Grand Rapids Tri - Olympic Aquabike - Aquabike

I thought I had done better than this,. I did not anticipate 67 degree water. It was COLD. My hands were nub about 1/2 way thru. I really don't like mixed gender waves. The guys are always such jerks. I stopped about 200 yards in because there was a guy who really looked like he was going under (Lifeguard training kicked in) and he said he was OK. I was able to draft some, I navigated well esp after looking at the Garmin data it looked pretty darn perfect so clearly the swim was long.

Anyway did my best which is all I can do.

Bring a long sleeved wetsuit. I was really quite cold. It rained HARD Saturday so I am sure that dropped the water temp some but we have had a really miserable spring too.

this is a really odd transition area. Its LONG and skinny. Its about 1/3rd of a mile from swim exit to the top. As I have run a total of 3.5 miles (real outside running) since IMFL, this result is not really surprising. My actual transition was like less than 30 seconds. I had my shoes on my bike, helmet on, glasses on, grab bike and go. People had SO MUCH CRAP with them. Seriously. I had a helmet, bike shoes, glasses and a towel to put my helmet on. I can't really put my helmet on my bike typically because my bike is so small it hangs from the rack and the helmet would fall off.

be able to run :)

I really can't complain. I pushed really hard. My stupid garmin kept telling me my HR was like 80-100 which I KNEW was not right. More like 160-170. It never picked it up the whole time but I have done this long enough to know better. Good thing I trained by RPE for the first 11 years I did this HA!! I had looked at the people signed up and I thought I had a chance of placing. I passed 2 AB girls on the way out and held that for 3/4ers of the bike. I didn't see any green AB bike stickers coming at me but I didnt' really look for a bit either. The last 5 miles or 2 two AB green stickers passed me....Poop. I thought MAYBE I had 3rd but alas I came in 4th. Also it was COLD!!! OMG....65 degrees when we got back to the car. I was FREEZING esp the last 1/2 of the bike. I figured I could just suck it up for a mere 25 miles but I was uncomfortable the last 1/2 of the bike. I would have been In trouble if I had done the HIM AB

Given my lack of bike miles and current level of fitness and fatness I can't complain.

Ride outside more., We really have had a crap spring. Have I mentioned it was FUCKING COLD?

So usually I take my feet out of my shoes and ride with my feet on top of them on the way in, but I decided just to clip out as I was not going to be running. Clip out left, coast in, step off and clip out right and BAM I go down. My left shoe just skidded out on the pavement. I really just wanted to get to the timing mat ASAP to stop the clock. Bike shoes 0 Pavement 1. I was fine.

FUNNY: It was an out and back bike, hairpin turn at the turnaround. I just do my thing...some guy shouts "Nice turn that was very well done" WTF? Yeah dude its not my first rodeo even tho I am old and fat I have done this a few times :)

I was freezing afterwards. I picked up my towel and wrapped up in it, D had my jacket thank God. Waited for Katy to finish


Lack of outside bike training, COLD AS FUCK


This is a Very well run race and the race organizers are exceptionally good. I would recommend any race done by this group.