Ride more

Got out of my shoes before the dismount and had an easy transition. I stopped off at the port o can in t2 because I really had to pee and knew I couldn't make it through the run without going. Had a little bit of a tough time at first because I wasn't sure where the run out was but after locating it I was on my way.

10:16 min/mile avg according to race results but Garmin had the course at 6.09 miles making the avg 10:29. This was a great run for me! My goal was to average <10:30 pace and I barely made it but I did it. The first two miles my calves were REALLY tight but they finally loosened up. I typically run 9 min walk 1 but for this race I decided to run aid station to aid station and walk long enough to get fluids in and then keep going. Pace was good the whole first loop. The section along the Kemah boardwalk was cool. On lap two I still felt good. I really wanted to pick up the pace a lot the last mile but by then I was pretty tired and slowed some. Overall I am really happy with this run.

After grabbing my finishers medal I took off my shoes thinking about standing in the ice bath for a minute. After putting one foot in I scrapped that idea quick! Grabbed some food and drinks and headed to meet the family waiting for Koby to finish. Got back to the hotel, showered quick and headed home to nap before having to work.


lack of training.


Great venue and great race! Lots of great volunteers. The only thing that would keep me from doing this race again would be the rough swim.