Camp Pendleton International Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

This is a protected swim in a small harbor, so no waves or current to speak of. The start line is about 150 yds wide, and in chest deep water, so everyone was really spread out, which was nice, very little contact.

I lined up in front and, at the gun, took my line. I didn't go straight along the buoys, figuring more people would take that line and I'd pass them if they were slower. If they were faster, might as well let them go. There were a few guys to the left of me on the buoy line, and one or two way to the right nearer the rock breakwall. Eventually, we all came together near the first buoy in a straight line. I couldn't tell for sure, but I was 4th or 5th, i think at the first buoy.

Which is where my only complaint came on the swim, the diesel fumes at the first buoy were obnoxious.

After the first left I caught a draft off two guys in my wave, and the vision in my head was we were an orange arrow as we sliced through the white, green and blue earlier waves. About 2/3 of the way to the second turn, I lost them but I was right on the buoy line. I was going to avoid the crowd and take that turn wide, but saw an opening so swam over someone's legs (sorry!) to get there.

This year, all the turn buoys were on your left, except the last, which was a change from last year, which was now a right hand turn then into the beach. So instead of hugging the rock wall, better line was along the left buoys. As I got closer to the last buoy, looked like lots of people wer ealong the wall and then cutting the last buoy. I initially decided in my head that I was just training so I'd do the whole course, then decided "f it," I'll follow the crowd.

Luckily, they were enforcing the last buoy, so all the folks along the wall had to come out to get past it, I had kept my line and was going straight for it. Cut around and into the beach. Hit the sand, hit the lap on my watch at 21:52.

Began the loooooong as run back to T1

Official Splits
2007 Swim - 28:17
2008 Swim - 25:52

Nothing. Overall I had a solid swim. Came out pretty fresh, I was not destroyed, and had just concentrated on a steady, strong stroke.

This was the time from hitting the sand to exiting T1. Noticed I had cut my thumb somewhere and got blood on my shoes. You're not a triathlete until you get blood on your shoes, I say.

Did OK, i've never been that great at transitions. Last year they had a Marine with a hose to wash sand off, they didn't this year so I used my water bottle.

Move quicker

My plan for this ride was to hammer the flats, spin the hills. I recalled that there were 2 hills going out, 2 coming back, not cimbs, but simply enough to get your attention.

Seemed like there was a decent headwind going out, and when we went inland for the Las Pulgas turnaround, my bike race number was flapping straight south to the right. On the return, straight south to the left, so we'd have a tailwind going back. Didn't feel like much of a tailwind, though, as I hit the turnaround at 36 and time was 1:14, so I slowed a little bit.

My heartrate was in the upper 150s low 160s, which means I was holding back a bit, I blew up on the run last year and wanted to save something this year. There were a few times I was pushing pretty hard, mostly on the rolling hills, but for the most part went strong and steady. I passed a lot of people, and got passed by a few, mostly the disc/aero helmet crowd.

SOme blatant drafting going on out there.

Stats:
1 - gel at turnaround
3 - dead snakes
2 - "Tank Crossing" signs
1 - dropped chain, picked it up on the fly
4 - spent shell casings
lots - yelling marines
1 - shower poof from someone's aerobottle

Official splits
2007 Bike - 1:20:49
2008 Bike - 1:17:02

Not sure. I thought I would be a little faster than just a touch over 20 mph.....

yeah, this just felt like a mess

This is where it fell apart last year, and I didn't want a repeat. I had my Garmin with me so I knew where the miles were, and I could maintain my pace. I started out a little too fast, but realized that I felt pretty good so I could certainly back off a bit and still beat my goal of running 9:30s. I was still getting passed, but running my race.

It's a great run course because there arte a number of turns and two relatively short out and backs, so it's easy to break into mental "sections." I got water and g'ade at the first few stations, and walked a few steps to get the liquid down, and not on.

About 3 miles in my friend Jeff passed me. He started 5 minutes ahead of me, I passed him in the water, and it took him until the run to get me back. I was pretty happy as he is a strong biker and runner, and destroys me on training rides and runs. That I was that close to him was a good sign. Someday I will beat one of the guys in my training group in a race........

There is one small hill at about miles 2 and 4, last year I walked, this year I ran it, there's a nice flat section to recover at the top, and it's an out and back so a nice downhill to make up the lost time.

I was feeling good and had energy in the tank, so decided after the last hill that that was where I would start emptying it. Right turn at the bottom, along the basin I was running an 8:40. In mile 6 of an Oly 10K. I was very happy, and passing lots of people in all different age groups. I am a passee not a passer, this was a great feeling.

Looked up at the race clock as I finished, 3:04 official, but I had no idea when the race actually started, and how much time to subtract, but either way I had crushed my goal of beating last year's time.

My splits were a little Schizophrenic, from 9:20 something in the "Hill miles" to 8:40 in mile 6. It's the last one that I am most pleased about though.

It wasn't until I saw the posted times that I saw the 2:39, beyond what I could have hoped for. 14 minutes off last year and 3 minute Oly PR on a harder course.

Official splits
2007 run - 1:04:11
2008 run - 56:06

Perhaps start emptying the tank a little earlier.

For the money ($70) this is the best Oly in town. I will continue to do this race as long as they let me.

Walking back to the car, some Marines walked by and said "thanks for having this race today." Hell, they are the ones we should be thanking.