Sportspectrum River Cities Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Got off to a good start but was picked, prodded, pocked more than in any other race; including Danskin! I actually had someone grab my foot and pull me. I just let her know I didn't like that with a quick flick. The hot, sandy water made it feel like swimming through split pea soup. I did sight pretty well, but felt myself crossing my arms as I pulled. That I know made for a slower time.

Not quite sure- it's hard to know which swimmers will do the poking, prodding hitting, pulling, etc. Maybe practice more in warm water? Nah...

I ran almost all the way in from the water. Cool! Got into my socks/shoes standing up. Grabbed helmet, glasses,got bike and ran to bike-out feeling good. This bike is going to awesome!

Nothing!

Yahoo, that was fun! I've never averaged that high in a race. I really am proud of myself. I did push it and my body responded. Mike passed me at mile 8-9 ish (he was 8 minute behind me in the swim start so he caught up to me plus some). My little challenge to myself was to try and get to mile 13 before that happened. Oh well, next race...:). Then Pam caught up with me at mile 16 or so. The challenge was on. "Don't look back, Harris. Keep going! Don't make me get a time penalaty", she yelled. I got a shot of mojo with that. Thanks Pam! I kicked it in and raced to the finish. I was even out of my saddle as I turned into the park. Where did that come from? It felt awesome!

Nothing really. Just continue training like I have been on the bike. Maybe do more hill repeats and continue to lengthen my long rides. That last kick at mile 16 makes me think I may have left a little out there on the course. Things that make you go hhmmmmm.....

I wasn't going to let Pam beat me in T2. Friendly competition :) I came in kind of fast but not fast enough to crash- a little off balance but was able to get my footing and not fall. Must have been nice to watch 'cuz I got a lot of "great recover" comments.

Get my footing a little better right off the bike.

I started off strong with Pam out of transition and then thought my heart was going to pop out of my chest at about 300 yards. I walked/ran the rest. Good thing I didn't have my HR monitor on. I probably would have slowed down too much. I may have drank too much water. Every aid station I drank a dixie cup amount of water (about 3-4 oz) and poured another on my head. I was sloshing by mile 2. Saw Steve (Doughboy), Jimmy and Annette (Tri Zones friends) and then saw Mike about mile 1 at a cross roads. A yell and a wave later, I was off on way, he another. Grabbed cold towels twice when offred. The first time, I wiped my face and hands, wiped my legs, etc and then tossed it next to others on the ground. Then the next time I saw the towel bucket, I noticed the volunteers picking up the towels on the ground and putting them back in the cold water. That convinced me not to wipe my face and body the second time and just wring it out and put it across my shoulders to cool off. Yuck....

About 1/2 mile from the finish, I started to feel weak in my upper back (typical spot) and quads- not pain, just weakness. I knew I had pushed it hard today and would feel it there if anywhere, but was really relieved that I wasn't in pain.

I saw the finish line and tried to sprint it in. Sand! Be careful I told myself. Tiff had her camera ready as she yelled for me. Mike and Rich were just at the finish line and yelled as well. If I yelled back I thought my heart would pop out of my mouth! I just smiled and gave thumbs up.

Continue run training. I will get faster. Not wipe off face and body with the cold towels provided, I had no idea where they haed been- just place on shoulders to cool off. :)

Got across the finish, walked around a bit, talked with BTers, started to stretch a little, did my post-race interview with Aaron and then got a bowl of rice and beans with sausage and a hotdog bun. I found Bailey and all she said was,"Can you get me some watermellon, mom?" Not a "how was the race?", or a "great job, mom". Well, can't really blame her. It's hot and she was having fun with her friend. Got her something to eat as well and was relieved for our friends being there to help watch her while both Mike and I could race this year.


The water temp on the swim and my run abilities at this time. Most of the run course was in the shade or I think the heat REALLY would have put me out. I went into this race feeling stronger than the other races so far this year. It showed on the bike. I truly pushed it a lot harder and was please I could handle it. I didn't use a HR monitor and I think that made a difference. I know my HR was high but I think taht's where mine is. I need to re-test my zones. I may surprise myself.


I really felt great today. I pushed myself and kind of just let myself go and see what my body could do. Wow, what a difference. I think I'm going to do that more often. It was really hot but shaded and I was affraid I might melt down and be limited by my back in the end.

From now on, I need to trust myself to push myself more with my training in general. I can get myself so caught up in the numbers (HR, exact times etc) and if my back will hurt or not, and what I should be doing to tweak this and that. I'm beginning to find a happy median with it all and have stopped overanalyzing. I think I'll surprise myself at Hi Fi Tri. Just keep training, just keep training, have fun, just keep training....