New Jersey State Triathlon - Sprint Distance - TriathlonSprint

I waited a little ways back from the actual starting buoys as I didn't want to tread. At the horn dove under and started swimming. Felt good and was sighting every 5 stroke. Before I knew it I was to the 1st buoy (about 1/2 way to the turn buoy). Continued to go well but when I got to the turn buoy there was a bit of a backup of a bunch of guys slowly doing the breaststroke around the buoy. This got me way out of rhythm. Got back to swimming and with the backup and some folks from the wave behind us it got very congested. Got kicked and grabbed a few times but kept it going. About 75 yards from the end got a kick right to the teeth and that was it for me. Basically just did whatever I could to keep moving forward in the water. Could feel my heart rate was way too high as I got out.

Learn to take contact much better and also practice sighting more in order to navigate around people when necessary.

Was real winded with a high heart rate out of the water. I walked up a pretty steep grassy hill and then the 1st half of a very long transition area. Stopped at the wrong rack at 1st which caused some lost time and my water bottle I was going to use to clean my feet was gone.

Swim better so I can run through transition.

Ran out of transition and onto the bike very well. Turned right onto the park's road and saw my buddy Jared up ahead and wanted to catch him prior to leaving the park. Caught him with about 100 yards to spare and kept on going. After turning onto Quakerbridge Rd so Jay off the road at the Ultimate Frisbee field and he had his tube off and was trying to replace. I wanted to catch and beat him but not that way (didn't stop me from mocking him afterwards though) Kept a pretty even, steady pace throughout but probably didn't push it as much as I could've. Passed about as many people as passed me but got a bit demoralized when about 2/3 through an 11 year old passed me on the bike and I realized he had started 8 minutes behind me. Once I hit the park's road back in I really picked it up good and hammered it home (this is why I think I should've pushed more earlier as I had a lot left).

Got harder during the 1st half of the bike as I knew it was flat and didn't need to worry about any hills.

Had a very good transition here. Ran past 3 people on my bike. Racked it right away (my rack was 3 from the bike exit/entrance), helmet on the aerobars, drink, grab and connect race belt and run.

Nothing really except maybe drink a bit more as I ran through transition.

Took off running in transition and settled into a good rhythm. Started passing people right away and was concentrating on my breathing. Legs were feeling good run up to the turnaround. In my mind that's when I planned on letting it all out but I seem to have a problem when it comes to increasing my pace. Before I knew it I could hear the finishers chute and I felt like I hadn't run hard enough. As I entered the chute kept enough distance to the guy in front of me so he could get a good picture and the announcer started talking to me saying something like it's not that bad Bob is it? I gave him a thumbs up and finished strong.

Run harder right from the start. Pacing is good and all but it's just a 5k so why not go all out one of these times.

Drank a bottle of nice, cold water and saw Jared's wife and 2 kids cheering for me. Went over and told her he should be 10 minutes or so behind me. Tried to find Jay's wife so she wouldn't worry as I wasn't sure if he ever made it back or not but didn't see her (had to be like 5,000 people there).


Swim is still to weak and caused me to lose time in T1 as well. Also need to be willing to push myself harder even if it means blowing up at a race. If my legs feel good I need to just go for it.


Wow, what an organized well run race. I guess the day before registration would be annoying but I live right next to the park so no biggie for me. Everthing started right on time and the amount of signs and volunteers were awesome not to mention the almost entirely closed bike course. Can't wait to come back and do the Olympic next year.