Triangle Triathlon - North Carolina Triathlon Series Race #9 - TriathlonSprint

The swim felt really good. I like distance swimming, I enjoy just stretching out and going...just not in too big of a hurry. The lake is dirty (brown) but it was very smooth with no waves. Now the sighting was a different issue. Having never swum in a lake (pool swimming all my life) this was interesting & challeging. I had a very hard time seeing in the water and sighting (note to self... buy clear goggles) and was afraid to count on someone else in case they were having the same problem (my luck I would follow the one person who couldn't see either). I basically stopped three times to breaststroke just to get my bearings. Had a few "run-ins" but overall got out ahead of the mass and swam comfortably. I probably should have pushed it a little more since I didn't feel tired getting out of the water...not even winded.

Race Day - wear clear goggles, swim harder so at least I am a little tired after them swim.
Pre-Race Day - do some ows, then do some more ows, then repeat!

Long transition compared to my 1s tri. Of course this one had 500 more people than my first tri did. I ran in from the swim and calmly (slowly) put on my shoes and helmet. The run out and to the mount line was a long way. Wish I could put my shoes on my bike and do that flying leap onto my bike and into my shoes....it is hard running in those shoes on rocks and then pavement.

Learn how to do the flying leap onto bike and into shoes.

I really need to spend more time on my bike. This is the new sport to me and it shows. So many times during the race I watched in awe of these guys in the swim wave behind me blow by me on the bike...had to remind myself I am suppose to be racing and had to pick it up. I didn't mind the hills I am use to hills. I think I prefer hills to flats, as you then gain downhills and it breaks up what you are doing.

I did get a little perplexed about 4 miles into the race. This girl and I were back and forth for about a mile. Then at mile four she blew by a turn, going straight, this cut off 7.2 miles of the course. Man, I bet her bike time was really good!!!

At the end of the bike I saw hubby and kids for the first time in the race. There is nothing like seeing and hearing your three littles ones yelling "GO Mommy GO" at the top of their lungs for quite a while. They were so excited to see me - I choked up a bit, it meant alot to me. Of course the hubby was more like - pick it up :)

I need to spend more time on my bike and ride hard.

This transition was slow. I wasn't tired....in fact my swim and bike did not really have me breathing hard. I need to race harder...even when I don't feel I have the training under me.

Felt pretty good starting off. Guess I didn't give it enough on the swim or bike. My first mile was 7:22, and didn't seem tough at all. Saw hubby and kids again at the first 1\2 mile. Once again "GO Mommy GO". Music to my ears....especially since I didn't feel like I was dying and thought I could do them proud. The second mile was slower, but I tried to pick it up on the last mile.

Push harder the whole way.

Walked around with kids and hubby. Kids loved the misting tent.
They were ready to leave, but I wasn't. They headed home and I just sat and soaked it all in for another 30 minutes.


Need to get back into training. Meds will be done in about four days, but honestly the last two days I have felt my strength coming back. Will get on my bike Monday am!


Can't really rate this race, it's my second and very different from the first one. However I enjoyed it. Hope that it fits into the family calendar next year so I can come back.