Stonebridge Ranch Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

We started on shore, then they let us down to the dock. We had a short time to walk down, dive in, and start. The water was cold.

Started off drafting, then got stuck in between packs. Kept up with a girl, passed her for a bit, then she passed me again. Made the first turn fine, then the last turn was into the sun. UGH! I couldn't see anything. I kept my eye on the waves made by people ahead of me. I was keeping a good straight line without being able to sight.

On the last straight away, there were little red buoys on the course. I coudn't see them because of the sun. I was swimming and "BAM!" right into one! It was really hard, I thought I hit someone in the head. Nope, straight into a buoy. Ouch, but I kept going. I thought, at least I'm on course! A minute or 2 later..."BAM!" Look up, another one! I hit another damn buoy! These weren't inflatable soft ones. My head hurt but I laughed...I swam perfectly straight without sighting!

Got about to the finish, could hear everyone on shore waiting for their waves to start so it was an easy finish.

Train. I was tired and this was a slow time for me.

1st/29! The second place girl was a full 30 seconds slower than me.

Usually my strong event. ;) Anyone that will prevent this from occuring will pay.
The swim exit was a boat ramp. Up the ramp, then sharp left turn to run up a hill. A girl decided to wait RIGHT at the narrow turn for her friend. WTF? Right in the walkway. There were cones designating the path and behind the cones were the other waves waiting to start the race. I not so politely yelled at her to "MOVE!" and shoved her out of my way. I heard my friends and BTers laugh/yell but I kept moving...full speed.

Ran up and down the big hill, down to my bike. This is one of the longest transition areas in a race I've done.

Push her harder. Its a race, I don't care if I'm not going to win, don't block other racers.

Came out of transition and had to climb two hard hills. Saw TJ (zia_cyclist) at the first hill cheer for me! I like it when I have cheerleaders, and Steve wasn't there so it was nice. On Ridge, Aaron passed me like I was standing still. He was probably going about 25mph. He yelled a nice sweet nothing and was on his way. ;)

Felt ok, tried to pay attention to cadence and wanted to go hard, but not too hard. The first half of the rectangle is harder than the second, so I knew it would get better on the 2nd half. Flew down the second 1/2 of the loop at almost 30mph.

2nd lap.
The 2 hills, up Virginia and then up Ridge hurt more this time. Ugh. Really slowed me down again. At this point I saw Aaron starting the run and I yelled at him but he didn't hear me. Saw TJ again, that was nice. Didn't see anyone I knew on the bike course other than Aaron. Oh well.

Train.

Remember to take my feet out of my shoes.

Even though I didn't train, this isn't much slower than my fastest sprint bike split from last year and this course was hillier. The only thing that was different was my new tri bike and race wheels. I was in ironman shape for my sprint PR last year, and this year I am in no shape to be competitive. So, I'm pretty pleased with my bike investment!

5th/29. Bad for me.

Forgot to take my feet out of my shoes as I was trying to gain speed on the downhill into transition. Stupid, stupid mistake. Had to dismount with my shoes and run to my rack. Ugh.

Be there mentally.

I felt slow and I was slow. I didn't think I should be this tired or slow, but I kept trucking along. Didn't walk until the aid station and the turn around. I didn't even run for a minute total.

Saw Kylie about 1/2 mile ahead of me at the turn around. Then I saw Shannon when I was about 1/2 a mile from the finish! I high-fived her, I was SO HAPPY she had finished the swim (major swim and ear issues have caused her problems) and that she was going to finish the race!


Train.

Realized after talking with the others that the run was mostly uphill. Heh. I didn't even notice at the time that was slowing me down. I just figured I was (am) out of shape. I like hills.

I was very tired, got some great Mediterranean food, the RD is from Egypt. GREAT hummus and other goodies.


No training.


Great race, very well run. I didn't care so much for the way the swim start was but it makes sense since the race is so big.