Goosepond Island Half Distance Triathlon - Triathlon

Good swim except for the sun issues. I actually closed my eyes every time I turned to the side with the sun.

Darker Goggles?

Accomplished my first flying mount! Yay! And on the first attempt! Rode off a bit before I put the feet into the shoes so I wouldn't run into people.

Nothing

Rode this faster than I expected but I think right for the conditions. Never felt the burn in my legs, stopped with two feet on the ground at the aid station and at the next turn when the full bottle I had just picked up flew off the bike. I put it in the pocket of the tri suit from then on. Only a few hills so I only got out of the big ring a few times and if I was just doing a ride I would not have then but I was trying to save to save my legs. Gel every 30 minutes starting ten minutes into the ride. Almost got hit by a truck on the four lane highway about a mile from the colony that crossed the highway and didn't see me until it was almost too late.

Put extra water in suit at the aid station.

I made the decision to wear my Culumus's with socks for this run since it was a half marathon. Cost me some time tying them up. Good decision in the long run. Wool socks saved my feet. Probably should have bought some speed laces. Only would have save 30 seconds or less.

Speed laces

This was the hardest and most brutal run I've ever done. It wasn't the course but the humidity and the heat. I was aiming for 1:50 coming in but gave that goal up when I finished the first lap in right at an hour. No mile markers anywhere on the course so for a guy like me with a watch that only tells me time and not GPS data it was hard to gauge pace. Last lap was a slog the whole time. Basically ran from aid station to aid station and then walked through each trying to get enough water, gatorade, and ice. Took three gels on the run more for the electrolytes than the calories. I'm disappointed with my time but based on my ranking consistency I'd say everyone dealt with it the same way.

Acclimatize to the heat better before a race. I do most of my training before dawn so I almost never run in that type of heat. Need to focus on hot running before a hot race.

Walk, drink, eat as much cajun red beans and rice as I could stomach before thinking I was going to burp fire.


Heat and lack of experience


If you are looking for bells and whistles, this is not your race. This is very inexpensive for the distance, laid back in its management, but treats the athletes well. I'm glad I did the race as my first half. I wish it was in October again so it would be cooler but the race director can't control the weather. Age group award of a mesh equipment bag was great and the overall swag was really good, especially for the price.