Loveland Lake to Lake - TriathlonOlympic

The water temp was perfect. The first wave took off at 6:30. I was in the last wave and we didn't get to go until 6:50. This was a tough swim for me because I couldn't seem to stay on course. I swear I zig-zagged all over the place. What's up with that? It was a rectangular course and there were plenty of buoys. I'd look up, see them all lined up in a row, swim a few strokes, sight again and be completely off course. I wish I could explain it but the only words that come to mind are "dazed and confused." Time includes 1/4 mile run to transition with a stop for the strippers.

There was cloud cover which kept it from getting hot but it made me cold when I got out of the water. I can't seem to join the "no socks on the ride" club and I fumbled this up good. I had lost the GU I'd planned to take before the swim so I tried to get some nutrition in here. I think every race report I write says I need to work on transition time.

I love, love, love this course. It has just enough climbing to kick my butt and then some screaming downills to reward me for my effort. The bike isn't my strongest leg of the tri so for me to average over 16 mph is totally awesome.

I was feeling the need to get something solid in my stomach. I took a couple bites of a Clif Bar but my HR was still too high from the swim and I couldn't chew, swallow, breathe, and bike so I put it back in my pocket. My energy level was way too low for the climb I had in front of me. I stayed conservative for the first 15 or 20 minutes so I could get my HR under control. Then I started guzzling Gatorade and taking Clif Blocks. I struggled getting that down too but I knew I had no choice. They worked some kind of magic and it kicked in just about the time a gal with a "55" on her leg flew past me. Damn youngsters. The will and want to do more than survive this course finally reared it's beautiful head. I quit feeling sorry for myself and I started racing.

Yeah. I know.

Flat. My favorite thing about the run is it was flat. About 25 yards out of transition I realized I should have blown my nose so I stepped aside to do the snot rocket thing and wouldn't you know a guy comes by at that exact moment. I apologized for him having to see that. Geez. Is there anything sweet or feminine or attractive about this sport? Anyway, ever onward. I had to pee so I stopped at the first available port-a-potty. I'm going to pause here and say that until I started doing tri's, I never used a port-a-potty and now, I know where every single one in the Centennial/Littleton area is located and I frequent them on a regular basis. Anyway, I kept a very steady consistent pace and felt pretty good through the whole run. On the way back in I saw the "Mile 1" mark written on the pavement. I missed that going out and never saw any other markers. So I'm thinking I must be at mile 5 since I've hit the turn around and it's an out and back course. About 100 more yards and I see that 55 year old who smoked me on the bike. Heh, heh. I decide to just hang right behind her and make my move on the homeward stretch. Shock and awe! We turn the last corner and I lay it on. Little did I know there was still a mile of meandering paths through the park before we hit the finish line. We went around the playground. We went along the swim beach. We looped to the other side of the pond. At every turn someone would yell, "Good job. You're almost there." I think not. It was the never-ending-finish and she was on my heels all the way in. I'm a little disappointed in my pace because I thought I was hauling it a lot faster than a 10 min mile.

I'd do this race again in a heartbeat. I loved the course. It was well organized and lots of fun. I didn't hit any of my goal times. Bummer. It kicked my butt today but I will be back.