Heritage Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Got off to a decent start, avoiding alot of contact. Not intentionally though. Just managed to be in a good place at a good time I suppose. Hung on to some guy's feet to the first buoy, which was probably around 250-300. Really struggled with breathing. I would have to roll all the way over to my back nearly to get air, and I swallowed a good bit of water.

Never really felt fluid. Felt like I had some windmill action going the whole time. At the second buoy it had somewhat thinned out, but I did swim over to the right a little to catch a draft.

Likewise on the third buoy, I treaded water for a second to look for feet. I really wanted to practice drafting with this race as I never draft much and have not been very effective with it. Cruised on in, swimming until I could dig.

Try to settle into a more fluid, technical stroke earlier. Maybe do a few minutes of drills in the water before the race starts. The highlight of this race would be my sighting though. Felt like I swam a straight line the whole race, with the exception of when heading over to feet to catch draft.

Gained nearly a minute on last year's time here. That was expected, as I've become a much better swimmer recently.

Stepped in the kid's tub to clean my feet off. Felt a bit sluggish, and surprisingly disinterested in being fast. I haven't been practicing mounting with my shoes on since last year, so I didn't bother. Nothing was really difficult, I just felt like a slug.

Practice transitions once in a while.

Can't really compare this to last year because the transition setup was different last year. Granted, last year I was one of only seven people with a sub 30 second transition out of a field of 200. Yeah, I've gotten much slower.

Took a few seconds to get clipped in, but almost instantly I was tracking people down. Got out of the saddle to get my legs warmed up on the first big hill coming out of the park. Then I tried to settle into a nice steady pace, but I could tell it might be a long day because immediately my glutes start hurting. Bike fit, I think. Toughed it out and stayed in aero.

Can't stop thinking about the peanut butter I ate for breakfast. Apparently I had too much, because I sure was tasting it. Kept on thinking I was going to vomit, but never did until about mile 10. And it was much, just a little. But I sure was glad to get it out of me!

I continue passing, up to about 10 people. About a mile from the turn-around I see Chauncey come flying by, so I decide to start counting what place I'm in. 25th at that point. But it took forever to see second because Chauncey had already built up a huge lead on second. Turn around, and I see Gina not too far back. I'm relieved, because she was anxious about racing a sprint again. She looked great, and I yelled encouragement.

On the way back, I just felt like I was going nowhere. Got up out of the saddle on a downhill and stuck it in a big gear just to mash a bit to try and get out of the funk. But it really didn't work. Just kept playing tag with bib 107.

Came to the dam access road, and finally felt some speed. This section is downright fast, especially if you're fast on the downhills like I can be. Passed 3 more guys here, although I did get passed back later by one. To the dam hill. The famed dam hill. This year I was determined to get up it in the big chainring. Not smart, but I guess it's a macho thing or something. Managed to do so, but I was spent coming off that.

Easy flat road back into transition.

Not much. I felt sluggish, but I think it's just lack of training and eating right. Last year I rode this in 44:48, so I was a little slower. But with the training I've been doing, I'm not expecting to get faster at a 15 mile course but to get faster at 50+ mile courses. And that I have been doing.

Much like the first transition, I wasn't too concerned about being fast. Didn't flying dismount, as I haven't practiced.

Practice transitions.

Started off, and I found a comfort zone. Bad, but I just wanted to get a feel before I started running hard. Both calves are cramping a bit, but it's tolerable. The cramps fade fairly quickly.

Not much going on in the first mile. Some guy flys by me, and I pass a couple. Stop at the aid stations to walk as I get water down.

After mile 1, we hit the first turnaround and I see Clint from the bike club, followed by Zach from the tri club and Chris on BT (camy). Wow! I didn't know all you guys were right in front of me. Pick it up a hair and pass Zach. Clint is too far ahead, and I'm gaining on Chris. I'm maybe 10 feet behind Chris. I turn around and see nobody even remotely close to me. I've only got a mile left, so I give in. Eh, I'm not sure I could've caught him anyways. I didn't really have much in the tank. At least I scared him into running faster!

Coasted on in to the finish.

Start running more. Last year I was consistently running 25-35 miles per week. Now I'm happy to get more than 10 in.

Last year I ran this is 23:33, so I was a bit slower here too.

Waited at the finish line for Gina to come in. Saw Pat from the bike club, who was just spectating. So I got his attention to chat. If he could swim, he'd be one hell of a triathlete. See Gina finish, and I give her a nice sweaty hug.

Chat with everybody, getting a baked potato and spaghetti while waiting for the awards. Drink 4 beers, and feel nearly intoxicated. Well, not quite intoxicated but it's amazing what never drinking will do to your alcohol tolerance!

Chat with Eric Deller and find out he passed I think 11 people on the run to get second place. Sweet! That moves him out of the AG ranks, which propels me into first place. Pretty pitiful that I get first place. This just shows the lack of talent in my age group. But I'll take a trophy!


Poor eating habits. Lack of training. Enjoying the married life too much! :)


Jefferson is about as fun a race as I can ask for. It's got the great hometown feel that I really enjoy when racing sprints. If it wasn't for the country bumpkin that threw water on my during the run, this race would've been ran perfectly. And results took a little while to come out. But nothing serious. I was having too much fun drinking and chatting to realize they weren't out yet!