Vineman Showdown at Sundown - TriathlonSprint

Good start. Started to the left, but went out fast. Got into rhythm, but felt constricted in the wet suit. Started to follow one guy, but quickly saw he was heading off course so decided to swim my own site line. Did real well with my line. Had some people drafting off me as I could feel their fingers hitting my feet. Arms started feeling very tired 1/2 way in, but I kept plugging away. Very different swimming with a wet suit, even once I figured out how to put it on properly so my arms could move. I didn't realize until after the race how well I did. I didn't look back when I exited the water, but didn't see too many people ahead.

Practice more with the wet suit in open water and in endless pool. Work on the arm strength since it was much harder moving my arms in the full wet suit.

Was all smiles as I exited the water (kept thinking I must smile). Reached back and had my wetsuit around my waist within 15-20 yards of exiting. I then pulled off my cap and goggles (swam with goggles under the cap). Ran into the wading pool they had set out to wash off your feet (nice), slipped on the bottom and kind of skidded to the other side but kept my balance. Looked cool, but it could have been a fall. Told them afterwards they should put something on the bottom to stop slipping. Lost my bearings as I entered the transition. I thought I was at the end of the second rack, but was at the end of the first (in my line of racks). Saw my stuff. Pulled my wet suit off and it got stuck just a bit on the ankles. Sat down and quickly pulled it off. No real time lost, it was pretty quick. Had rolled my socks, so I rolled them on (after checking the toe strip as I planned to make sure the heal of the sock would be on the bottom! Smooth. Quickly put on bike shoes, put on my helmet and sunglasses and ran out of transition while I hit the start button on my Garmin 305 (set to Bike mode, attached to my bike, already locked on satellite. I wore my heart monitor under my shirst for the swim). Ran to the mount point and hopped one leg over and quickly clipped in. I had set the gear for the easiest since it is a very steep exit up the road with a 180 degree turn. Went very smoothly and I didn't forget anything. The grass was a bit squishy in places and I was hoping my bike shoues weren't getting mud in the clips so I wouldn't be able to clip in.

Remember where I am located. This was a small triathlon. This could have been much worse if it were larger. Getting the suit off my ankles was the only other slowdown, but that went well. Decided to use socks for the tri since I made the mistake a few days ago of trying to run for the first time without socks. Blister started forming on the inside of my right foot during the run so I changed my mind. Rolling my socks up to put on and making sure I put them on the right way was very helpful. Maybe I'll try the shoes-on-bike-with-rubber-bands thing. But will practice this well in advance. Socks on squishy grass wouldn't have been much fun either.

I really did not want to go too fast and be too tired for the run. Saw someone running their bike up the hill, but they had running shoes on and regular pedals. I had decided to do the climb. Hard way to start the ride with your heart already pounding. Through the park entrance was downhill slightly but you had to make a sharp right onto the road so you had to slow down, then climb another hill. There was quite a bit of wind on the ride. I'm using a road bike, but tried to stay tucked. Was passed by some others, and some really cool tri-bikes. Decided to not try to keep up (had been thinking of picking someone out in the distance going faster and trying to keep their pace at a distance). Decided to just keep my own pace. I forgot my Garmin was attached to my handlebars (but had slipped face down as it is a watch and was just slipped around the handlebar) so I didn't see my pace. I think I was a bit slow at times, and in retrospect could have gone a bit faster. I managed to pass a number of people, but the referee's stern talk about allowing only 15 seconds to pass once you enter the three bike length draft area, and then you MUST pass or be penalized kind of through me a bit. I hesitated on passing a few people until I myself was passed, and then I decided to go ahead and pass.

Did well. Of course the key is to train more, but I think I did very well. I would have liked to go a bit faster/harder, but wouldn't we all. I did find my mind wander a bit and had to remind myself to keep up the pace. I was so thrilled to be out there I was smilling at everyone. I would also pass more whenever I have the opportunity rather than second guess myself and hold back not wanting to enter their draft zone.

Good transition. They didn't post a time. Easy change to running shoes (no-tie laces). Helmet was off, grabbed a quick drink of water

Transition was good. Would just pick up the speed.

Wow, those initial steps slowed me down a bit. While I was going up, the 3-4 people ahead I could see were all walking up. One guy was on the side with an ice pack on his calf. I bounded up the first set taking the steps by 2's until my calf started hurting. Yikes, slowed it down a bit and took the steps one at a time. It was steep (or seemed so at the time of course). Once at the top it was easier from there. Not a long distance so I just kep my pace up. Oh, yes, forgot my Garmin 305 on my bike so I have no pace info. That wound up being useless. Dang. Would have been nice. The run is not my strength. I practiced quicker 3-4 mile runs and was able to keep a pace of around 8 minutes per mile without feeling to uncomfortable. Thought I could run that pace. I got into a rhythm, but I guess it was a 9 min/mi pace not an 8 min/mi pace. Was hard to judge it. Also didn't want to totally burn out so I didn't start picking up the pace until I re-eneterd the park. Two of the women from the women's wave blew by me on the return part of the run. Wow they were fast. Thought about trying to keep up but quickly changed my mind. I picked up my pace towrds the end and finished with a smile on my face. Had a great time.

Ran faster of course. I will try to get better at judging my pace. I will also run more speed sessions (for the sprint tri training) rather than the usual 6-9 miles I do at 9 min/mile.

Walked around. Drank some water. Got some congratulations from the family.


Training for the bike and run could be more planned out for speed. Need to get more spe3ed into the run, and more distance into my bike rides.


It is the best, since it is my first triathlon! Had a really good time.