Bigfoot Triathlon - Olympic Distance - TriathlonOlympic

The last time I swam and OLY I went out way too fast on the swim so I really was determined to find a comfortable pace. I did that for the most part on the way out. I stayed to the left and tried to hug that side of the course which others did as well but I was in a very large wave so really no place to hide.

About 2/3 of the way out something extremely bizarre started happening. I could see the bottom of the lake where you've got sand with those ripples in it. It seemed like we were swimming into somewhat of a current and everytime I put my face in the water I had this feeling that a wave or current was pushing me backwards. Its weird but I totally thought I was either swimming in place or totally going backwards. I think those ripples on the lake floor created some sort of an illusion and also the current/waves also made it feel that way. When I lifted my head to the side to breath I could see I was moving but as soon as I put my face back in the water it seemed like I was going backwards again. It got to the point that I closed my eyes as I put my face in the water!

I rounded to bouy and it still seemed to be happening so I really thought to just put it out of my mind and after a while I did. I think then I did catch somewhat of a current behind me because coming back in I really felt now like I was movin.

Not much. Really pretty happy with this time and still felt pretty good as I got out of the water. Try not to freak as vertigo sets in or whatever I had.

As you cross the matt out of the water you've gotta cross the street, go through a gate, run into transition and run quite a ways to get to bike around the racks. Wetsuit came off a bit better than Lake Mills. Everything else went fairly quickly so I fairly happy. Going w/o sox and having shoes clipped on pedals would be quicker but I would need different shoes.

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Felt pretty decent coming out of transition. HR is usually spiked quite a bit due to being in a race but I think as a combination of training and keep calmer pre race helps to keep it down. To actually be down in the 140s at one point was good to see. Otherwise ride was really not anything out of the ordinary. Passed a decent amount of people and got passed by some really solid bikers but I feel pretty good about this.

To increase my time at the race this would be the place to do it. I do think that I could get a t least another 1/2 mile/hr but that pace might have just spent me too much. I was a little concerned that I might not have enough left in the tank for the run but we probably all always think about that.

I had two full gatorade bottles with me and one bottle of water. I probably only drank two bottles out of the three. I really should have gotten that last bottle in too.

Other nutrition - I had three gels in my bottle and got as much out of it as I could but in looking at my bottle after the race, I probably had a half a gel left which more water in the bottle probably would have gotten it out better.

I'm a little surprised at this time. I should certainly be under 2:00. I did slip on running shorts and had to change into shoes but still.

????

My plan was to just start the run as slow and comfortable as I could in a race and try to build speed throughout. Let me mention here though that my minimal goal was to finish under 3 hours since the two OLYs I have done prior were both 3:07. My reasonable goal though was 2:55 and my out there goal was under 2:50 although I really didn't feel like that was possible yet. Coming out of T2 I saw that I was right at about 1:48 and change so I needed to run about 10 minute miles and I could hit my 2:50. Hmm.

Well during the first mile I could tell I was going to suffer some but it is a race after all. I saw the split at a mile though I I was fairly encouraged so instead of building I was just going to try to maintain the current pace for as long as I could and see what happens.

Saw my second split was 9:45 and now I'm thinking holy cow, this might just be possible. At mile 3 you are literally yards away from the finish line but you have to do the second loop for the OLY. I did see the clock at the finish like which read I think 2:35 or so. I was wave 4 so according to official time I was 2:20 in at that point. Just gotta get 3.1 miles in within 30 minutes and I was going to do something that I'm not sure I could pull off when I did my OLY last year!

I'm hurtin' though but I did take another gel right at the end of the first loop. It might just be mental but within 5-10 minutes those seem to give me a fairly good energy boost.

Even though the trail is mostly shaded there are parts where you are out in the sun and boy it is really starting to feel hot. Pretty much every water station I do stop to drink and a couple time I dumped water over my head. A fuel belt would be a good idea for the future.

Mile 4 I'm still on pace pretty much but I know this might be a bit close. I figure if I can just maintain then I'll be able to get a push towards the end simply out of adrenalyn. There is a decent climb close to the finish so I'm trying to prepare myself mentally for that.

Mile 5 my split is 9:55 so I'm thinkin' if I just don't trip I'm in pretty decent shape. Just hafta gut it out and maintain. Got to the hill and really powered up fairly well which surprised a little but now just a few corners and I knew I would see the finish. I knew I needed to see under 3:05 on the official clock to be under 2:50. I'm thrilled to see 3:03 and change as I come around the corner. I've got a guy next to me who looked a lot more like a races than me but he and I are now starting to battle to the finish but I'm pretty happy I'm stayin' with him. Then I notice a woman from the wave b4 me on my right and now there's three of us pushin' towards the finish. I don't know who crossed first and I don't really care - I finished really pretty strong.

After I crossed the finish line and saw that I was 2:48 I'm actually getting quite emotional. I really didn't think that would happen at this race. Part of me is all pumped up from the finish and I'm ready to punch somebody and part of me is actually teering up a little bit. I feel fortunate always to participate in these and frankly I'm quite surprised on what I'm actually accomplishing!

At 250 lbs yet I'm racing fairly well and to finish MOP in a very competitive overall field I'm very, very happy with. I'll never be FOP and that's OK because I'm improving as time goes on and I know I can still get better!

Having more to drink would certainly help. More speed work in training. Still, almost a sub 1:00:00 10k at the end of an OLY for me is outstanding!

Took a few minutes to catch my breath. I'm very sweaty. Grapped all the liquid I could. Walked a little. Ate pretzels, bannanas, small cliff, etc. Kind of a lonely race as the fam couldn't make it and never hooked up with other BTers which is unfortunate.


Not much. Maybe the next time I run this race I can be 20-30 lbs lighter which would certainly help but besides that, I'm thrilled!


Good race with a fairly nice setting. Unless I missed it there wasn't really a race meeting at all. Pre race check in is kind of a pain having to drive somewhere else besides the going to the course. Furthest road on the bike is in very bad condition. I think it's a WI/IL border road so that's probably why it gets ignored.

It's a good race though and I would think I'll do it again.