Encinitas Sprint Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

The combo of the waves + current was brutal. Half of my wave ended up 100 m down the beach. Thankfully I didn't. Getting out past the breakers was slow and really tough. There were pretty big rollers throughout the swim so sighting wasn't as quick as I had hoped, had to keep my head out for longer until the buoy was visible. Once past the breakers, I focused on breathing and getting to the buoys. A couple times I rested by kicking on my side/back, but I was pleased that I was able to maintain freestyle for the majority. My exit wasn't pretty, I virtually walked out of the surf.

Practice my entry and exit form!!! The dolphining that I had worked on didn't really happen too much on the entry, I did get under the waves, but the form wasn't great. Also the exit was pretty slow and sloppy, I'd like to work on that while tired.

My transistion was hilarious and awkward. It was more of a time to catch my breath than a part of the race. I sat down to remove the wetsuit, and according to my cheering team/spectators, kept drying off (I think this was what I mindlessly did while I was trying to remember what I was supposed to do next).

I had it in my head that I needed to put sunscreen on so I fumbled with a new spray can which I had failed to open prior to the race. Getting on the bike wasn't very smooth, or well excuted. I was passed in transistion but thankfully the swim went well so I was still in the front of my wave.

Remember that I am still racing, don't worry about every little thing, just go!!!

My weakness, borrowed MTN bike. Heard Lots of "on your left" and "c'mon mountian bike you can do it." I was passed a lot but I got through it. Wore a camel pack for hydration as I am not coordinated enough to stay on the bike and drink from a water bottle. The hill wasn't fun, though I shifted well. My right side of my back started to ache the second half of the second loop - stretching wasn't helping.

Practice on the bike! I knew it wouldn't be pretty or anything resembling fast so I'm pretty excited not to have fallen off and to have finished.

Jumping off the bike wasn't good. I pretty much fell or stumbled onto my feet (thankfully there wasn't anyone next to me to get knocked over). Any lead I had after the swim was gone after the bike so I had a full rack to deal with. Somehow I had left my towel and wetsuit on the rack, and someone had put their bike on it. I had to move not only my stuff but others as well to get the bike back up on the rack. Because I had a Mtn bike I had to rack via the seat, and that was awkward with everyone's stuff strewn about, it was tough to get the handles under the bar. Race belt went on fine. No shoes to change.

Go faster on the bike... do a better job with my stuff at T1... Learn how to dismount with some sort of integrety or just less of a hazard to myself and others! :)

I felt like an elephant. Heavy legs that just wouldn't move. My back still ached from the bike and I got a few side cramps. I started to loosen up and find a groove just in time to round the last corner to the finish line. Despite heavy legs & cramps I ran the whole thing. I am pleasantly suprised at my splits/mile. I was hoping to make it in under 30 minutes, so 26:30 was great!

One cool thing is that Paula Newby-Fraser was at the event (not competing). She was jogging (carrying on a conversation) with someone on the run course. I passed her... She said "way to go." It's not everyday that you "pass" a 24-time IM winner/institution in the sport, at your first race. It was kind of a cool. :)

Practice bricks and better stretching/positioning on the bike.

Walked and Stretched. Ate a great breakfast. Jacuzzi in the evening.


Lack of Experience. Short training time (6 wks).


Ton's of fun -- when's the next one?

and

I KNOW I can do better than that!