Harbor Lights - TriathlonSprint

Wow!!! I thought the swim was the best part of this triathlon. I know this is probably backwards thinking for a lot of triathletes, but I really felt in my "element" during this stage of the race. I know that my pace might not be the best to some triathletes, but I was absolutely floored when I found out my swim time was a little under 11 minutes. I was aiming for a 15 min swim, because of what I knew I was capable of during my pool swims. I guess no flip turns and a nice open course make for good times. Suffice to say, I was extremely happy with my swim time. I never knew I was capable of doing that well. This is only my 2nd triathlon (ever) and I was a little intimidated my the length of the course and location. I was a little worried about going so far out in the water, but being around that many people, in my case, made me feel at ease.

I was also surprised to see so many people being picked off the swim course. I guess some people were panicking and/or drowning and needed to be pulled into the lifeguard's jet ski's. Don't let me get started about the jet skis. They were everywhere! They were almost a safety hazard rather than help. I heard one guy say that he was nearly hit in the head by the jet ski; it practically ran over him in the process of getting to a swimmer in trouble. I just remember thinking that they were going kind of quick for having so many swimmers around. Other than that it was clear swimming for me.

I had a rather easy time spotting the buoys and staying close to the course. I can only remember once getting a little off course; but for the most part, I was literally hugging the buoys as I made my turns, which I think really helped my swim time.

This was also the very first time I had competitively swam in Lake Michigan and never had a single issue with it. I cannot wait until the Chicago Triathlon!!!!

In order to save energy, I didn't go all out as I could have. I guess I could have gone faster, but I felt pretty good after the swim.

Yuck!!! I had a dismal T1 Time!!! I could have probably easily moved up 4 or 5 age group places if I could cut my T1 time in half. However, the run from the swim to the bike transition area was very long. The officials could have placed the bike racks a little closer to the water, but oh well. I took most of the time removing my timing chip, taking off my wetsuit, replacing my timing chip and getting my socks and shoes on. Also, the run out of the transition area was very difficult. You didn't have a lot of room to manuever around people. The path out of the long T! area was very long and very narrow. I got stuck behind a couple people while running my bike out was a little annoyed that they were walking their way out of the T1 area.

apply more body glide to my legs and ankles to expedite the wetsuit removal process. There isn't much I could have done for the really long journey from the swim to the T1 area....oh well...

I also had to do some sleuthing for my bike...I didn't realize that there were four "Wave 4" bike racks, so I made two visits to bike racks that didn't have my belongings....How stupid was I????

It was a two loop course. The path that took the bikers onto the main course was also very narrow and left very little room for passing. If you got stuck behind a slow-poke, you were basically stuck for a good 40 seconds or so...

The road was quite rough. Waukegan is not the best well-kept city. The streets were very cracked and riddled with pot holes. I spent a lot of my time looking ahead to watch out for trouble spots on the road. There were also quite a few people that got flats. I offered my patches to some, but they didn't have a pump, so it was no help anyhow....(You have to be prepared folks!)

I also noticed that the road was so bumpy and rough and some cyclist's water bottles were jostled from their cages and were just falling out by themselves; which made for somewhat of a bottle obstacle course on the road. I actually lost my bottle during the first lap during my first attempt to hydrate during the bike. When i went to place it back, I didn't have it totally secured and it went right to the shoulder on the road. I thought about stopping for it, because I still had more bike ahead, but decided against it.

The turns on the course were very tight. It was absolutely impossible to make a turn on the course at full speed. The officials were all very adament that the bikers slow down and I followed suit. I enjoyed the nice "on ramp" hills we got to cruise once we got back on the course, because I just kicked my bike into high gear and got some good momentum.

During the second lap of my bike, I knew exactly were I dropped my water bottle and actually made a goofy decision to stop and pick it up. I probably kicked off 45 seconds from my bike time for that, but I was glad to get the rest of the gatorade that was left in it before I got going on my run. Also, it was a good water bottle and i would have missed it. Oh well....

I felt pretty good during most of the bike. I had a slight back pain, but that subsided after a while. Overall, i really liked how I performed on the bike. During my first triathlon a few weeks prior, I had averaged slightly below 19 mph, and this time I was able to average over 20 mph. That was my goal and I was glad that I achieved that. During my previous weeks of training I really tried to focus on my cadence and average pace. I guessed it paid off!!!!

Like always, go faster!!! Not drop my water bottle...perhaps I shouldn't had gotten off my bike and picked it up, but oh well....

This, like usual, is an easy transition. I wear Nike Free 5.0 running shoes so they slip on quite nicely and easily. I took a little extra time to take off my GPS (Forerunner) from my bike and strap it to my wrist before my run.

I should probably have my forerunner already on my wrist during my bike, but I am so used to having it strapped on my handlebars that I didn't think twice about it. next race, I will have it securely on my wrist....I am still scared to wear it in the water though? I have a forerunner 301...are they waterproof enough for a swim???

My legs felt a lot better than my legs felt during the Batavia triathlon. I was able to sustain a nice pace from the get-go...I was definitely running along and beside runners that were exactly in my speed group; which is the 7:30-8:00 minute mile pace group. I took it easy for the first two miles, but was able to pull off a few fartleks during the last half and pass a few people that had passed me. I do know that I had one guy trailing me after I passed him. I kind of have to thank him, because I noticing him gaining on me at time, but I would speed up in order for him not to pass me. Eventually, I did enough fartleks to keep him off of me during the last stage. I think he made me faster though and I did shake his hand after the race.

Nothing, running is a mental game as well as a stamina test. But you can only run what you can run. didn't over-extend myself and knew my limits. I left enough gas in the gas tank for the last mile to make it nice and comfortable. I wasn't falling across the finish line like I had been doing at 5k's only a year prior. (It is amazing what an athlete I have turned in to!!!! ha!)

I am not sure about it, but I think this was my best 4 mile time every, so I guess I can call it an "unofficial" PB....

Sat down and talked with my wife about the race.


Running is a big one....I wish I was a faster runner, but I know that doesn't happen overnight and especially in the final few weeks before your race. I know I will keep improving and will take everything in stride.


I know this is nit-picky, but I didn't get a t-shirt!!! I registered months ago and was told at packet pickup that all the shirts were taken by the last minute entries. I wish these events would order more than enough t-shirts instead of what they did here. I was really looking forward to wearing my shirt proudly during this week and now they tell me that they will "mail the shirt"...I paid over $75 for entry into this triathlon and I didn't get a t-shirt. Also, the swag bag was laughable. Two catalogs and a water bottle....are you kidding me? Where is all our money going?

Nonetheless, I had a blast at this race and I am glad I did it!!! It was a great warm-up for the Chicago triathlon. I feel a lot better about doing the Chicago triathlon now, since I will be doing an Olympic distance triathlon in the end of August. I will continue to train and refine my abilities as a triathlete. What an awesome sport!!!!!!!

My next triathlon is in Naperville, so I hope to see some Beginnertriathlete.com people there! Happy training!!!