Heart of The Valley Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

I was the first person to leave the wall in my lane and probably went out too hard to get some distance before our other swimmers started. My form was junk from the gun. I never really felt smooth in the water and just focused on breathing. I was passed going back out on lap number 2 and then passed her at the wall on lap 4. I didn't have any idea of my time, but I was the first person out of the water in my lane. I knew that I felt slow, but based on the fact that all the swimmers in this lane had put down the same estimated time I figured maybe it was all in my head. I was over a minute behind my estimated time and well behind my best case time.

Regardless, I was out of the water and my race could finally start.

I suck at swimming and my pool time has been rather slack lately. Put in the time at the pool and focus on form. I have had some very fast (for me) 100 yard times, but the times go up quickly as my form fades during my swims.

Felt great getting out of the water and it was nice not to have to fight a wetsuit. Ran back to my rack feeling good.
Had moved all of my gear into a plastic bag due to rain before the race...made for a slower transition. Not sure why I was this slow though since I was not winded and felt very strong for once following a swim.

Changing my layout changed everything. All my gear ended spread out and I cleaned up before rolling out. I am writing this one off, but practice never hurts.

What is the best cure for a slow swim??? Getting to chase people down on the bike!!! My outlook changes from survival to enjoyment as soon as that first rider is in sight almost always. The climbs don't hurt as bad when you are gaining on people. The steady burn maintaining the flats is welcome because it comes with results you can see. The descents??? They are just plan fun regardless, but are a blast when you get to fly by someone. I am not the fastest rider on the course, just a slow enough swimmer that the head of the class folks are already long gone leaving just us mere mortals to fight it out.

This course is challenging, but familiar. I started picking folks off one by one while working on my course management. I knew which hills I wanted to attack and where I wanted to spin. There are a couple of spots on this ride where what looks like the top isn't the top and a long false flat. I was prepared and in my element knowing exactly what to expect. I executed the course exactly how I wanted...

for just over 5 miles.

While starting the hardest climb on the course and day dreaming about the great downhill coming up, my front tire blew.

I rolled to a stop and unclipped. I stood on the side of the road stunned for several moments without anything processing in my brain. A few of the riders that I had passed were now making the climb and passed me, still I just stood there straddling my bike.

Finally with a brief expletive leaving my mouth, my brain reengaged and I began thinking about my situation. I wasn't carrying a spare tubular, so getting back on two wheels was not an option. I briefly considered riding the wheel as is, but realized that was stupid, dangerous, and likely very expensive.

There were volunteers less than a half mile behind me that I could use to get a SAG vehicle to take me back.

"I have two perfectly good wheels back in my car if I can contact my wife." I don't have my cell phone and using someone's phone won't help because she is not on their speed dial ("Why don't you know her number?").

"Nearly 7 miles to the bike finish, going that way would be nuts wouldn't it? 7 miles in bike shoes? 7 miles with bare feet over rocks and gravel (likely one of these rocks that sliced my tire)? I don't think I am ready for that, besides it will take forever and my daughter has her first race today."

"What is the worst that can happen? They will probably kick me off the course before I can get back anyways. The kid's race is on part of this course so we would have to be finished for them to start."

"I have run over this distance many times...but not in bike shoes or bare feet."

"I want to finish."

"For what? A cheap little piece of metal that means nothing to anyone else?"

"I want to finish!"

"On a short triathlon course that no one cares about?"

"YES!"

"It isn't Iron man you know."

"YES, I want to Finish!!! Besides, if it were a longer race it would mean that I would have further to hoof it."

I didn't know if I would be allowed to finish the course, but decided that they would have to drag me off of it before I would quit. Deciding to finish picked up my spirits instantly. I started walking up the hill with my bike shoes on and literally singing a song in my head. Shortly there after I took off my shoes and ran with my bike. I would switch back to my bike shoes to give my feet a break here and there, but mostly I ran (jogged).
I was in a great position to be able to thank all of the volunteers and give encouragement to the other racers. I did this the entire way back and it felt good. I was able to see why triathletes have so much respect for one another for 7 miles. I can't count the number of times I heard "great job", "Hang in there", or "I'll be thinking about you". I was offered help by fellow racers, volunteers, and spectators. I was offered rides. I was offered cell phones. I was even offered a bike by one of the volunteers who had spent the entire morning cheering for people coming up a steep hill at her section. I almost took the bike, but (fortunately) it was way too small and a different clip system. I didn't want to let my pride get in the way of common sense and refuse the help because she was so nice. Another volunteer offered to take my shoes back so I didn't have to carry them, but I was using them to give my feet a break.

The wave system used for this race made for a long event, but it worked to my advantage. No one kicked me off the course and there were still lots of riders when I came back into transition. I did have the slowest bike leg of the day, but I finished it.

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE KINDNESS I RECEIVED OUT THERE!!! It really kept me going.




Carry a spare even on a short course.

Took my time here...

I had been on the course for 2 hours already and it was time to regroup as I wanted to run strong for myself. Just completing the bike course felt good since I knew that I would be finishing, but putting on my running shoes felt GREAT as my feet were not liking my decision making for the day. My race was nothing like I expected or hoped for, but was good. I faced a problem that I couldn't control and continued on when it would have been easy to say "game over".

I changed over my Garmin, put on my sunglasses, decided that the yellow lenses weren't doing anything now that the sun was trying to peek out a bit and took them back off. I started to head to the run start and figured that I would be better off taking in some water first and went back to my bike to finish off my bottle.

No point in rushing, I was just out to EARN my finisher's medal.

Nothing...this was just what I needed to keep my head high and mood up.

Great run, I was relaxed and fast (for me). I ran hard, but didn't leave it all out there as I had already spent enough time uncomfortable on the day. This was a 5k PR (open, or otherwise) by quite a bit. Coming through the finish of this race was actually sweeter than the finish of my fastest races. Even better, the Kid's race hadn't started and I would be able to watch my daughter do her first tri.

Run harder on a different day

Grabbed some water and a snack, then hurried over to find my family. They missed me on the course as I was over an hour overdue.

Got back in time to watch my girl take the overall win in the Kid's Triathlon (Don't know where she gets her speed from, must be an awful quick milkman out there somewhere)!!! She was very excited and wants to keep doing races.

All in all, it was a pretty great day. My feet do not agree though.


Great volunteers and participants!!!