Topeka Tinman Triathlon - Long Course - TriathlonLong Course

A lot more contact with other swimmers than I was hoping for. I was fine when everyone was crawling but I kept coming up on people doing the breast stroke. There was at least once when I found a good set of feet and was cruising pretty comfy but we split around a breast stroker and I never found him again.

I let everyone go ahead of me because I am used to being a slow swimmer and didn't want to be run over. Instead, I had people in my way and then was run over by the stars of the next wave. Next time, I think I will try to start a little more competatively.

Monkey was there before me and gone before I left. Kyle showed up after me and I was gone before he left.

Practice/train more. I spent a few seconds hesitating and trying to think of anything I was forgetting because I hadn't practice a routine. Turns out, I brought everything.

The roads on the back half of the course was pretty rough. The course was a pretty nice ride. Twice, I would crest one hill to see a particularly horrible hill ahead. I was mid-internal tirade when I would start the desent to the next hill and see the cops indicating that we were turning before getting to the big hill. Awesome.

The only problem was that the cops were at each turn for us, but were not yet stationed at the turns for the short course. The signs were already up for the short course so we had to pass a sign that said turn here, hoping that it was mismarked. Unfortunately, a number of people did take the early turn and were mistakenly given awards and then DQed for not finishing the bike. If there had been a cop or at least a volunteer there, a lot of people(~20) would not have been DQed. I know it is every participant's responsibility to know the course, but it was very misleading.

More TITS before the race.

Nothing of note to report. Good dismount, ran down to my spot, dropped my gear, put on my shoes and hat and left. Pretty quick and easy.

My bike was racked right by the swim entrance since swimming and T1 are usually pretty bad for me. This race was great and I kind of wish I was a little more central or otherwise closer to the run and bike in/out which were on the other side of the transition area.

I had a really hard time with this run and ended up walking more and more towards the end. I took a GU at the first aid station which maybe helped some, but by mile 4-5 my hips were hurting and I felt like I was out of gas. My instinct was to keep pushing but my legs were mad at me and I was ahead of Kyle and Ben so I let myself walk some.

More training. I don't know that I could have saved any more energy for the run. I wasn't pushing all that hard on the bike.

Walked around to cool down. Bathroom. Walked up the course a bit waiting for Kyle. Walked back to the transition area to make sure I hadn't missed him. Walked back up the course 100 yards or so and sat in the shade to stretch.


Lack of training. Among other things, I got a blister which is unusual for me. I have to imagine that I need more training to toughen up my feet/joints just as much as to develop and strengthen the muscles.


It is hard to find faults in such a well organized race with such perfect weather. The lake was warm and calm with lots of volunteers. The bike was a nice ride with cops at every turn to direct us. The wind had picked up a little to provide a nice breeze on the scenic run around the lake. It was a good race on a great day.