Rattlesnake Triathlon - Sprint National Champs - TriathlonSprint

My time from the water to transition is the total time. I was around 6:15 for the swim. We started in 5 second intervals. So each person went off alone. That was cool. I went out well and passed some guys, then wham, I run into a slow guy breast stroking. Where did he come from. I rounded the bouy after splitting 2 guys then wham, ran into another guy. This happened like 3 times. I was looking up and citing but just didn't see these guys. Finished strong and got out of the water around 6:30. Had to be short or I have gotten really fast. Ran up the beach and laid down to be stripped. Then ran the rest of the way up the ramp to T1.

Nothing.

Very quick here, I had the fastest T1 overall!, however the guy next to me knocked my helmet and glasses off of my bike. I just knew that would happen today being next to this guy. No biggie it was laid out nicely ont eh ground with my glasses in my helmet. Either he fixed it or a volunteer did. Had some traffic getting out but managed to get by them.

Nothing.

Excellent bike today. I rode strong but conservative on the way out and hammered on the way back. Noone passed me and I passed many of the faster guys in my agegroup. Came up on Thomas B. and passed him. Then he repassed me on a small hill. I then laid the hammer down and dropped him. What was I thinking. Rode the hills well by just spinning. I did not get out of my big ring the whole race but kept it strong on the hills. There are some super fast people and very slow people out there. I passed some people that were barely moving.

Nothing.

I was second in my agegroup due to losing a shoe. Got in quickly and saw Steve Pye go in with me. That was a good sign because he started a good minute ahead of me. I last a shoe off the bike and the volunteer threw it to me over the transition fence. I had to stop and pick it up. No big deal I stayed right on Steve's heels leaving transition.

Not lose a damn shoe.

Stayed on Steve's heels for about 300 yards then pulled out front. Kept a hard but managable pace. I could hear him on my heels until right before the turnaround where I started to pull away. I felt good and picked up the pace. I saw the leader in my agegroup and he was quite a bit ahead of me but I didn't know when he started ahead of me. So I jsut kept running hard. Got to within eyesite of the finish and put in my kick. Never looked back to see who was there. Just went all out. I did see Ricci at the turn around too and thought he might catch me so I picked it up even more. Splits were 6:17 mile 1,6:29 mile 2, mile 31. was 6:35.

Nothing. I ran smart today.

Watched some others finish. Ate some food. Drank some beer and talked with Kenny, Scott and some other Tri buddies.


Training. I was very pleased but could have gone faster if my training was more focused a few weeks sooner.


Excellent race. High competition, beer, awards, friends, a band. Kinda cheesy wrist bands at the finish, but the pull over wind breakers were very cool. USAT staff was out there for the Sprint national Championship and that was cool. Great to Meet Mel and Josh again. Very cool of Jen and Matt to volunteer and way cool of Scott and Kenny to come out and watch.