Lums Pond Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Water temp was 82 so no wetsuits. The start was different from last year. Last year we waded in and were about knee deep at the start. This year we were at the water's edge on the beach and ran in. This was not a good idea on the part of the RD because there were some decent sized rocks or stones on the bottom. I didn't realize it at the time, but when I got to the run I could tell that I had bruised the bottom of my left heal. This was with no doubt the roughest swim I've done. I got punched, kicked and elbowed all the way around the first bouy and even a few times several hundred yards into the swim. I had started kind of in the middle of the wave figuring my swimming has come along and I would be able to hold my own, but it made for a very tough swim both physically and mentally. I finally found some clear water about half way through and got into a groove. I'm glad to have done this race simply for the additional swimming experience going into Diamondman. I need to start toward the back and take the swim very easy. My HR was 180 coming out of the water which was way too high. I was really hoping for a 15 minute swim. I felt like I swam well with the exception of pulling up a couple times. After talking with others after the race I think the swim may have been a little long. Time included a 100 yard run from the water up through the woods to transition.

Not much. I guess I could have started in the back, but given that I finished MOP in the swim I would have had to find my way around about 50 swimmers. I did the best I could so no regrets.

Good transition. It's easy when you don't have to pull a wetsuit off. I had the 4th fastest T1 in my AG.

I couldn't believe how strong of a bike leg I had. My legs adjusted to cycling very quickly and I was going out at around 22 mph. Although I couldn't feel anything, I figured for sure that there must have been a little air coming out of the north and it would be tougher coming home. I held around 21-22 mph the entire time and there wasn't a breath of air on the way back. I couldn't believe it. I would classify this effort as comfortably hard, but nothing more. I just felt good - probably because I hadn't ridden since Tuesday and my cycling muscles were rested.

Another good transition. Very happy to get both transitions under a minute. Tied for 9th in AG. An older guy who was unclipping in front of me about ran me off the ramp that goes up a curb. Other than that it was smooth.

Although I didn't feel like I needed it, I took a gel as I was running out of T2 and grabbed some water on the way out. I really had a fantastic run. Again, my legs transitioned well and within the first few hundred yards my legs felt really good. I held back until the turn around to see how I felt, then I opened it up a little. I actually passed a couple people on the run which was a strange felling for me. Similar to my brick last weekend I just kept feeling stronger and stronger as the run went on. That's such a great feeling. I really didn't think I'd have a good run since I had no taper and in fact had had my toughest run of the year on Friday morning. I couldn't believe how good this felt. Although I really had a good run, I would suspect that this was measured just a little short. I'm not quite convinced that I can keep a 7 min. pace off the bike.

Gatorade. Walked around and talked with Paul M. and Dave M. from CMS. Also tracked down TRIBMAC. Cheered Renee (our vet who just got into triathlon this year) on as she finished.


Weak swim I guess. I wouldn't change much...I really had a fantastic race. Although the weather was certainly a helping factor, I knocked 31 minutes off my time from last year. What a difference a year can make!


Even given that it's in mid-August, I may have to make this one an annual event. This is a great location with a good sized field. I had a blast.
This is the first Piranha Sports event I've done where they didn't have sandwiches after the race which was dissapointing. All they had was bagged snacks which ALL had trans fats and the bananas and oranges had been sitting out in the sun so they were kind of nasty. Worst post-race food I've ever seen.