Pocomoke Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Unofficial (watch) time = 13:31. Counterclockwise single loop course in a very clear and shallow pond. I could see the bottom most of the time, which really helps me have a sense of pace and swimming straight. This was a fantastic swim time for me, though everyone's times were fast and I think the course may be a hair short. I did have a good draft going for much of the race, so it's possible I really nailed it. My normal cruising pace is just under 2:00/100y, but I came out of the water gasping for air. Between the extra effort and a good draft, I'd like to think the time is close.

Unofficial (watch) time = 1:49. I was out of breath coming out of the water... had a decent jog to the T1 area but I took transition very easy to get my heartrate down. Actually sat down for a minute and wiped off my feet well (the grass had been mowed recently and I had grass all over them).

Unofficial (watch) time = 44:50. Single loop course FLAT with great pavement and some shelter. Unfortunately, it was VERY windy this morning. Some of the worse I've ever ridden in. I'd say it was about 70% 45-degree head-cross winds, and 15% straight headwind and 15% tailwind.

There was a guy in red who passed me a few miles into the ride. He was sucking the wheel of another guy in gold, and I watched him do it to dozens of cyclists for the rest of the ride. Every time someone would pass me and then pass him a bit later, he would grab their wheel and put ground on me... then eventually get dropped and I'd start slowly winding him in... and then he'd find another wheel to suck. I was FURIOUS, but just decided that I WOULD BEAT HIM no matter what. He got into T2 a good 45 seconds in front of me. Gold shirt and I arrived within a few seconds of each other, and we agreed that our sole purpose was to not let red-shirt beat us.

Unofficial time (forgot to hit my watch). This was a very fast T2 for me, and it couldn't have been more than a few seconds. Very pleased with this... had my transition laid out and it went lighting fast... plus I passed red-shirt guy in transition.

Unofficial (watch) time = 28:58. This is a pancake flat out and back course, and it became my single mission in life not to let red-shirt pass me. He ran on my heels for the first mile... yapping about how he liked this pace... I bit my tongue and didn't say that I'd be enjoying it more if I had been drafting the entire ride too. I tried to open a gap (more of a mental game to see if he'd respond) between 1 and 2, and managed to put about 30 seconds on him. I should actually thank the drafter, because all I wanted to do was back the pace off a bit for a half mile because I was really hurting, but instead I just winced and pushed even harder. At mile marker 3, he was back to within about 15 seconds, so I ran the last half mile (with a strong tailwind) with everyting I had. Red-shirt had no chance, though unfortunately he did nose gold-shirt by a few seconds.

I know I just need to run my own race and not worry about anyone else, but it just really bothered me to watch someone blatantly cheating for the entire bike.

overweight, undertrained.


Official results are in:

Place 43
Division/Total 10/32
Swim rank 75
Swim time 13:17
T1 2:01
Bike rank 44
Bike time 44:06
T2 0:42
Run rank 46
Run time 29:00
Total time 1:29:04


This was my first sprint tri, so I didn't know what to expect. I had hoped to come in under 1:45 (remember the run is 3.5 not 3.1), and would have been happy with anything less than 2:00. I was honestly quite shocked when I saw 1:29:04 as I sailed (practically literally) through the finish chute. Coming in under 1:30 was definitely red-shirts doing, so I guess I should be thankful for him. I really enjoyed the small town feel of this race. Opening prayer and no national anthem was strange. I've sung the national anthem at many functions before, and I wish I would have known they needed someone.