Life Time Fitness Triathlon - Olympic - TriathlonOlympic

Well, I got what I deserved here. I had not swam since my last race over a month ago. I found the continous rolling waves to start the race uncomfortable. I've grown to like the intial rush of a mass start and have gotten pretty good at staying out of the mess but finding someone to draft.

Here they had each person start about 5 seconds apart. Thus I was constantly passing people and found it easier just to stay a bit outside.

I did have a bit of trouble naviagating after the last bouy. I thought the course went straigt back toward shore but it angled back. I kept findiny myself out from the group until I quit looking at the shore and just started following bodies.

I really needed to put some time in swimming. This was my slowest swim time ever. I count on my swimming background that gives me an unfounded confidence. Considering I pretty much just showed up and placed in the top 1/3 overall I did ok but I should have taken an easy 2-3 minutes off here.

Very tired coming out of the water. Found running up the sandy beach hard. I still was pretty fast rank 235/1089.

I'm happy with my planning. Everything is on the bike. Helmet on while stepping on wetsuit (if only I could get it off). Shoes on bike. Still need to figure out the jump on the bike thing though.

Cut off a little more of my wetsuit on the bottom. It keeps getting stuck.

I was pretty worried about the bike. Again, not much time in the saddle. The power just was not there. I used a HR monitor this race and found it to be handy. At first my HR was rockin and I curbed it back a bit. About 1/3 the way in I was starting to get tired and settled in at 150. Anything less and I would have been loafing.

This course is better suited for a road bike. My tri bike does ok but there are plenty of sharp corners and loads of people to fly around.

I really stayed in my game here. I only got caught up in it once toward the end when one dude passed me and a few others and un-necessarily screamed 'on your left', like we were blocking. He had plenty of room. He got the mojo going for me so I had to stick with him and pass him. He came right back. I think we seesawed three or four times. Not sure if it was him but some guy back at T2 said nice race. Anyway that was the last he was going to see me because the run was next.

Time in the saddle. Focus on hills too.

This was my best T2 ever. Rank overall 70/1089. Flying dismount, run with hand on seat, helmet off and on straw before I get to my rack. A little hard to rack the bike; had to turn it sideways to hook the seat.

Slam on shoes (no socks). Grab belt and gues, clip and stow on the run.

Rack bike by handlebars.

Pin number to racebelt. The one I had allowed it to bunch up which was anoying.

I felt adequately trained here. My pacing was good. I typically negative split which I did here as well. I like to build into the race. I find the start usually hard to go very fast since my legs are stiff. After about a mile or so I feel like I've shaked off the bike and am now in run mode.

This will make a few a bit testy but if you are slow (not even commenting on size) GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY! Why would someone think doing 9 - 10 min miles on the left side of a 4 foot wide trail is ok? After dodging around people, running on the grass I really wanted to stiff arm the next person that was strolling blocking the path. Thinking of that made me giggle (sorta girl like) during the race.

During the race I thought that flying by tons of people is satisfying but I think it lulls me into thinking that I'm going fast when I really may not be. The real runners are doing the same thing. I need to be chasing THEM. So I found a guy up about 200 feet from me to chase. For 4 miles I only closed the gap 50 feet. I was starting to think that I would just have to settle for not beating him. But... in the last 1/4 mile I just flat out opened it up. I probably was doing lower 6 min miles and roared right by him and about 6 other people. I even got the anouncer to comment about finishing strong.

Not much. Pacing was good, training was ok. Train a bit more is all.

Bring sports beans or blocks. I thought that a gel would make my stomach upset (feeling a pretty queasy already)

Collapse. Drink 2 gatoraids. Eat 7 salted nut rolls, bag of chips, bananna.


A little better nutrition.


Very well organized. Got some really nice bling too - run shirt and cap. They had a great situation for spectators and racers. Bleachers and stairs for spectators to walk over the racers.