Niantic Bay Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Started behind a guy that looked fast and did a few dolphin dives to get started. Swam hard until I was clear of the pack and then concentrated on maintaining a mederatly hard effort while staying behind other swimmers. After the turn, I had a pair of guys swimming side by side in front of me and I worked hard to keep up with them. I wasn't staying close enough to get much of a drafting benefit, but they did keep me motivated to keep my exertion level up. In the last 200 yards, I finally saw and felt the jellyfish. I felt a stinging on my chin and neck and saw them all around. I tried to ignore them and increased my effort to get out of the water.

I had a good start and that gave me good drafting opportunities. I could have gotten more benefit if I stayed closer.

The new swim course makes for a longer run up to transition, but now you don't have to climb over rocks, which makes it better overall. Transition went ok. My suit came off with only a moderate struggle and I got my socks and shoes on and ran with my bike to the road to mount. I had some trouble getting clipped in on the incline.

My goal was to ride hard and that's what I did. I passed a couple guys towards the beginning and I was passed by one guy on Bridebrook. I slowly reeled in another rider up Bridebrook road and passed him on the turn after the downhill on Rt 1. I saw no one else for the rest of the ride, even on Rt 161 when there is a long stretch of road. I drank half of my aero bottle of HEED during the ride.

Nothing. I rode hard and felt good the whole way. My speed wasn't as fast as I thought it would be, but I'll blame the course for that.

I did a flying dismount and skated on my cycling cleats to a stop by the mats. Ran in, racked my bike and changed shoes, grabbed my race belt and Garmin from my bike and took off. I didn't bring my Garmin strap, so I just held it in my hand during the run.

Nothing.

I saw nobody until I was overtaken by a guy about a mile in. I tried to keep him with him, but couldn't. I counted myself in 10th place at the mile 2 turnaround, but two guys passed me between there and the bluff path. I don't know if I faded or if I was just beaten by better runners.

More speed work to raise my tolerance for pain and to train my feet to move faster.

Took my water and popsicle and looked around to see if I knew anyone. I saw my Dad was just starting his run and I ran over to cheer him on. Stretched my hamstrings out and talked with my Mom while waiting for Danielle and then my Dad to finish.


I took over a minute and half of my previous year's time and I am happy with that result. To get faster at this distance, it would require more high intensity training in all disciplines and working on transitioning skills. I don't think I'll be doing those for next year since I plan to go back to iron distance racing. My age group was not very competitive this year and the next person in my age group was over two minutes behind me.


It is nice to see the little tweaks this year with the reversed swim course and the relocation of the post-race pinic and awards up on the grass and in the shade. The t-shirt this year is a terrible neon green with orange and blue graphics. It is an unfortunate departure from the usually attractive shirts they give at this race.