Longleaf Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

This was a different type of start for me since we lined up and went in one by one. As usual, I felt too out of breath and unable to swim correctly like I supposedly do at the pool. I had to do lots of breast stroking to get my breathing right and to rest. I am actually surprised at my time, cause I felt much slower.

Get in the pool more then once a week. Get a swim coach?

Looonnng transition! We had to run through the pasture, avoiding cow patties and ant hills, then around the bike area to the opposite side of where we came out of the water. I felt like I went pretty fast once I got to my bike, but I did walk initially after getting out of the water.

Not much you can do on a long transition like this one except hustle. I feel like I went quickly and didn't waste any time.

Front tire went flat at 2.8 miles. I did not have a repair kit since I don't own one, so I had to walk my lame little bike, and my lame little self back to the transition. Luckily, one of the race organizers saw me and gave me a lift in his truck, and I decided to do the run. This is a fake time since I was walking along the side of the road, waiting to be driven back to the racks, etc. I only listed it cause it was close to what I thought I might do that distance in.

Pray for a non-flat tire?

I walked my bike in, realized that my chip time was just recorded, then did not even hustle to get out of helmet and into hat. Did not drink water but did squirt a littel Gu. Was actually walking until I saw all of the family waiting to cheer me on; they did not know I had experienced a flat, so they were yelling at me to go! So I took off running.

The weather was still pretty overcast, so it was a nice run. I kept up a pretty good pace, I think, but it wasn't hard with fresh legs! Who knows how I would have felt if I had ridden the entire 12.5 mile course! Can't predict what my time would have been with 12.5 bike miles on my legs, but I think this was pretty close. At least I got to finish and feel like I did my best on two of the three events.

Nothing really.

Drank some Gatorade, waited with family for Ronnie, Jimmy and Theresa to come in from the Intl' distance race.


The #$@&^ tire on my #$@^ bike!


A fun race that is very well-run and is getting a great reputation judging by the number of entries. I hope if we do it next year I will have the knowledge and materials needed to fix a flat, and not have the need to use them!