Winding Trails Offroad Tri Series - Triathlon

Holy crap - worst crush yet. Highest # I saw on the beach was 132, they should;ve done 2 waves but said that they were running late so wouldn't do it. Somehow I did not think about line up and was at the front altho' I'm not convinced being at the back would've changed much. Got out preety well as pushed first 50 but went off right. Got around buoy and drifted right again then a guy in front of me stopped dead, I got held up and everyone behind me began swimming over me - not a nice feeling being repeatedly pushed down/under. I must've looked like a cartoon character running on the water surface as I swam like the bejessus to get out of that sitch. Just tried to stay calm after that and swim smoothly. Still I was up with last year's time. I heard everyone saying that the swim was hell.

Maybe I have to push it hard for the first 75-100, at least 'til I am around the buoy and away from the scrum.

My warm-up was a good one for me though.

This is a guess time from my splits.

MTB shoes are hard to get on and have a few too many straps.

This is a tough course - very hard to get incremental time with poor fitness. Fastest woman (ex-World Team TT Champ rode a 24:30, fastets guys are 22:+. Easy to lose focus. Undid shoe straps at end but din't take feet out of shoes as was bumpy.

One week I just need to push this as hard as possible and see where I end up. Get out of the saddle more so as not to lose momentum and speed and focus. Take feet out of shoes at end.

Some dude ahead of me had racked his bike in my spot on the end of the rack and covered everything up so I had to rack on the rack - not much time I guess but not as smooth. Love the shoes with no sox - so fast.

Try to have feet on top of shoes to speed up run in.

Legs were a little rebellious at first but I kept them turning over with short strides. Run starts up hill on and off for a mile or so so it's a tough start that feels tougher due to the terrain. Picked off a few folks then got passed myself. Knowing hte course from last year helps a lot, passed a few guys more and then a woman and then Cheryl C flew by me - wow. Then passed a couple more guys and then one woman who had smoked me on the bike. I was really aiming for her once I got her in my sights, caught her on teh last big hill and then worked hard (ran scared) to keep her away.

Again focus, focus, focus. I think I did pretty good but I could maybe push harder at the beginning?

Went in the lake - nice cold water. Showered, stretched and then got a massage - nice!


I think this was about the limit for last night - swim could be calmer and hopefully faster. Transitions espesh mtb shoes off could be better.


They've gone to plattsys chip timing this year which is great. Once the wave starts are in it will be even better. Always a fun, low key training race like tri used to be.