Elkhart Lake Triathlon - Olympic Distance - TriathlonOlympic

Nothing worked well on the first leg. I was out of breath and had a high heart rate (150s+, higher than I have ever seen in the swim) any time I tried freestyle. I did backstroke most of the way, which helped breathing and heart rate somewhat, but not much. I wasn't sure how I was going to make it most of the way, but just kept at it. I had a little cramping in one calf. I probably used way too much kick on this leg.

Soon after rounding the buoy suddenly everything clicked. I got my head in the water, breathing felt great and I motored all the way back. It felt great. I had issues with calf cramping, but hoped it wouldn't continue later. The wind was with me on the way back, but I don't think that was the main problem on the way out?

All I can think of is more open water training for my main problems. Training using less legs would help too, although I think I did ok with that on the way back.

Oh yeah, bathroom break!

The transition went okay. I'll need to practice this some time. My heart rate was 150 so I must have been running fast enough. Probably socks and shoes took too long.

Practice taking suit off, bike shoes some day.

Oh yeah, bathroom break! I intended to stop but the porta johns were too far the wrong way.

Legs were obviously very tired when I started, not my usual strength. Again hills were tough, but this partly went along using them too much inthe swim.

Lack of bathroom break was a nagging issue, I thought of pulling over, but never found a convient time or spot.

Practice swim more with less kick, practice hills more.

My best ranking! LOL, quicker without bike shoes to change. 2nd in age group! But I did motor, HR was 155. The only problem was sprint finishers hanging around getting in the way.

I really intended a bathroom break here, the porta johns were right in the crowd of cheering spectators, and I was looking good with a pretty good short lived stride coming out of transition.

Nothing really, just work on changing bike shoes 'when' I get them.

Obviously my worst event, and it should have been a lot better. Interestingly my ranking is right around my racetime rankings, so I guess most had slower runs.

Again, less legs in the swim would have helped. Practicing drinking would help also, that just didn't work running. Plain ran out of gas.

Felt good, mainly drank up.


It started bad right away in the swim, and that hurt me the rest of the way. Light on training the last few weeks with a sprint race three weeks earlier.


Overall a great race.