DQ Triathlon at Marlton Lakes - TriathlonSprint

Started nice & easy...slow & smooth... breathing every 2 strokes from the get go. Worked very Well!! Every time I tried drafting after the half-way point, they kep slowing me down so I passed them (I guess the drafting was working then?) Didn't panic like Lenape. Stood up a few times to adjust goggles/get extra breath. Picked up pace last 50 yds. Peed twice in water before race.

Swim faster when in better swimming shape.

Got there around 6:30, and got a rack real close to bike mat. Probably 5 or 6 racks in. Jogged easy from swim mat to bike to keep hr down. Put socks on & shoes, ran in bike shoes to after mat. Didn't have to rinse feet. Just patted dry quickly w/ towel. Powder in socks made them go on easily. hung wet suit up, had to readjust so wouldn't drip on running shoes. Put shoes in in only a couple seconds.

Practice riding bike shoes w/o socks. Don't have tri-shoes, so leaving in clips won't work. Don't know why I was so slow... socks didn't slow me much.

Fukkin computer wasn't picking up sensor at race!!!! :-< Worked fine wednesday, and walking bike back to car, it fukkin works again!!!! Also worked walking bike from car to garage... WTF!!! I had no idea what pace I was doing... was just guessing my pace with my HR. Hills coming back were real hard for me. Felt like I was slowing down to 16mph. Last couple miles, I could feel my calves were beginning to cramp bad, but never locked up. Before second to last turn, took about 100yds to coast to massage calves out. But, perhaps because I had no computer, I had no idea I was setting a bike PR! :-)

More training at race pace.

racked bike, then had to limbo to other side to get running shoes on.

Put running shoes more accesible.

Calves were badly cramped 1st half mile or so. Was running with all upper legs that portion so calves wouldn't lock up, and they never did (like last year). Just tried to keep HR around 170 and keep leg turn-over quick. They moved the finish line off the street this year, and I couldn't tell when to begin my sprint. I began it too late, could've started much sooner, but last 50 yards were probably the fastest I've ever run in my life. So, I could've definitely finished probably 20 seconds faster, but wouldn't have moved my place up any... This is my 3rd-fastest 5K ever!!! Let alone in a triathlon! This blew away my last tri run time in July by over 35 sec/mile.

Start sprint sooner if I knew finish was there.

walked around, ate oranges, banana, gatorade, protein bar, protein shake. Sticked my legs down. Stretched. Bib#691.


HR/training. Need a lot more biking, a little more swimming, and I know now I can run faster 5K's!!


Got us over to race start on time, and elite and first (my) wave stood around in the water getting cold for 15 minutes, then race director says "5 more minutes"..... jesus christ... wtf.... get with it!
Besides that, race was very well organized. Prizes are cheesey though. A lot of people got DQ coffee mugs, and I got a little cheesey made in China desk clock that says "DQ Triathlon at Marlton Lakes Award Winner" on the base. 3rd in age group, 23rd overall... I'll take that for my 3rd triathlon ever! I think a little Scoogie magic rubbed off on me since he racked his bike next to mine ;-)