Lone Star Triathlon Festival - Sprint - TriathlonSprint

So this was my very first salt water OWS...well, it was actually my first OWS....well, technically it is my first ever triathlon (don't really count the indoor mini-tri I did last year). When I told my wife I was racing this weekend she said, "Have you even been swimming?" I haven't swam for a month with the move and job and relocation and all so I winged it. I started just fine. Knowing I haven't swam a straight 1/4 mile with out stopping since...wait...I've NEVER swam that far without stopping I think. Anyway I started freestyle and mixed in a breast stroke every once in a while. Not that I was out of breath, I just wanted to save myself for later on. I couldn't see a thing about 1/2 through b/c my goggles were fogging up. I kinda missed the straight line to the exit ramp after the last bouy b/c I couldn't see where I was going.

I just really got to swim. I'm a good swimmer, just not fast. I did absolutely no swim training but I couldn't really help that.

Was very DEMOTIVATED not seeing a certain someone (oh, you KNOW who you are) wearing a princess costume on the beach as promised..eh hem! Then demotivated again when I got the transition are and found a lot of the bike around me gone b/c I had a sucky swim.

Nothing - I didn't have a wetsuit so I just threw on my bike shoes and ran a good ways to the bike start.

OK - I just got onto the main road (about a mile or so in) and I grab my water bottle (salt water from the swim really dried me out). I go to put it back and I dropped the stupid thing! I'm not as high speed as some of the other folks out there and only have 1 water bottle cage. So I was pretty thirsty by the time I hit the turn around point. On the way back there was quite a head wind. I was starting to cramp up a little in my right calf but wasn't too bad. Had to stand up and stretch it out every once in a while.

I surprised myself on the bike leg. When I saw my time at the turn around I decided to pick up the pace. My intial goal was to finish in a leisurely 1:30 but I changed it up at that point to a 1:20.

No issues - just tried to get around the folks that were walking their bikes in.

Nothing

Took a few minutes to get the legs into the run. I knew I wasn't going to have a decent run so I just kinda took it easy. I tried to grab some gatorade they were handing out on the course but I can never drink from the cups while running and get enough liquid in my mouth. Not sure how I did this but I noticed blood on my shoe. I must have hit my ankle or something b/c that's what was bleeding. I didn't wear socks. I only ran once with out socks up to this point and I got a blister on the inside of my right foot. Yeah, I suck at this running thing. I haven't been able to feel good about running since I've been here in TX the past 2 weeks. Oh - and bless all you gals wearing the Texas Iron club outfits. Is it some sort of requirement that you all need to be over 6' tall and have like 8% body fat? I'm just sayin'.

Need to practice bricks (only have done 1 for training for this). And need to run w/out socks more often. Really didn't push myself enough. I know I could have placed top 10 if I did.

Grabbed a wet towel and a water bottle from a volunteer and walked around a little. Did some stretching - especially my calves. And then cheered on the other triathletes. I went to the food tent and got a honey wheat bagel w/ peanut butter, a banana, a personal sized Papa John's pizza and a Gatorade Endurance. Listened to the live music. Grabbed a free beer (what, who wouldn't)?


Really didn't have a focused training plan. The move and job change had a lot to do w/ that. My first tri since knee surgery (my first tri actually). And didn't see wondertwin on the beach in her princess costume.


Keith Jordan (KEJ right here on BT) did an awesome job as RD. Volunteers were great. Activities were fun. Would definately recommend this race to anyone wanting to do it!