Tri the Parks - Indian Springs State Park - TriathlonSprint

This swim course was nicely marked, with a bouy at every 100 meters, and a large bouy at each turn (2x).

The swim went fine for the first 100 meters, but after that the wheels just fell off the bus. I could not find my rhythm, I could not get a proper breath rhythm down, no drafting at all. My sighting went well as I used the other swimmers mostly, then spoting of the bouys, and the shore line.

I just felt flat the entire swim, and by the time I came out of the water I was drained.

I had just hit the 300 meter mark when I saw the first swimmer of the next wave come by. I swear he was strapped to a motor-boat. VRRROOOOOOM

Not sure. I will work on my OWS this weekend at the lake. Perhaps I need to relax, and get in rhythm.

T1 went fine. I was drained from the poor swim, and even the run to T1 seemed tiring for some reason. Everything clicked off in T1 just as planned, but it seemed slow.

Nothing

I am not sure who's race report said there were only two hills on this course, but it seemed to go up, flat, up flat, up flat, etc....all the way out. I thought that the way back would be flying, but for some reason, it also had hills on it. I don't think it helped that my legs felt flat the entire time. I just could not find that next gear to drop into.

Right before entering the park I saw the medics working on a bike wreak. The guy (Michael Eddy) was on a back board getting strapped in. I felt so bad for the guy, and hoped he would be alright. Received an update email last night that stated:

"We want to follow up with information on an athlete who was involved in a bike wreck during the race and give you his status. Michael Eddy was involved in the wreck and was evacuated to Macon Medical Center to get treatment Saturday. He sustained some cuts and bruises and his most serious injury was a puncture wound to his hip. We spoke with Michael earlier today and are very pleased to pass on the good news that he checked out of Macon Medical on Saturday and plans to be back racing soon.

We appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers for Michael and his family as we all wish him a speedy and full recovery."

Speedy recovery Michael

Not sure

About a quarter of a mile from T2 a group of TT bikes caught me (gota get me one of those), and with all the sharp turns it was a adventure getting to the dismount line. The entire group unstrapped, feet on shoes, and ready for dismount. The group when to the inside, and it looked like a mad dash to get their legs swung over to dismount. About 25-30 feet from dismount I swung over to one side, and let my speed bring me up to the line. I went wide (right next to the yellow line), and had a clear spot. Jumped off and took off running around everyone. As I rounded the group I heard the ref say "clean dismount everyone". It is cool, I came to the dismount line just behind the group, and in several pictures I am leading the group in T2.

Nothing, T2 felt fine, just a bit slow. My speed muscles were not on that day.

After finishing the run, the course makes sence, but being the first time running it during the race I was like where and in hell am I going. All-in-all, I had a poor effort in the run, but looking back my thoughts were pretty funny at the time.

Coming out of T2, there was a group of four guys in front of me. Through out the run I passed all but one (more on him later). The run seemed up and down, flat, blah, blah, blah. I was running, and running, and running and I thought to myself that they must not have mile marks out, and I must be around the 1.5 mile mark. WRONG, hold sh*t, there is the one mile marker. Well, as everyone stated there are two loops through the camp grounds where the hills lay and wait. There was an aid station handing out water at the top of each campground. I grabbed a cup of water, quick sip, and dumped the rest on my head. Down, and around to the first hill. Yes, it was steep, but not too bad. I powered up it, and out of the first loop. As I came out of the first loop I saw my brother about to head in. A quick wave, and I was off to the next one. Well, there was another aid station at the top, and I reached for water, missed, it dropped to the ground I said thank you to the guy and pushed on. In my head I was thinking "damn, I really needed that". Oh well, on-ward. Down the hill, and around to the base of hill number 2. WTF is this? I thought this was a running course, not a mountain climbing track. I had to go up on my toes to power up that bad boy. That hill was no joke. As I came out of that second loop, I was my other two buddies heading past and preparing for the fun of the first loop. WOO-HOO!! As I passed the Joe (my buddy) I got his normal "this sucks" remark. That made me laugh.

Shortly after that I saw the grass entry which meant the finish was around the corner. I dropped it in the next gear, as I need to finish this race. At this point, I was trying to catch the guy that I had been running after the entire run. As I rounded the corner to the finish, I dropped the hammer (where the hell have you been Mr. Hammer), and got up to sprint speed. Well, if I found the hammer gear about .25 of a mile earlier, I would have caught the guy, but too little too late. Oh well, all I could think was were my extra gears had been?

I even reached down and took the chip off for the catchers. I had not earned the right to ask them to get it for me.

Nothing really, look for my extra gears before the final 100 meters of the run.

Water, orange, bannana

Wait of the rest of my group to finish, then talk about the race. Our group has grown to four now. So, we were all telling stories about some part of the race. Then, we all went out to eat and laught some more.

As I went out for the run, a volunteer that was handing out water called out Hiawassee (referring to Beast of the East) that he and I raced a few weeks ago. After the race, I went back and talked to him for a bit. Great guy, and new friend. He was going to race Indian Springs, but had dropped a sleg-hammer on his toe on Tuesday, and could not run. So, he came down to hand out water. Did I say he was a good guy? I look forward to racing him again.

Thanks for that water (again)!!!


I tired something different this week. I did not taper at all. Basically, I continued to train without any taper off before the race. I had no issues finishing the distance (just like a training day), but I did not have the extra gas in the legs, nor gear to drop into. Next race, I will make sure to taper.


I want to take all the volunteers and race director! They did a wonderful job out there. This is by far the most organized race that I have done thus far this year. Plenty of aid stations, turns marked, etc...GREAT JOB!!