Langley Pond Sprint Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

I started out very aggressive, determined to stay with the fast chicks. But when I sighted for the first time, I could see the fast chicks about 10 strokes ahead of me. Decided to swim at my own pace and not try to catch them. I drifted a tad to the right during the swim. I think this was because everytime I turned to breathe left, I caught the sun in my eyes and felt like I was going to sneeze. So I only breathed to the right until I rounded the first turn. I felt really good rounding the second turn and started to pass people in large numbers and went back to 3 stroke breathing.

Wear tinted goggles to minimize sun glare. Keep working on my swimming speed!

No wetsuit = faster T1 for me! We had to run our bikes @500 yards down a dirt rode before we could mount them on the pavement. Our tri clinic addressed running with the bike this past Wed. and those tips proved very valuable today. I actually passed people on the dirt rode before I even got on my bike!

Put some plastic over my aerobottle. All that bouncing on the dirt road sent most of my drink onto Sir Velo and me!

This is where luck just wasn't on my side. I had a great bike. Then I got behind a pick up truck that just would not pass. I did not want to cross center line, but I was getting frustrated. Finally they turned off the road. A woman in my age group had caught up to me and we were discussing strategies about getting around the truck, when it turned. I got back into aero and put the hammer down. Passed lots of people and had a great ryhthm going. Made the turn to head back to the race site and cross the railroad tracks again, but there was a TRAIN!!!!!! So I waited with about 15 other racers for the train to go by. And as I watched my stopwatch click over a minute, lots of the people I'd passed were catching up too. When the train finally passed, I put the hammer down again, but we were less than a mile from T2. So I could not put enough distance between me and the other ladies that I like to have since I am not a strong runner.

Register as an elite so I can go off in an earlier wave to avoid the train!!!

We all got to the rack at the same time because of the train so it was tight quarters, but I didn't waste anytime getting out on the run course.

Not get stopped by a train.

It was hot!!! I dumped water on my head at the aid station and kept on running. I think I went out pretty strong, but I faded by the time we reached the transition area. With a mile to go, I can hear a female off my left shoulder. She yelled, "We turn here!". I really appreciated that, cuz I would have definitely run off course otherwise. She drafted off me to the turn-around point on the dike, then she came around me. I saw the 36 on her leg and knew she was in my AG, but I didn't have the killer instinct to run her down. Maybe I could have, maybe not. But I didn't even try. I just ran a comfortable pace and tried to get her in my finishing kick which was a little too little and a little too late.

I'm not sure. I was so happy that I got to race today. After having the Ross Perot of race weeks (I'm in, no I'm out, no, I'm in) and doing some pretty high intensity workouts, I didn't have a lot of confidence. I am aggressive on the bike, but timid on the run. Honestly, I didn't care enough about the outcome of this race to try to go for the kill today. Just participating was enough. I have 3 "A" races coming up at the end of May and the beginning of June that I want to do well in. I think I will have the guts to put everything on the table for those.

Congratulated the woman who won my age group, stretched and mingled.


Trains and mental fortitude.


I had a blast. I love to race. I met another BTr today whose name is Keith. Chatted with him for a while post race. Looking forward to seeing him again at Lake Murray. I am a bit disappointed with my bike because I know it was a really good ride except for the train incident. But that is out of my control and quite a few of us had to deal with it. I was just so grateful to actually participate today. Also pleased with my first OWS of the season cuz I'm not usually a strong open water swimmer.