Annapolis Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

My age group left with the professionals. I jumped out right on the heels of the leaders until the first turn -- about 250 meters. I rode a huge bubble-wave and drafted. Then, they totally dusted me. I didn't see anyone again for another 400 meters and only occasionally saw members of my wave. Started to tighten up/shorten stroke during last 300 meters. Didn't kick until last 5 minutes. Water was too warm. No trouble with sea nettles despite warnings.

Practice. Hadn't swum in 6 weeks. Could have shaved a minute through three or four visits to the pool in August.

Told not to run in transition. Glasses fogged. Had bike in just the right gear. Leery of running on slick bricks so walked out of water. Great crowd right on top of the swim finish.

Go faster. I was ranked 50th out of the age group and 276 out of the men.

Attacked the corners. Managed to pass often on the uphills. Purposefully relaxed on first 20 minutes. Back tire was flat before race start. "Bike Doctor" fixed it...my spare tube was wrong size. I'm such a rookie! About 3 miles from finish, right pedal broke off with cleat still attached to shoe. About .75 miles from finish, left pedal broke off. Total and absolute cluster...I was headed up steep, short hill while pack of people behind me were in wrong gear. I nearly caused accident and had to run up the last ten yards. Couldn't get pedals working again...even in modified way. 100 yards from dismount line I had to carry shoes/cleats/pedals and run the bike in.

Don't swear extensively in front of crowds of children when pedal breaks.

Lost my head about bike shoes. Transition place for age group 91 and for 545 overall men.

Focus on fast actions...all I had to do is put on belt, hat, socks and shoes.

Tried to just keep moving for first ten minutes then start to run. Would focus on someone about 40-50 yards ahead and would try to shorten the distance. It worked with about 3/4 of people that I tried it on. Really had a hard time going up hill.

Train better. For Olympic, I need to practice 8 mile runs...not 4-5 mile runs.

Little stretching. Walked for about 30 minutes before just resting.


Needed longer stride and ability to judge if I was on pace. My watch beeped every twenty minutes...but I didn't have the mental wherewithal to remember the course map to see which mile-marker I was near.


Great volunteers: helpful, easy to spot, informed. Bike Doctor guys were lifesaver. The two-transition set up was a bit of a mess...but it all worked out. I need to replace my pedals in less than two weeks for the next race in Washington. The bike course had some hills that "snuck" up on me, but I liked them. Army, Navy and Air Force cadets/midshipmen were very polite and very impressive competitors.
Overall, I was 397 among 872 men and 478 overall.