Fort Lewis Triple Threat Triathlon Series - Race #2 - TriathlonSprint

I actually swam some of this one!!! Started quite a bit left and had a clear shot all the way out to the first bouy. Breathing wasn't fantastic, but I spent more time freestyling than anything else the entire way. Only came in contact with two people the entire swim and one of them had to deal with me kicking to protect my space (normal swim kick...just wasn't going to let them swim over me). Still completely different than the pool and I realize that swimming in a 25yard pool allows for alot of extra breathing and rest. Still did some sidestroke and backstroke, but managed to get in some decent periods of real swimming along with everything else. Lots of room for improvement here still and this week that feels like a good thing. I was able to catch a few things that I was doing wrong with my stroke even though I couldn't quite fix them during the race, but having my face in the water is a start and I can get the rest down the road (I think)

This time compared to my first two attempts....NOTHING...Huge step forward. Many flaws and things that can be improved, but I was very happy.

T1 Time is included with bike leg. Had a little trouble getting wetsuit off as I had to try multiple times to get my first leg out. Maybe should have sat down since I lost my balance and almost fell. Still need a lot of work mounting bike and getting up to speed outside the transition area

Sit down to remove suit and practice mount more. Not ready for shoes left on the bike yet and I would need different cycling shoes to acheive this with any ease

I love the new areobars!!! Had a chance to practice with them a bit during the past few weeks and need to put more time in on them to stay aero the entire ride. I pushed hard on the bike again and feel that I should continue to do so even though I am just surviving the run these last two races. I really like the Aero Drink, but I ran into the problem I have had in training by drinking more on the bike...really hurts me on the run.

By being out of the water sooner there were some better riders on my section of the course which helped me push myself, one was sort of back and forth with me until the midpoint turnaround and then I managed to distance myself for good. I came up on one other rider with about 2 miles to go and after I passed him he kicked it in with about a mile left and left me like I was sitting still. The bike has definately been my strongest element and I get the most enjoyment out of it.

Ride more with the new bars so that I don't have to get out of aero at all during the ride. Still need to figure out how much water I can safely take in...obvioulsy less than I did for a sprint (still only drank most of one bottle, can only handle a few sips so far)

T2 included with run time. I do not get off the bike any better than I get on it. Had problems getting off the wrist strap that was being used for keeping times so that cost me a few seconds. Put bike on rack and changed shoes, ran without socks again and like it.

Learn to remove shoes while on the bike so that I can get a faster dismount

Water on the bike bit me hard here. I developed a stitch directly under my ribs in the middle of my chest that really had me wanting to walk it out. I have had this same problem in training when I have drank more than just a few sips of water while on the bike. Fortunately, I have learned from training that I can breathe out hard against the stitch and keep it in check somewhat. I sounded like a freight train almost the entire run and I think it scared a few people who thought I was dying or something. I was passed by two people on the run and they were both very encouraging with their comments. I managed to hold on behind both of them for most of the remainder of the run. If it was not for them I am sure I would have backed off more and finished much later. Run was still a few seconds faster than my last attempt here, but I feel like it could be so much better. I know it wasn't my best run, but it was a fight just to keep going so I feel like I won that battle.


FIGURE OUT THE WATER INTAKE!!! I am starting to run more on my own again since my pace has been dropping from our formation runs with work. I really want to get back to longer distances and do some speed work over the next month as well before I tackle this course for the last time this year.

Drank lots of water and ate some fruit along with some light stretching.

Went down by the final section of the run to cheer on the others still out on the course (something that people are really bad about at this venue for some reason). Came back up and packed my car before the door prizes and awards were given out. Won a bike pump as a door prize.

Something went wrong with retrieving the race results so they sent everyone home and said that they would mail out the awards. Waited until this morning to see how things played out


Swimming (which was better) and hydration (too much instead of too little this time). I know I have room for improvement and plan to train harder after my next race this coming weekend. I finished over 6 minutes faster than I did on this same course 3 weeks prior so I can't complain


Besides the technical problems with the results this was once again a well put together event.