Tugaloo Olympic Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

This swim was great for me. There was a think fog over the lake when we started and it was really hard to see much of anything. I amazingly swam very straight and close to the buoys. I didn't really draft off anyone but also didn't run into anyone, so that was good. Considering my lack of time in the pool over the past couple of months, this swim was a great success. I felt very smooth the whole time and not really like I was pushing too hard.

Nada

T1 was a run through the sand and then up to transition. I was kind of winded out of the water so I ran kind of slow.

Picked up the pace if possible.

Great ride through the country. At mile 11 there was this amazing field of sunflowers. My beautiful thoughts were quickly interrupted by gunfire. I looked to my left and saw a hunter in full cammo gear shooting in a field. I decided to pedal faster so that I wasn't his next victim. Things were great until mile 16 when it felt like I was pedaling into a headwind. Then about mile 18 I felt some pretty bad stomach cramps. I had drank one bottle of Heed at this point and had a second but just couldn't stomach it. In hindsight I realize I should have drank the water I had with me, but it was in my hard to reach water bottle cage and it's a pain to get to it. By the time I got to transition I wasn't sure what the outcome was going to be. I decided to try to run and see what I could do.

This was a rather challenging hilly course and I know I was doing well up to mile 16/18 or so. No bike computer so I don't know how much I slowed in the last few miles but I know my effort slowed with the stomach cramps. I was very surprised to see that I still averaged above 17 MPH on this bike.

Drink water when I got the stomach cramps. Other than that, I need to figure out what caused the stomach cramps.

I stood around for a few seconds just to make sure I could keep going. I wanted to go lay down in the grass.

Feel better!

And here's where it all went downhill. I ran most of mile 1. I didn't have a watch so I have no idea what my pace was - it felt super slow. I was just trying to keep moving. I grabbed some Gatorade at Mile 1 thinking that would be a good idea. Turned out not so much. By Mile 2 I was walking and contemplating going back to transition. I needed a bathroom SOOO bad and there were none. I wanted to cry. I would try to run until I felt like I was going to throw up and then I would walk. Rinse, repeat. And then at Mile 3, my eyes spotted a bathroom at one of the camp sights. I have never been so happy to see one. The sign on the door said "Closed for Cleaning" and I just busted through the door and figured they'd have to chain it shut if I wasn't supposed to be in there. I probably spent about 5 minutes or so in there throwing up and then splashing water on my face. And then I felt decent and so I started to run again. I ran the last 3.2 miles and only walked during 2 aid stations to get a sip of water. I was very proud of that. I figure with the walking and the bathroom stop that I lost about 10 minutes or so, and was very surprised to see a 68 min 10k time considering all that.

Not get sick!

Crossed the finish line and tried to wait to see Sarah finish but I had to run to the nearest bathroom for another round. Whew. We hung out for a bit and then hit the road to come home.


I'm not sure really what caused my issues. I've been on vacation for the past 4 weeks so I know my eating has not been what it usually is. Possibly a combination of not eating well, plus being dehydrated to start the race, plus using Heed on the bike, which I haven't tested during a longer race, plus the heat = stomach cramps. I've never had these issues before in a race, and I hope I never do again!


Great race as always by GA Multisport.