Age Group National Championship - Triathlon

Hardest swim I've ever done. The waves were so high I had trouble sighting. The waves were also strong enough that I felt light I wasn't making forward progress. I thought once I got to the first buoy it would get easier, but swimming parallel with the waves was equally hard. Kept trying to swim to the left of the buoy, but every time I sighted, I was to the right. Breathed only on right so I wouldn't get a face full of water from a wave. But that increased my stroke rate, and made my neck sore. Turning around the second buoy and swimming back to shore wasn't easy either. Had trouble figuring out where the exit was and rafts and boats kept telling us to go right. I felt like I was in the water forever. Bumped into a few people, but mostly kept my cool despite the awful conditions.

More open water practice with rough conditions. More swimming. My strength work to improve swimming

Found out after the event that a man died during the swim, the same time I was out in the water. Kind of puts it all into perspective.

Running to TA was tough. Didn't have the usual speed and walked a bunch. It was a long way to TA. The swim took a lot out of me.

Wait to take off my goggles and cap until after I've taken down my wetsuit halfway. Jogged more through transition.

The first 10 miles I just wasn't feeling up to speed on the bike. My head felt strangely heavy at the start of the bike, probably from all the extra sighting I had to do during the swim. But after about 10 miles, I got into a groove and start feeling better.

It was frustrating that none of the hazards on the course were marked. You really had to pay attention for holes and other obstacles. I ran over one near the end and it jostled my bike so hard that the bold for my frame bottle cage pulled out and my cage turned 90° and nearly lost my bottle. I was able to recover and save the bottle. But I think I just need to use duct tape to keep the cage on now.

Not sure. Better swim probably would have meant better bike.

Nothing spectacular about this transition. No major mistakes. Remembered to keep my sunglasses for the run which is huge.

First couple of miles my stomach was feeling crampy, not terrible, but slowed me down. Tried to keep drinking though. But things started feeling better, and picked up the pace for the second loop. Loved the hills, didn't care for the twisty turning route. Accidentally ended my triathlon workout on the garmin, but hit the lap button again and I could resume. So that's good to know.

Keep doing those brick workout

drinking, eating, walking. Loved the cold washcloth at the finish


SWIMMING


Overall a good event. Though not marking the hazards on the bike course was a big fail. I don't think I would do this race again. There were a lot of dicks on the bike and run course. Super fast men who sped in and out of other racers with no regards for their safety. No warnings given, and sometimes running into people on the run course. Kind of hated watching that part.