Winding Trails Offroad Tri Series - Triathlon

Felt kind of wierd and flat pre-race - wasn't sure how I felt - not "up" for the race. Kept forgetting things - like went to the beach and realised I had forgotten to Bodyglide my feet. Standing at the start on the beach I was very nervous - first for that for me - not sure why - maybe coz I have finally figured out a plan for the swim. Swim was a little bumpy - not as smooth as last week but still good.

Work on form, otherwise nothing.

Wierd. I took one foot out of the wetsuit and put it in my sock and mtb shoe. Then for a split second realised I am standing there half in my wetsuit, half in my mtb shoes (slightly funny). Also my bike was on the end of the rack - not on the rack - across the end and someone arriving late decided to just lay their bike and all their gear on the ground in front of my bike so I had to move their gear to get to my bike and shoes. What makes someone do that?

Hmmm. Nothing. Maybe rack my bike up nearer where the beach run up comes up as that's at the same end of the TA as the mtb start. Might save a few seconds but it's a small TA.

Tried to replicate last week's great feeling with accelerations back up to speed out of every corner or area where I lost speed. Seemed to pass quite a few people and got the same guy on my tail as last week which served as good motivation/focus. Only got held up a few times - fortunately have better fitness now to be able to ride myself out of those situations.

Train. There's still more fitness to be gained but at least now it is painful but fun!

Good smooth transition. Long laces on trail running shoes are annoying but only shoes I have with speed laces. Need to buy some for my other shoes.

Nothing.

The drop in temps was immediately noticeable as I felt pretty good right away out of T2 - noticed running was actually like running and not the usual shuffle. Decided to try and work harder for the first mile and see if that would work. Exited T2 in 34-35 minutes which would put my right on the edge of going sub-1 hr again, although I had decided that 1:00:30 would be acceptable. Passed people and got passed. The woman who passed me last week was just ahead of me and although she would gain on the uphills I would start to catch her on the downhills and flats. She was a good focus to keep working. Running felt so much better this work - it's still hard and painful - there is no way to run this course and have it be easy. Caught the gal in the 3rd mile? but eventually she caught me back and finished a few seconds ahead of me. I finished in 53:24 which is a PR by far and my run finally rocked (for me). First mile split was 8:13 and mile 2 (7:44) and 3 (7:41) were sub 8-minutes. PR on the run by 1 minute or so?? Passed quiet a few women - many from the first wave - which was very rewarding.

Nothing much. Still have to lose the socks but that will come. Overall try to remember how good this run felt and how making the decision to focus and work (and maybe risk a little) can gain you time.

Gosh - always so spent after this run. Stayed a little to cheer on some of the other folk that I have gotten to know. Walked to the beach and waded in the lake. Then took a shower.


Nothing really just fitness. Between remodelling the kitchen (which is a workout in itself) and doing one easy recovery run each week this race is my only workout. I have SBR #3 this Saturday which will give me another run of 8 days with 3 races. Hoping that I have a good race Saturday and that doing this series pays off for me there.


Another fab night at Winding Trails. Cooler temps made it really awesome after many races in 85-95 degree oppressive heat. The two wave swim is great and probably leads to faster times overall although it doesn't let you see who your closest competition is so race is more of a time trial so it's more up to me to try and go as fast as possible.