TRI Key West - Key West Olympic Triathlon - Triathlon

Did not like this swim for several reasons:

1. Pre-race instructions were not able to be heard. Other than getting a PA system, not sure how to fix this issue.

2. Not enough buoys, for a 1500 yard swim, there were only 4 buoys marking the entire course. This created a huge gap between buoys and made sighting in the swells very difficult.

3. Not enough rescue personnel on the course. During my entire swim I only saw 1 paddle boarder and 1 kayak. With the smaller number of OLY participants and the vast openness of the course I felt really alone.

Swim train more than the zero yards I have put in in the last 4 months.

Had a first at this tri, the velcro on my left shoe got stuck in the metal loop and I could not get it out without stopping and taking my shoe off. Overall it was probably a wash in time lost to fix the problem versus time gained by being able to pull with my left foot.

Nothing, had the 61st fastest T1 in the race, I'll take that.

The opportunity to ride on the NAS was my whole motivation for signing up for this race. IT WAS SO WORTH IT!!!! As I entered the base, I could hear multiple jets warming up but could not see them. As we worked our way south, there was an opening in the vegetation where I could see 6 FA 18 Hornets on the runway. As I made my way to the west end of the base, I was on the service road that runs parallel to the main runway and only several hundred feet from it when the jets began to take off. They literally went right over the top of me as they left the base. I can not put into words how loud that was. AMAZING!

Also, the wind sucked. 15-20 mph out of the southwest so almost the entire course was headwind/crosswind. Had some portions of the course where I was pushing to get 13 mph on the bike.

Nothing, if I had swam any faster, or rode any faster, or got my shoe on the first time, I would not have been in position to experience the take-off of those jets.

Had to move a bike in order to get mine racked, had to move for another racer that was trying to get past, put on socks, and had to tie my shoes. All things that slowed me down, but still not a bad T2

Get there earlier in order to get an end spot on the rack.

Aid stations were not every mile as listed as there were only 2 on the course and they were not evenly spaced. It seemed like it took forever to get to the first station, then the second was only a little bit further but from the 2nd to the turnaround and back was again too far especially with the heat and lack of shade on this course.

Run more, ok some, ok any. Still fighting plantar fasciitis and its not going away!

Cold water, watermelon, results ticket, and packed up.


I'm a 300 pound guy that works 2 full time jobs for 4+ months and I just finished football season. I'm old, fat, and out of shape.


This is a destination race that I will hopefully do again, although I will probably just do the sprint next time.