Caveman Triathlon - Triathlon

Big difference from swimming in a 25 yard pool from a 50 yard pool at the race a few weeks ago. This was much more typical of my normal swim experience, so a pretty anticlimactic deal. While I'm still a little snobbish toward pool swim triathlons - there's really a whole other level of challenge to an open water swim - it's nice to not have that worrisome anxiety before the event starts. Got passed by the guy who jumped in behind me, but passed two other swimmers.

Maybe swim that last length a little harder, but this was totally fine.

Longer than normal T1 since I had to struggle into a fleece bike jersey due to the cold; pulling fleece over wet skin is an exercise in frustration but it was cold enough I wouldn't have been comfortable without it. Put socks on too. Other people around me were putting on warm-up pants in addition to coats. Kid next to me, doing his first tri, actually put on a knee-length heavy parka for the bike.

If I'd been training without socks, I might've ditched putting those on. But given the temps, probably not.

Pretty good bike ride; felt faster than results show and my Garmin indicated a distance of 11.4 miles, same as last year, so that's what I've recorded. Really cool moment making the first turn onto the main course after T1, I looked up and the clouds were hung in a dark line just above the horizon, which was aglow with a rosy hue. Nice start to the day. I jockeyed for a little bit with the guy who started just behind me in the swim, was keeping up fine without a huge effort, until he schooled me in the art of taking corners, carving through them like a high speed laser knife; I actually thought he was going to go down at the first corner. Amazing how much difference that can apparently make in your time. I think only one other person passed me. Got back to the rack in T2 and the only bike there belonged to Mr. Corner. I love being one of the first bikes back! Was glad to get off the bike too; for most of the second loop, cold as it was, I felt as if the tip of my privates, which hangs off the front of my bike saddle, was getting frostbit. Guess it was just saddle numbness aggravated by a wet trisuit and the cold, but it was nice to get that blood flowing again.

I seem to have peaked speed-wise on the bike, though. despite training efforts. Very frustrating.

Overall a pretty good ride, happy with the way I handled it. Just wish I could get faster.

Pretty good transition since I came in with bike shoes on the pedals and didn't have to tie shoes. Wasn't sure where the Run Out exit was, probably cost me 10 seconds or so.

Know all of the entrances and exits.

Another tough run; what's up with my running this year? Can't account for it. Lack of training is no excuse; I've been doing structured training for almost three months now, and wasn't goofing off prior to that. I know the annoyance of my knee is costing me to some extent but uI wouldn't think this much difference. It almost feels like I don't have the "wind" anymore, as if my cardio capacity is compromised. Again, can't account for it.

Don't know. Don't see the knee issue going away anytime soon, so that's going to be there. Keep running, keep pushing, maybe there'll come a breakthrough. Or maybe this is the new normal? Not ready to accept that.

Walked around, had some water, went to transition to start packing up.


Longer transitions and what seems to be a compromised run leg, either because of my relatively recent knee issues, compromised endurance levels, and/or just plain getting older.


Short, fun race with a nice, uncrowded course that's close to home and a lot of fun to boot. Hard to beat.