5430 Long Course Triathlon - TriathlonLong Course

Lined up at the very front and took it fromthere. I saw one guy from my wave and he dropped us like a rock (all day too, he finished in 4:07). Other than that I had no problem getting out ahead and staying there the whole swim. Looking at the results one other guy beat me but he DNF'd. At about the 3rd buoy on the way out I was catching the previous wave and rounding the buoy people from all prior waves were in the mix. The sun was directly in out face on the way out but after rounding the buoy sighting was fine. I did stray off course by maybe 15-20 yards but one I caught myself it was only a couple seconds until I was on course again. It had been on my mind all week about whether o wear my suit or not. People who do the Boulder Stroke and Stride series had been saying that the water was really warm. It wasn't that bad and I felt comfortable in my suit. However, about half-way through the swim I could feel a headache coming on. I actually came out of the water in 26 minutes flat after looking at my watch. The swim time includes a run up the beach to a timing mat before you enter T1, which took 56 seconds.

Nothing really.

This is where I lost a minute. As I got to my rack and was getting my wetsuit off my timing chip and strap got caught up in the leg. I got in there and pulled but I hooked my finger on the strap and it broke and my chip came off and was caught in my suit. At most of the races I've done the chip strap had been one of theose neoprene types with a velcro closure. For this race it was plastic, like one of those bracelets you sometimes get. At IMAZ in the goodie bag there was a chip holder. I don't know why I packed it in my bag the night before but THANK GOD I did. I had to dig in my bag to find it and finally got it set and on my ankle. Otherwise things went OK.

Well, obviously not rip my timing chip off, but thankfully I was prepared.

I really like this course. It is fast fast fast. The first loop was good and I passed people like it was my job. Myself and this guy riding a Guru seemed to play cat and mouse but on the second loop I dropped him. The second loop was a little tougher and I had to pee, so I chose a downhill and just let it go. I felt a lot better afterwards. The ride was pretty uneventful especially on the second loop and there was a lot of clear riding. When I came in I couldn't believe how few bikes were racked.

Not much at all. This was my best showing on the bike ever.

Noting too eventful here. There was hardly anyone in the T-zone so I didn't have to fight my way through to get to my rack. Socks went on easier than usual.

Again, it could be faster.

This is where I fell off. I knew it was going to happen. Ever since IMAZ and moving out to Colorado the run has been a struggle for me. It's been the most dificult for me to acclimate to the altitude with. I have also been suffering from a knee/hanstring/ITB situation that I had just wised up and figure out the problem a couple weeks ago. STRETCHING. My longest run I think had been 1:15 and probably only about 8 miles and that was on a day where I really didn't care about how my knee felt, I jusr ran. Other than that, I was lucky if I got out for over an hour a week and there was a period of about a week and a half where I didn't run at all. So I got what I put intro it, nothing. Granted, it is faster than my previous two HIM run splits, but it's not good enough. I can't be mad though because I knew damn well going into the race that the run was going to be pure survival and nothing else. The sun decided to come out and it go hot, really hot. Every aid station cups of water went over the head and in my mouth as best I could. It wasn't as bad as I was expecting, but I was still happy to be done with it.

Obviously, get back on the running horse.

My freinds said they were going to come up to see the finish, but I never saw them. That is until I was sitting and eating pizza at the post-race activities when they found me. Turns out they gotr a little turned around and were paying to enter the Res at the same time I finished. Oh well. It was nice that they came up. After they left I packed up my car but headed back to the finish because my friend Gisela was still to come in, but while I was packing up I herd her name announced. I went back and had a change of clothes, went down to the beach and got inthe lake and rinsed off and floated around a little. That felt SO GOOD. Changed out of my tri shorts and into a regulat pair of shorts then checked out the awards ceremony. Lucky for me I won a pair on sunglasses in a raffle. Too bad I need prescription. They are cool though, I will see if I can get prescription lenses for them.


LACK OF RUN TRAINING.


Good race, good day. I really wanted to get under 5 hours and somehow I did. I liked the idea of instead of a finisher's medal, they gave you a finisher's pint glass. That will definitely get used. Also, this was a PR by 32 minutes.