Big Creek Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

I was anxious about this swim with the prospect of having to do a 1500 m open water swim without a wetsuit. DARYLJ helped me with that some before I left Denver and then doing a swim in the area the day before gave me confidence about it. I figured I was not going to be fast, but I just wanted to get out of the water controlled and ready to ride. I entered the water behind most of the people in my wave and I started way left since both Saturday and my pre-race swim I was pulling to the right drastically. I kept people in sight to my right which was a good thing, but I seemed to fall way behind the pack and they were off to the right. But it also seemed to my that the line of yellow buoys were not the straightest way to the turn buoy, maybe that was a big mis perception on my part but that was one I was going with during the swim. I spent most of the swim alone, which was good for the training and this was a "C" race, but I had hoped to get some good drafting practice. That didn't happen too much as I couldn't or didn't hold the feet that came by. I remembered some things BARQHEAD wrote to me before my first race of the year and tried to just focus on long and strong or more precisely to how I was swimming, long and not weak ;) and finished up. I was really disappointed to hit the beach and see my time of 36:## - that was just about worst case scenario. At least the HR avg came in at 142 so I did not waste a lot of energy going that slow. Later I heard comments from folks who thought it was about 175 long. Don't know if that was true or not but I would like to believe it was !!!!

Swim more, maybe try and stay with the "school of fish" in the first 200 and hang in there

I tried to put the swim behind my - I had actually thought out - what if I swim 36 how do I react? So at least I had thought through it. Anyway, again it just didn't feel right but I was going through the motions. Later realized I had only forgot one thing and I did have a substitute for it.

Move quicker

I don't know what to say about this. After the race I wasn't sure if I was happy about this effort or not. I felt good out to the turn around point but then coming back I kept the HR in zone 3/4 against the wind. I was only passed about 3 times in the first 20k, then I had some more go by me on the way back in - one pair I really don't count cuz they was cheatin' - but I could have pushed a little harder coming in. With about 3-5 k to go I took 2 gels to see how that would go (never taken two at one time) as well as a salt tab and finished off my gatorade. At the finish, I could have gone a little quicker, but was stuck behind someone getting out of his shoes. I want to take the last 300 yd more aggressively, but figured it was only a few seconds difference anyway so why sweat it. While this was one of my fastest bike avg's I had higher expectations.

I feel like I could have pushed a little harder. Also, not let that drafting duo into my head so much.

I went in and racked my bike on the wrong side of my stuff so it was in the way a bit. but what is there to this, I take off my helmet, put on my hat and shoes, grab my number and go. I did pause to reset my stopwatch so I could fit mile splits on it.

I am not sure how to get this as quick as some of these other folks. There was someone I finished around timewise that had a 22 sec t2 - how do you do that

What is up with this, I have a better overall rank on the run than the bike???? This makes me feel like I really didn't push myself on the bike enough. It was hot and humid by the time we got to the run = not for the winner as I got to see him cross the finish line right after I left T2. By this time I knew my bike was not where I wanted it to be either and my pre race goal was out of reach, so now I just wanted a good run effort and see if I could PR my 10 on this course. Played leapfrog with folks early on and then settled in where I was at. Just dumped water on my head at the first mile did that in about 8:05 and then took in water and another salt tab at mile 2. Hit that @ 15:45. Walked when I drank. Mile 3 again was a slow mile - same as lake to lake - It clocked in at 9:08. I figured my PR goal was gone so I just started looking for everyone who looked like a brick outhouse and tried to pick them off. Nailed one and started on the next, then I started passing some people who passed me earlier. While there were others I had passed on the bike that came flying by me. One was a young lady who won the 20-25 age group - great runner. I had my sights set on one guy who looked big. I chased him for ever it seemed like, but then he was running on a team, so on to the next. In the last 250 I saw a guy and just pushed to get him. He picked it up too and held me off to the line, but in the process we nudged out another guy who happened to be a Clyde too! He immediately asked for help - hope he was okay.

Don't know what I can do to prepare for humidity - thats part of what this race was for. I need more running at longer distances so I can push harder on the 10k's

Grabbed cold water, an energy drink some water melon and headed for the water. Soaked in it for quite a while.


Lack of sleep, lack of swimming, lack of humidity and heat to train in.


Fun time, growth over last year, run on a very competitive weekend