Kinetic Sprint, Race #4 - TriathlonSprint

I obviously had fooled myself about being ready for the open water swim with the wetsuit. I could not breathe after the first 200 meters and had to take some time with the lifeguards. I will tell you they were terrific. Because of my breathing issues I used a combination of elementary backstroke and freestyle for the rest of the swim. It was a disaster but at least I finished.

I would have practiced with the wetsuit on more than one time. I also would have found a place to practice open water swimming. Swimming mile distances in the pool just did not cut it. I lost everything with the swim.

Because it was pouring rain, the transition area was a mess. I left most of my belongings including my biking shoes in a plastic garbage bag to try and protect them from the rain. I left my rain jacket on top of the bike and it was soaked by the time I got to transition. I could not get the jacket on and thus I had no food for the biking. I also could not get my gears changed on the bike for some reason.

Have the triathlon be on a nice sunny day... no seriously I practiced this portion so I was not disappointed.

I gave it everything I had after the disasterous swim. I passed a bunch of people in the pouring rain so I was pleased. I had some issues of getting the bike out of the big gear which may have helped me. Overall pleased with bike.

If things had gone as normal, I wouldn't have given everything to the bike to save some for the run. But because I knew the bike was the strongest and the run the weakest, I didn't care about the run time at all.

The transition area by this point was pure mud so difficult to get the bike into transition and racked. Shoes were soaked and got nice blisters for my effort.

No rain.

I had nothing left for the run. I thought this would be my weakest element because I hate to run.

Nothing. I was happy with my training and my learning to run. I weigh 235 lbs so I know I have too much weight.

I was freezing and didn't get a chance to warm down. I was also very hungry from missing my bike food.


My swim was horrible.


I have a knew found appreciation for triathletes. I was very happy just to finish. I am not sure that I will do another race but I was glad I tried this. The weather just made the race a nightmare.