Alabama Coastal Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

I got to use my wet suit and the water wasn't cold so I was feeling confident about finishing the swim with a lot left in the tank for the bike/run. It was time trial start, which is becoming my favorite.

There was a current that pushed us to the right of the first bouy, but using my high school math calculations, a potractor and a compass I surmised that I should probably head a little to the left to compensate. Go figure, I was right.

I did get some jelly fish on me though. Since this was my first swim in the Gulf I forgot about that. They weren't bad and left no marks but it took me until the second one to figure out what they were (I had 4 total).

This was a great swim for me. I was 11/11 but considering that I have swam only 2 times in the last 7ish months to do the 1000 yards in 17 minutes is pretty damn good.

I will take 2/min 100m every time.

Good transition. Only problem I had was I had water in my right ear and I got nauseated from swallowing the gulf water.

The run from the beach to the bikes took most of my transition time.

Nada

The queasiness of the swim/salt water had me worried for a bit. I decided to get on the bike and just take it slow until it passed. The first 2-3 miles were slowish as I drank water to try to flush the Gulf water out. The last 3/4 of my bike were great. I felt a ton better and cranked it up during the middle miles.

Overall with the slow start I could have probably pushed over the 20mph mark, but this is a triathlon and you have to account for what ever the course gives you.

Very short transition. Felt good off the bike.

Not much.

The run was about as flat as you can get. My plan was to use the first half to settle in and recover from the bike then push the second half. But, at the turn around I got a bad right sided cramp. I also started getting really hot. Although the cramp was affecting my breathing my cardio was still pretty good so I just kept running through the pain which lasted until the finish.

I am not displease with the run because I wanted to stop for the last 20 minutes or so and didn't.

Maybe drink more on the bike.

Drank water, met a few people and sweated a bunch.


Getting super hot at the end of the run probably precipitated my cramp but other than that am really pleased with my performance.


After the race I spent some time with Ken and Frank. Two genuinely good peeps that represent the sport well. I saw Marcy (Ken's wife) on the run course but officially meet her. Ken probably know more about my training that anyone else due to the BT boards/logs here. Good to finally meet him.

This was a short Olympic distance which was *just* right for my fitness level (and non-existent swim training). The race was well run and I think there was more support/volunteers per racer than at any race I have ever been too which includes Memphis in May and Rivercites.

Although I came in 10 out of 11 it was really a good race for me. The standing took the beginners out of the AG'ers and couple that with the level of athlete that attempt the Olympic distance and I finished about where I should have. If you look at the overall standings I'm 104 out of 186 (but I counted by hand and am not doing it again :) ).

My transitions were clean and fast. I *maybe* could have shaved 60 seconds off the run if I don't have that cramp.

My family and I made a weekend of it (being in Gulf Shores)enjoying the sun drenched, white sandy beaches, the clean clear (and cool) water and the laid back vacation atmosphere. Weather could not have been better for it.

I will make this race next year if at all possible.