Camp Pendleton International Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

This was a good swim. Flat water, big buoys, ez to sight. My wave was clydes and 50+ males (fat guys and old guys) When the gun went off, I positioned myself far left in the front. There was a boat between us and the first turn buoy, plan was to hit the bow of the boat and slight dogleg left to the buoy. There was one guy in front, one other off to the side and leading slightly, and me and one other guy pace for pace as the first four to the first buoy. This other guy had the same plan as me, apparently. We were side by side, but clydes don't give up their spot easily. At one point, he came over pretty hard and his arm ht my head, knocking my waterside goggle off, and it filled with water.... but that was the last I saw of him. Sawm with one eye closed :)

I was 3d at the first buoy. Turned left, long straightaway to buoy 2, not much to report. There were lots of folks off to my left, towards shore. Hit the turnaround in an unknown place. Home free. Was weaving through prior waves. Near the turn into the harbor, I was trying to get around a guy from 3-4 waves before me side stroking, when I heard someone yelling. Turns out it was the lifeguard slapping his buoy in the water to get my attention. I had cut a buoy on the wrong side... whoops. Stopped, laughed, went around and came into the beach to finish the swim.

I am always amazed at guys who stand up way too early and wade through the water. I kept swimming until I touched bottom, one dolphin, and ran out.

Here's where it gets fun. UP a sand hill, and then across soft sand for, oh, 200 yards? THEN through the bungalows, marine with a hose to wash the feet (that was cool), then another 200 yards at least of concrete. Longest frickin transition run I have ever seen. I came out of the wter at 24 minutes. My time was 28 minutes to the mat. FOUR MINUTES running

Me? Nothing. Them? Tell the Marines to move transition closer to the swim?

T1 time included in bike time

This was pretty slow. I really need to workj on transitions. Don't know what it was, but I can guesstimate given our start time and the time Garmin gives me. Started at 8:30. Bike started at 9:01. time to mat was 28:17, leaving almost THREE minutes in T1.

I took off my suit and my friend Chris was at his bike (same wave, btut old guy). I turned to put on my helmet, turned back, he was running off. damn

Go faster

Bike time includes T1 of unknown time and T2 of 2:14. Accdg to Garmin, actual bike time was 1:15:56, or 19.5+ mph, which I am happy with for this course

THis is the first 12-13 miles of the California 70.3 course, so I was familiar with it, but, as an Oly was racing it faster. There are 2 notable "hills" (maybe 1/4 mile long) going each direction. Just enough to slow you down, make it challenging, unlike Breath of Life which is almost 100% flat. I yo yo'd with a guy that had me on the uphills, I had the downhills. Some drafting going on, but it was crowded and there were cars on the road, so you had to stay right.

I got passed some, but I did my share of passing. It's not reflected in my bike time since it has transitions in it, but I hit 20 miles in 1:00:56. My goal was to average 20 mph, on a tougher course than BoL, so I was fairly happy with it.

Downed two gels and a bottle of Infinit.

I am happy to be consistently in the 20 mph + or this-close-to-20-mph group, so I am getting better. Still need to work on the weight. If I was pushing this power with 25 less pounds? watch out :)

Accdg to Garmin, 2:14, but included in bike time

Again, slow, should not be more than 2:00, no way

Here is where the wheels fell off. Here is where the wheels ALWAYS fall off. I had thought maybe i could go a little easier on the bike, and maybe PR a 10K. I've only run 5, one stand alone and 4 olys, and 59:15 is my best (in a tri). It was clear in the first mile that wasn't happening. The first leg was with the wind, and the sun had come out, and it was HOT. dead calm hot.

It's a pretty easy course, two loops with one small hill, all flat otherwise. Got the headwind coming back to cool off, but I just went psychologically bad.

I kept realizing (or remembering) what a painfully slow runner I am, and kept thinking that. I tried changing that to a positive, went to "even though I can't PR, I can PR this course (since it's my first time)". But once I start going down that road, it's too late. All sorts of different body types were just passing me by, guys bigger than me, it got a little demoralizing.

It's like the last year of running didn't help at all.

But it's the little victories, I guess. At least I ran the whole thing (minus aid stations so I could drink instead of wear the gatorade), and as I passed walkers, at least i wasn't doing that. But even the walkers were run/walking, and passing me as they ran.

It felt like (and feels like) I just don't have a triathlon run in me.

I dunno........

walk around, the usual stuff


weight, run performance


This is a great race, and for the price (at least in Southern California) it can't be beat.

I had looked at previous times and I knew this was a slower race. I knew I wouldn't be setting any Oly PRs here, but I did want to be sub 3, which I did fairly easily. I just can't help think that if I can get my running from BOP to MOP I can, well,,,, what? Finish faster, I guess.