Camp Pendleton Sprint Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Not a stellar 1st OWS (in a race setting). I started toward the back of the pack, entering the water about 20 yds south of the 1st buoy, per the announcer's suggestion (in order to swim with the current). Navigating the first buoy was fine- I rounded it nice and close. Had a little more trouble keeping a straight line moving toward the 2nd buoy. By the time I rounded it and started heading for shore, the lifeguards had to steer me back oncourse a few times. Sighting was hard.

Practice sighting. Pick up a pair of tinted goggles, as the sun in my eyes didn't help anything. Not start so far towards the back.

Long run from swim finish to T1 (1:43). Total time in T1 was 2:40.
Felt good about the transition- everything was laid out well. I had a clif shot and drank some water. I ran the bike to the end of T1, but still don't have the flying mount (or dismount) down quite yet. Didn't clip shoes to the bike beforehand, and I'm glad- I passed two guys on the bike while leaving T2. They were struggling to fasten their shoes.

Thinking maybe take the wetsuit off as soon as I'm out of the water, to speed up the swim finish - T1 run? Not sure what else. Maybe just do it faster.

Great ride. Wore gloves and socks (no regrets there). Passed several guys and got passed by several more (I'm thinking mostly the faster guys from the next wave, as I was one of the last to finish the swim in my wave.) Some minor side stitches, but felt good overall. Drank about 1/2 bottle of gatorade during the last 1/2 of the ride.

Maybe ease up a little- I felt fine during the ride and immediately after, but my run may have suffered. Also drink more fluids (more for the run than the ride).

Yeah baby!
No flying dismounts (yet), but 0:51 felt like a pretty swift T2, especially for a noobie.



Flying dismount! Maybe take feet out of shoes and leave em clipped to the bike- I like this idea.

This one hurt. Legs felt very heavy for the first 100 yds or so, then some wicked side stitches set in which lasted the whole race. My legs eventually felt better, even breathing seemed to calm, but I felt like I couldn't push the pace any harder because of the pains in my abdomen. Drank lots of water and gatorade, perhaps too much, but I couldn't kill the side stitches. I was pleasantly surprised by my time, which I had estimated would be in the 27-minute range during the race. Glad to say that I ran the whole time, in spite of the aches.

More fluids during the bike ride, ease up toward the end to give the legs a rest. Maybe more electrolytes would help with the side stitches?

Lots of water and gatorade, oranges, and bananas.


Inexperience


I'll be back next year...