Lums Pond Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Good swim. Time by race chip was higher, but that included the run (or stumble in my case) back to transition and the chip mat.
This was my first mass start, and it actually went pretty well. Started in the back, finished front of the middle of the pack. Very happy overall with the swim, except for the guy who tried to grab my foot by the tape on the broken toe, that may have been my only kick of the whole swim. Had a pretty good feel for the water and got into the groove fairly quickly.

More open water swims. The few open water swims were force multipliers. Worth 100 pool swims. There is no practice to get the feeling of the wetsuit, not being able to see past your elbow, the jostling of the group start, having to go around people, having to sight to the horizon, and having to taste the swill you swim in.

I have to learn how to start with the shoes already on the bike. Running in bike shoes with a raised HR from the swim, not so great.

Tried to convert to Cliff Shot Blocks for fuel on the bike. I liked them, but didn't go so well with all the air and pool water I had gulped during the swim. Maybe the gel packets go down a bit easier.
20 MPH is really good for me. I gave it what I had. But, I got passed a lot on the bike Some people averaged 25 +, it was a relly fast course. I need to get more time in the saddle. Maybe some LSD rides, like once a month. I also need a bike fit to get more aero and more powerful.

I also need to find something a little easier to put down than Gatorade. I'll give Hammer a try this weekend. Gatorade was sickly, sweet. I drank because I knew I had to, not because I wanted to.

Legs really wobbly those first few steps in my bike shoes, a combo of really tired legs and the bike shoes themselves. I need to learn to pedal on top of the shoes at the end.

Gave this all I had, and was really pleasantly suprised. Went out a little fast, and my HR went up too high. Had to slow a bit for the 2nd mile to get the HR in line. Sprinted the last mile, about 6:30. This was the best run I've ever put out, even pre-ACL surgery.

Nothing.

Stop and catch my breath.


Genetics.


Great to see so many from the Annapolis Tri Club there. Saw 6 or 8 others with the ATC racing jerseys. Even though we didn't know each other, we all had something to say on the course to each other. Pretty cool.
Great race. Other than the bike, not much I can do better right now.