Summer Sizzler International Distance Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

This was the best feeling swim that I have ever had in a race. Everything went according to plan IMO. I could actually see my training throughout the swim vs the maddness that normally consumes it (e.g. the swim).

We all jumped in for a quick warm up. I swim around 100 meters or so, then back to the beach, rock beach that is. As we were all standing there waiting for the count-down, I worked my way over to Derek for our traditional "Strenght & Honor" before the start. At that point I saw Scott, a triathlete that swim at LA Fitness with me. We said what up, and good luck. From there, 30 seconds......15 seconds.....5, 4, 3, 2, 1, GO!!! The first 25 meters was questionable since everyone was on top of everyone. The crowd started to thin out, or at least I had my own space after 25 meters. I just swam with the crowd for a bit, then decided to try and spot the first bouy. I have been working on a new spoting style in training, and I wanted to see how it worked during a race. I used to breath, then take a quick glance. I found that style to drop my hips too much, so I have been working on up for a quick look, then to the side for air. IT WORKS!!!! Not only in training, but it works during a race really well. Anyway, I spoted the first bouy and it was right in front of me. We were flying. I would find feet to draft off of for a bit, then they would drop me. Then, I would find other feet and draft off them as long as I could. The entire time telling myself to relax, smooth is fast. Around the back side of the island, then around the corner bouy. At this point, I kept telling myself that I am killing this swim. I doing great! I was soooo pumped that the swim was going so well. I did not even think about where Derek was.

Well, the shore was closing fast. I saw people standing up to start running up the hill to round the tree, but I kept swimming until my hand hit the bottom. From there I exploded up, and started running up the beach. Those rocks were brutal. I really don't remember them that much as I was pumped up. I rounded the tree, hearing my wife yelling for me, then back down towards the water for lap 2. As I rounded the tree I hear a woman say "way to go 134". As I was running back over the razor sharp beach-O-rocks I thought, hey, 134 that is me. She is cheering me on, I must be down well.

As I got back to the water my feet were stinging. I got about knee deep and made the decision that it was deep enough to dive and not hit the bottom. My feet were hurting bad enough that I had enough of that. So, I dove back in. Back to swiming lap 2.

This lap there were far fewer people to sit off of, so I used what I could, then sighted the bouys, island, etc... I kept thinking how well the swim was going. As I rounded the back side I started breathing every fourth stroke, then three, then back to four. I felt like I was killing it. I never once thought about all the people that were beating me, I did not care. This swim felt wonderful!!! I freestyled the entire thing. Never once did I break to beast-stroke. Training had worked 100%. I popped out of the water, then made the run to T1.

I think my second lap took a bit longer because I was swimming further around the bouys. In lap one, I made tight rounds since the crowd was there, but in lap two I did not have the crowd to help guide. I did great, but just swam a bit further than I had to.

Nothing

This even was not chipped, so I really don't know the time, but I have been avg around 30-40 seconds, so I put a minute up there for both T1 & T2. It all averages out, and come to 2:08 so whatever.

Dropped cap/goggles grabbed sunglasses, helmet, bike, and I was off. As always T1 was very fast. I would say another 30 second T1. Run to the mount area, no mount line, and jumped on. I was off.

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There was a short 50 feet before you hung a right, so I was able to get one foot in. I rounded the corner, then put the left foot in. There was a hill right there, so I decided to top it before strapping down the shoes.

My goal in the bike was to keep the effort even, and smooth. No dropping the hammer to burn out the legs. What a beautiful course. The first few miles there were beautiful views of the lake. It was cloudy, for the first few miles of the bike and even some fog, then the sun came out. Very cool, you could feel the temp fall then rise. I started reeling people back in at that point. I realized that my hill training is really working, as I pulled so many people back in on the hills. Well, I reeled in a P3 on one hill, then he passed me on the decent. Then, on the flat and next hill I passed him again. P3 and I played cat & mouse for a while, so I decided to make a joke about it as I passed. "See you on the next down hill". He said "I hope so", and we both laughed. That went on for a bit before I dropped him. At mile 7 my brother caught me. OH NO. Well, he blew on by, and I was like "well sh*t". Nonetheless, I reeled him back in on the next hill. I don't think he heard me, but as I reeled him back in I said "where do you think you are going"? We smiled, then he passed me again on the next decent, then I passed him again this time with a "nice bike". We would talk and each passed the other, then we laughted. Best bike leg in a race. Effort was smooth and even, and I had plenty of energy. I had loaded 336 calories in my water bottle (Carbo-pro) that I was fueling off of. Just what I needed. Well, my goal was just to keep him in sight until T2. We hung a right into the park, and I just tailed him on in.

I saw my wife sitting there, and I was waiting for her to start taking pics of us coming in. Well, she was talking to someone and totally missed us. It would have been a great pic, because this was the first time Derek and I came in from the bike together and she missed it.

About the course. Well, this course seemed to climb, climb, and climb some more. Nothing horrible, but definitely some climbs. At mile 11, I swear there was a 1.5 mile hill. Not steep, but long and steady up. From there rollers up and down. I crossed an one lane bridge and remembered wmckean's race report said there was a monster hill on the other side. Well, there is a big hill over there. (thanks for the tip wmckean) It was great to see all the pain of the faces as I passed people on the hills, only to have the TT bike blow pass me on the other side.



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Nice even effort, legs felt great, and I set a new PR on the bike. 19.7 MPH average. My last race was a PR at 19.35 MPH, so I gained .32 mph on this split.

I was tailing Derek as we came into T2. We had caught some other guy right at T2, so there was three of us dismounting. Derek swung his leg over and knocked out a water bottle. I think he also said his knocked off a shoe, but I only saw the water bottle. Anyway, I saw this and cut to the inside (e.g. right). I gave him a laugh as I passed, flawless victory on the dismount. I blew into T2, rack the bike, helmet off, and started with the socks. Right sock on, right shoe. Grabbed the left sock, and there is Derek. DOH..... claim, steady I told myself. Left sock on, left shoe, race belt BOO-YAAAAA I am out.

Nothing

As I left T2 I grabbed a cup of water from the volunteer. THANK YOU as I passed. Hung a right, then up that first hill. My wife was sitting there staring up the hill still waiting for us to return. As I ran pass, I fussed at her that "we are back here". She jumped up and started taking pics. She felt so bad that she missed us.

I started passing people left and right. I was passing one guy, and I said this hill sucks. He laughed, and said "yeah, this is my second time doing it". DOH, I am so far behind, it is time to catch up. I set it down in 5th gear and crused. Out to the front of the park, where there was a nice down hill and I told a female that I enjoyed the downhill. She laughed and said "what goes down, has to come up". We laughed, and I rounded the front for the first 180 turn. Back up the hill, where it flatens out to the bridge. I guess it was a bridge, but I marked that in my head as the entrance to the parking lot. Another volunteer was there handing out water, THANK YOU! I grabbed a cup because I knew what was ahead. Now, the run course is hilly. Up and down, up and down, but there is one monster hill on this course and it is going in the parking lot. WOW, very nice hill right there. I powered up it, and could tell the second time around this hill will be rough.

I was passed only once on the run. It was at the top of the parking lot, by a six foot something blonde female. As she passed she said "great job", and then blew on by. I was like WTF, she is a badazz.

Anyway, down the other side of the parking lot, hung a right, then up another hill, then down around the finish line. Lap one down, lap two to go. I felt great, so I pushed a bit harder. Up the hill, to the entrance, to the parking lot, powered back up the hill, down the other side, up the next hill then down hill to the circle. I kept it in curse control, because I was still moving very well. I had two people in front of me at this point. I passed one, then as I passed by-stander he looked at me and said "catch him". I dropped it down into 6th gear and off I went. Now, this guy was 6'3 or 6'4. I was taking two to three strides for every one of his. I was gaining, but slowly. Well, as the circle turned back up hill, and I passed him flying and then dropped him. As I rounded the circle to the finish, I saw my wife on the hill taking pics. She took off running to get a finish line pic, and I hit the nitrous. I was having soooooo much fun. I said "come on, come on" as I sprinted to the end. There was no catching me. She was able to get a pic of me crossing the finish line from a distance. Crossed the line at 2:08:09. Not bad for my first International.

Nothing really, perhaps push a bit harder. I was in curse control for most of the run, and only dropped the hammer at the end. Looking back, I could have red lined the entire run. Oh well, I had a great time.

Grabbed a water, and talked to my wife. We were waiting on Derek. When I saw him I ran over to cheer him on. He had to round the circle, so I ran back to the finish line to cheer some more. He heard us cheering and gave it his all to the line.

From there we drank water, ate a bannana, and more water. We walked around for a bit.


I did not push it. I am glad, as this race was the most fun I have had in a race. The swim went great, I set a PR on the bike with overall avg, and the run felt great. I talked to people, and had a great time.


This is the best race that I have done. Granted, a new PR on the bike, and I felt comfortable the entire race. I also had the most fun doing this race. I will definitely be doing this race again. What a great time!!

Try-a-Tri was selling shirts so I bought one that is solid black and says "There is nothing more painful than regret" on the back. This race was a huge confidence builder for the Beast of the East Half-Ironman race on 9/20. Time to train!

Thanks to all the volunteers!! Thank you for the water, thank you for the directions, thank you for a wonderful race!!