Chula Vista Challenge - Triathlon

SWIM CANCELLED - I kept the 5k run nice and easy, while trying to keep the heart rate as low as possible. My goal was to keep the pace right around 8:00/mile and the HR around 150 bpm as to not burn any matches before the long bike and run. I think I did pretty well in this first discipline, as I have never run a duathlon before, nor have I run over 15 miles in one day.

I don't think I would have changed anything, as I think taking it easy at the beginning and not burning any matches early on is what allowed me to run harder at the end of the half marathon.

Like most others around me, I didn't know which way we were heading out of T1 as the directions were very unclear. Bike was in wrong direction and I had my gear set up on the wrong side of the rack. In addition to this, someone had added a lot of gear and a bike quite close to my stuff, which didn't allow me a lot of room. When I got to my stuff, someone was standing on my towel which prevented me from sliding my towel with my gear to the other side to grab my gear. Poor T1 for what was required.

Correct bike position, correct gear placement, more room to grab gear.

The bike turned out to be a great effort that I am pretty proud of! With all of the turns, the rough roads, and amount of traffic, I managed to lay down a respectable bike split. Nutrition was just right, amount of liquids consumed was just right, and my level of fitness and fatigue were great. I felt like I could have easily ridden another 20 miles at the pace, even though at times I felt I might have ridden slightly too hard.

Looking back on it now, I might have ridden slightly harder, but it's hard to tell because that might have been detrimental to my run.

T2 was much better, but my visor on my helmet came undone and fell, so I had to stop and pick it up. Everything in T2 went smooth other than that. Helmet and shoes off, shoes on, visor and glasses on, and off I went.

Leave my visor on.

Started out around 8:00/mile pace and tried to keep the HR around 160 bpm. I did a pretty decent job at that, staying around 165 for the first half of the run. Around mile 7, I realized that I was feeling really good, and felt that I could hold on the a faster pace with my HR around 170 no problem. The last lap of the run I decided to test myself and see how hard I could push it without blowing up. I think this strategy worked out perfectly, as I felt pretty dang gassed at the end of the run, and my HR was around 180 bpm.

During the race, I felt that I had pushed it perfectly, but looking back and realizing how good I was feeling early on, I should have pushed it about 1-2 miles sooner. But, regarding this, I have never pushed it that fast for that long during a training session, so I didn't know what I was capable of, and I didn't know how long I could last until I blew up. In all honesty, I might have been able to pull off another mile or two, which might have brought my HR into the mid 180's. I think I ran this discipline perfectly for my ability.

First things first, throw a double shaka after crossing the finish line and then give love to my family and gf who always show support for me and cheer for me. They're who I look forward to seeing the most during and after a race! Grab my medals, drink one bottle of water, one bottle of electrolyte solution, a couple of snacks, hit a quick stretch, and get the legs elevated while the gf massaged my legs.


Some lack of specific training leading up to this race due to life itself and the requirements of personal obligations outside of training.


A small but good event with friendly staff and volunteers.