Philadelphia Triathlon in Fairmount Park - Olympic Distance - TriathlonOlympic

Straight swim down, pass under a bridge that had 5 semi circle openings and you had to go through the second from left. If you missed that one you would have to swim back and go through it properly.

Water wasn't bad and I had an OK pace going...maybe a bit to fast at the start and after about 500 - 600 yards I realized I wasn't reaching and gliding much, so changed my stroke and felt much better. Didn't want to look at my watch, but this swim seemed like a little more effort than Mooseman. Never got to draft anyone as spread out due to wide river. Made it under the bridge no problems and could see the big triangle turn buoy ahead (right turn) I swam for it...almost out of the water now. I turn to head home couple bouys on my right and I left breathe...I see kayaker on my left so I figure I am fine. I sight ahead and see the beach..swim for it. Going great....see couple of cones on the beach. Keep swimming....finally the swim guard says you need to swim to the other beach. I look up and its up stream like 150 yards away maybe more. I almost freak. Swim back up now I see the other beach with big balloon markers. (Yesterday I watched the sprint and the beach I swam to was the sprint finish beach) My own fault I never asked and just figured we would end at the same beach. OLY swim exited at the Sprint start beach. WTF!!

Exit Water in 33:36 (I think should have been atleast 2 minutes, maybe 2:30 seconds faster).

Oh well...the race goes on.

Sited properly.

This transition area was large and it took a while just to run from swim mat to my rack. I was also breathing hard due to last hard push to get back to the proper beach and spiked my heartrate. I could feel it.

I got this suit juice when I bought my wetsuit and that stuff is great. Suit just slides right off. I swam in my new Zoot red sleevless tri top so no more trying to get shirt on over wet body. That was nice.

Took a strawberry kiwi Carboom socks on, shoes on helmet and sunglasses on and off I went...another long run out of transition as I was racked in the middle.

I didn't dilly daily in T1 and still 4:19, I aqtually needed the extra time to let my heartrate settle.

Started off nice and easy, small ring high cadence and new first hill was about 1 mile in. Passed a few people and got passed by a few stud bikers from my age group that I beat out of the water. (like I was standing still). Up the hill I got passed by lots of bikers and didn't mind...I knew I had to keep my own cadence and keep my heartrate under control on the climbs. Reached the top and then my turn to pass on the downhill. It was fun coming down and I flew by several better bikers who look at me in amazement as they pedal and I still pass them. (MY 200 pounds help going downhill...AH, gravity). Flats were nice and I worked hard steady effort. Each climb I saw people walking bikes up, but not me. I just kept peddaling, not fast maybe 7 - 8 MPH but I was moving and riding. the finish for the first loop is downhill, so I was flying when i rounded the corner and the crowds were cheering. Heard all my peeps yelling for me over on the right and I gave a fist pump!! That really does give you extra energy. I think I was faster on the second loop until the last 3 or so miles where I intentionally slowed it down with higher cadence and less power strokes ...last climb took easy and then the fast downhill. Wanted to spin out the legs and be ready for run. I knew I was just off my 3:18 pace and would have to run under a 1:06 to get it.

Forgot to mention...I had to slow once to tighten my one strap tri shoes as they were too loose when i put them on in transition.

Other than that...lose more weight, so I can climb easier. I give up a lot of speed and time on every climb.

I need to work on getting shoes off. I unclipped and had shoes on running in grassy transition, which was slow and transition area long again. other than that fine until I tried to hok my racebelt behind me. Had to switch to front so I could see it and then spin it around. (should have done that the first time).

leave shoes on the bike.

My goal was to take it out easy for the first 3 miles and then pick it up the last 3 miles.

Started out what I thought was slow around 12 minute pace and hit 1 mile in 10:48, Mile 2 - 10:53, Mile 3 10:55. The sun was starting to feel hotter and I wish I had brought a gu at about mile 4, but I wouldn't stop running today unless I fell to the ground. Continued on and hit water stop and mile 4 in 11:05. Hit turnaround a bit later and now final take home...I would run 5th mile and then try to pick up 6th and sprint the final .2. Slowed just a bit I think during mile 5 as headwind started, but felt nice and cool, so you had to work a bit harder but it felt good. checked watch around 11:30 and still no 5 mile marker, 12 minutes? 13 minutes...WTF, Knew I wasn't running that slow and at 13 minutes hit the lap button and knoe I had missed that marker. Just as I was tiring and not picking it up to the finish....here comes my daughter Vanessa, Panic Tour (Keith) and SIL and they jogged about .4 miles or so wih me. that was nice and kept my mind off of running. Hit 6 miles in 9 something due to late watch stop on mile 5 and tried to sprint in the last .2 - tried twice and got a calf cramp in my right leg both times and decided to keep my normal finish pace.

Take a gu with me, maybe two. But after Mooseman Bonk...I was very Happy and shaved off over 9 minutes from that 10K run. Next race I will take the Gu's and a bit more water...but after the stomach sloshing and sick feeling at Moose I wasn't going to risk it today.

Two bottles of Water, met up with friends and Family. Finally met Jessxu..who had a great race after a so - so swim. Packed my stuff went back to hotel and showered.




Still need to lose weight. I started out at what I can't believe 243 pounds last summer and just around 200 pounds now. Really should be about 178 or so so still need to lose 20 - 25 more.

I will get there :)




I thought the Kayak girl should have notified me sooner that I was way off course, but I am unsure of the rules?

Other than that....everything was fine and fun.