North Branch Indoor Triathlon - Triathlon

WOW this was bad! I don't know if I have swam this bad in a competition ever. Was in the lane with the guy that I figured would win and I knew he would be out of the pool way ahead of me. He was ahead of me from the whistle. For the first 50 yrds I tried drafting but I think it was non-effective. I was told I was the only person in my heat doing open turns. I should not have requested the first heat! My swim isn't that strong! I couldn't find my form at all during the swim. I honestly belive I was trying to hard not to get lapped by the entire heat. Lane partner had a 25 yard lead on me at the 475 yard mark. I have never been happier to be done with a swim in my life!!!!

Not try so hard. Just get in and swim my race. I was trying to hard to stay up with the others in my heat.

Jumped out of the pool and headed up stairs to where the bikes where. The family locker room was supposed to be closed so that the tri participants could exit the pool and get to the upstairs loft. When I went through there were about three people in there changing. I was like "coming through, watch out!". Got upstairs and put the shoes on quickly. Jumped on the bike and put my shirt on while I was riding!

I'd say this was a good transition.

Water part is over and I get to start doing the things I'm decent at. My heart rate was really high for about the first 3 min. of the bike. It was just like the run at Emporia. I actually thought about slowing to get it down. Stan was standing there in front of me telling me not to worry about it that it would come down sooner or later. Him telling me that was probably what saved my race. When I came up the stairs and saw the bikes the guy that was in my lane was messing with putting his shoes on and I beat him onto the bike. I know he is a much better cyclist than myself so I was trying to get all the time I could on him. I just put my head down and tried to keep the legs pumping. Fatigue never crept into the legs like it did at the Central branch. When my lane partner completed his bike portion I was at 5.55 miles. I had work to do but I know he cannot run with me! He managed to get a lap and a three quarters in before I completed my bike.

Don't think I would do much different. This might be my best bike portion in a triathlon.

Very quick transition. Jump off the bike and run about 10 feet to the track.

Got on the track and settled in knowing this is my bread and butter! Lane partner (LP) was moving good but he needed more time than what he had amassed. I think he knew it was a matter of time. If I remember right it took me 7 laps to catch LP and get within one lap of him. I figured in my head that if I kept pace he would not be in the lead much longer. I don't know how many laps it took to lap him again. I just set the cruise control and let the good times roll. When my race was over I had him down by a whole lap. He so I made up 2.75 laps. I had a good run but not an awesome one. It is hard to get into good fast pace during these races because you are turning so much. Last year at this race my run was in the 10's.

Run harder.

Walked lap or so and headed toward teh NUUN bottle. I had a serious case of cotton mouth!


Testicular Fortitude. So many races is so few weeks!


These races are so much fun! I wish they wouldn't limit the field. The local tri community doesn't really get into these races. They are a blast!