The Nation's Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

Potomac was a bit murky:)...not bad overall. Good start. Not too crowded & spaced out well. Entered from a floating dock...that part was a bit sketchy. Sighted well until I rounded the first buoy & the still rising sun was blinding. Current wasn't too bad.

Not much. Breathing was good, my pace was good, & I think I sighted well. Not my fastest swim; but, the first one where I didn't have to stop to regroup for some issue.

I dilly dally around in transition. Should probably push it a bit more but I like to make sure I'm all set for the bike. I always have a bottle of water to make sure all the stuff I acquire between the swim exit & T1 (sand, grass, pebbles & what not) is off my feet before I put on my cycling shoes then I dry my feet, etc. There was a longer than what I'm used too run from the swim exit to T1 & my spot kind of blew.

Not much. Got some gu down & dried off my feet, put on my socks, & left.

Pretty good ride. I thought my pace was a little faster than what it was. My bike computer was on the "fritz" the whole time which threw me off...I thought I was going a little faster than I was. Oh well...still a pretty good bike for me.

I broke a major rule by doing something for the first time on race day. I grabbed a camel back & used that for fluids. I go to grad school in New Jersey during the week & go home on the weekends to the DC area. I left all my water bottles in DC & the stupid one they gave out race day wasn't going to be enough for me (I'm 260, sweat a lot, & drink a lot)...so when in the desert...use a camel back. I found it to be uncomfortable. A little silly when I think about it, but that, along w/ my bike computer malfunctioning, kind of threw me off.

I left my shoes double knotted from my previous run. Got some more gu in me, polished off my camel back, & took off.

Untied my shoes or do what I normally do & have the strap things.

Took a while to get my feet under me. I had been sick the prior two weeks & missed a lot of workouts. Matter of fact, had you asked me a week ago today I would have told you know way I was going to do this tri...but it was a gorgeous day & I really wanted to do this one so I did it...anyhoo...I think missing a couple of my last bricks hurt me going from the bike to the run.

I took my time & paced myself right considering...so not much.

A two - three mile walk from the finish line to transition!


sickness the prior two wks before the race


Sounds kind of negative as I review my comments; but, I pr'd this race. Considering I had been sick & still didn't feel top notch on race day I can't complain. The swim was my best as far as sighting, swim technique, & maintaining my composure (which I usually lose at least once). Not my fastest but I would argue my best overall from a mental & strategic standpoint. I would have liked to have done better on the bike; but, I found w/o my computer I focused a lot more intently on trying to maintain a smooth cadence. The run went well.

The race itself was pretty awesome. Went past the Lincoln Memorial, the capital, the Washington monument, etc. There were lots of spectators cheering us on. Volunteer support was tremendous & the cops/emt's were great as well. Logistically speaking this race has to be a nightmare. They did a pretty good job of disrupting DC Proper traffic. One result of that disruption was the advertised shuttle busses seemed to be non-existent. So my wife, my son, & I hiked it back to the transition from the finish line w/ many other participants. Parking was difficult too.

Normally, I'm a Clydesdale. Had I entered as a clydes I would have taken 2nd. I did the age group thing this time & I liked it. Got my rear end kicked; but, I liked starting much earlier than I would have if I had entered as a clydesdale.

This summer was a tough one for me. We moved from New Hampshire to DC & I started grad school after a ten year academic absence in Jersey. So my overall training was sporadic & I had been sick for two weeks. So I'm pretty happy w/ this one. Considering my other Oly this summer was more difficult I'm not surprised I pr'd it; but, considering my other challenges I am surprised & very happy. Sorry it's long winded; but, that's my style.