Venice YMCA Triathlon - Triathlon

Meh, based on all the results I've seen, the course was long. 1 person went under 7 minutes, which is odd for this race.

Keep on swimming. I saw an increase in my comfort level, which I can only attribute to the lessons and repetition. My time did not significantly improve, but I was less tired upon exit. So, continued practice sounds like a good plan.

I saved time here, enough that I was able to come out of T1 ahead of Dan, who had swum a full minute faster than I. Improvements have been made from past races. Finally. The only minus was that I didn't grab my flask of honey.

Keep working on the little stuff, I see improvements there.

The part I like. Coming out of T1 was a bit interesting as the 3 guys in front of me seemed to line up across the road, stop, and mount in unison. I ran past them on the left and then got my left foot on my left shoe, pushed one last time, then slid into the saddle pretty smoothly. A few pedal strokes and out onto the course. I got my right foot in, left foot in, tightened down the straps, and headed to the first of 6 180* turns. The ride itself was fairly uneventful. I kept my tempo up, my head down and my sighte forward. And I passed a bunch of folks. I hit the Hammer Gel at the start of lap 2, which I had stashed in my Bento box. Good thing it was there, what with the honey mistake in T1. Coming into the final lap, there was a cluster of racers across the road, not passing, just side by side. I had to slow for that, and it cost me a few seconds. NBD. Each of the turnarounds went pretty well. I downshifted, got out of aero and on the brakes, went around and then back onto the aero bars smootly. ABout .25 miles out from the end I slid my feet out of the shoes and eased up just a bit. Someone pulled around me as we pulled into the parking lot for T2, but it was kind of funny when I passed him back as we dismounted. The rolling dismount into a run worked perfectly.

Nada, other than bring the honey. I love the aero bottle for water with the straw in my face. Constant reminder.

I may have had time to bake a pie! WTF, this should have been under a minute, but NO, I have to struggle with my shoes again. This is the third straight race that this has happened. ARGH. Finally got the shoes settled, grabbed my belt and visor and off I went.

If this is the worst thing in the race (it was) than I am in a pretty good spot. I may have to look into a shoe adjustment, but of my 99 problems in life, this isn't one of them.

It is hot, there is a channel of stifling hot air that doesn't move at one point, and I hate running in races. Other than that, it was great. Actually, it really was great, since I only slowed for water. Non-stop running (if I can call it that) for the rest of the course. I am slowly coming around to the belief that I can do this and it's only taken 5 years to get there.

Run faster, which is one part of my off season focus for this winter.

Wander around and find shade and water.


Me. Really, it is like our friend Kirsten has observed, "If I get out of my head..." So, this is the takeaway to work on. Mental growth. Work on the mental as well as the physical, but I know which of those 2 is really the limiter at this point. I've made small steps already, so I feel really good about it moving forward.


I always enjoy this race. Brad does a good job and the support on the course from volunteers and spectators is really cool.