Mooseman Triathlon Festival - International Distance - TriathlonOlympic

My swim at the Timberman half last summer was a total debacle, so anything would have been an improvement. That said, I was very pleased with my swim starting off this season, my breathing was vastly improved, my stroke was consistent if slow and navigation was fairly good using a combination of buoy sighting every 10 strokes and following the crowd.

I hit the peak of the inverted V with a bunch of really aggressive women and got elbowed in the face, kicked and generally beaten up. I dare say that chivalry was nearly abandoned before I made the bend and was in clear water again. I suppose a more competitive attitude would have served me better in the buoy battle, but I was too pleased with the swim at that point to be agressive with the fairer sex.

I finished up the swim without too much fatigue, but couldn't get my land legs under me and felt rather queasy, not uncommon for me though I figured the queasy feeling would pass shortly as it does after most swims. Nope, it lasted until mile 16 on the bike.

Got stripped by a rather cute stripper (hehe) and made it into transition without incident.

Brrr, get a fullsuit, do more OWS training with bike transitions. Remember to eat a real breakfast.

Fine transition but slow. Got's to speed that up.


Move faster.

The bike started out well and in spite of feeling like I was going to hurl, was able to get up to speed and spinning at something near planned race pace.

I was hoping to keep fueling and drinking regularly but couldn't stomach gel or fluids often. I only took 1 bottle of water and half a bottle of gatorade over the entire course and this mostly in the last half. I knew this wasn't going well, and was playing catchup with calories and fluids.

I kept my race pace and other than the rebelling stomach for the first half of the bike this ride felt good. Alas, my good feelings were short-lived. During the last two miles on the bike I started to pay for the game of calorie catchup I'd been playing and a got a foreboding feeling about the impending run.

I generally failed at nutrition for this race, but nowhere more oviously than on the bike. I guess I need to practice more swim to bike transitions, calorie loading on the bike and more consistent intake overall.

I'm still happy with my bike improvement and, aside from the nutrition nightmare, my performance on this segment was as I hoping to achieve.

A better transition than t1.

My legs were unhappy as usual, but I was focused on turnover and as much form as I could muster while my stumps got accustomed to moving in a different fashion. Since loosing the queasiness on the last half of the bike, I was trying to get fluids and calories into my system. Did get a gel and a slug of gatorade.

Not so much, move a bit faster.

Disaster. I used my HRM to guide my effort on the run, attempting to stay betw 170 and 180. Here I had success my AHR was 176 for the event.

The first mile was on pace (9:06), but after that I hit a wall and slowed to a crawl walking even the moderate inclines and having to force myself to start running again, if you can call it running. I was flat and although my spirits were decent, I couldn't keep my body running. I didn't track my splits and walked as much as I ran the second half of the course. While walking I strived to keep turnover up and never succumbed to death march status. I took gels when offered and drank as much water and gade as possible at each aid station. My stomach never got queasy on the fun, but fuel didn't seem to be reaching my legs

I feel like calorie deficit was the problem, yet I wonder if I just haven't taught myself how to suffer yet.

Oh, where to start...
1. I need to lose more weight.
2. I need to do more over-distance run training.
3. I need to do more bricks.

Lean against rack, breath, wobble around, etc. Then got to walk back to my car a mile away.






Bad nutrition definitely, and not near enough fluid early in race.

Last summer's Timberman performance I chalked up to inadequate training. This year I felt well-trained for the distance, but perhaps, this being my first Oly, I just needed the experience.


Love the Endorfun races, this was no exception. The course was challenging and well-supported.

I was starving at finish, but I guess I forgot that free food was available. I went to Cu Na Mara where I ordered a burger and fries, and drank a bunch of water and ice tea. By the time it arrived I was feeling awful again, queasy with cold sweats and not at all good. I availed myself of there restroom facilities twice and emptied out, completely.

Still feeling nasty, I got my meal to go and tried to nibble heavily salted french fries while I made the drive home. It took about an hour to slowly nibble down the fries and burger. By then I was feeling a lot better, but couldn't stay awake on the drive. I pulled off 93 into a carpooling lot and slept for about 45 minutes.

As I write this I realize that I should've gone to the medical tent and gotten taken care of, but didn't. I suppose it all comes of not thinking clearly and never having experienced this type of thing before.

I got home to my adoring family and received a hero's welcome. Fortunately, in good health and spirits. Sat on the front porch and watched my little ones play. Stephanie, my 5yo daughter, was wearing her swimsuit and looked quite the little triathlete sporting a BT tattoo on her thigh. Very cute.

Sadly, I didn't get to meeting any BTers, though I called out to KathyGI'll come back next year to better myself.