Bangs Lake Multisport Festival - TriathlonOlympic

Ate a Honey Stinger gel about 15 minutes before my wave went off. Also had to use the potty one last time. I was in wave 4, the water felt warm. We were all standing at the edge of the beach...the horn blew and it was a running start into the water. Getting out of the harbor was okay, but after that I was extremely confused and disoriented. I couldn't see anything ahead of me, due to the blinding sun in my eyes. I swam way off-course several times. Once I got around the buoy, I went really wide...had to be corralled back on course by a lifeguard boat. My shoulders got very fatigued before I was even at the halfway point. My wetsuit felt a little restrictive in the shoulder/arms region, so I'm sure that was a contributing factor. Near the shore, my hands kept getting tangled up in seaweed.

Wear tinted goggles if it's a sunny day. The sun was absolutely blinding. Possibly try a sleeveless wetsuit to see if that helps with the restrictive feeling in my shoulders and arms, thus cutting down on the fatigue I felt.

My T1 went okay, I guess. Running barefoot on the asphalt path really hurt the heel on my left foot (I have plantar fasciitis on that foot). My hands were cold from the swim and were shaking pretty badly. I had a hard time getting my socks and cycling shoes on, because of it. I was really cold, in general...had goosebumps from the minute I got on the bike.

Maybe try and keep a pair of flip-flops near the swim exit to run in...my feet simply cannot handle running barefoot. Don't know what I could have possibly done to prevent getting cold. I guess I could have thrown on a shirt or something.

I passed a few people...mainly those that were riding hybrids or mountain bikes. But I got passed by plenty of high-dollar tri bikes. I had a bottle of Infinit on the bike and drank a little more than half of it. By the time I rolled into T2, I had to pee something fierce!

Practice more hill-climbing.

Again...my hands were cold and shaking, making it difficult to tie my running shoes. I kept my sunglasses on for the run, which became an issue further into the run. I grabbed a Hammer gel and a package of Luna Moons and stuffed them into the back pocket on my tri suit. I also had to pee really bad, so I made a quick detour for the porta-potty on the way out of T2. After peeing, I grabbed a cup of water at the aide station and I was off and running.

NOT wear my sunglasses...maybe wear a visor instead. Sunglasses kept fogging up on the run..was really annoying. I eventually ended up throwing them into the grass (near where my hubby was standing), when I came around for my second loop. I ate the Luna Moons during the run, but never ate the gel...next time I won't bother grabbing it. I need to slow down my pace while passing the aide stations...to hard to drink water and run at the same time...got water up my nose instead of in my mouth.

My heel was hurting pretty badly throughout the entire run. Was also having some mild left knee pain. I felt slow and sluggish, but was deliberatly keeping my pace slow so that I wouldn't have to resort to walking. Was getting passed like I was standing still. I did pass a few people, but not many. I ate a package of Luna Moons - had 3 right at the start of the run...then the remaining 3 on the second loop. Coming into the finish chute, my breathing got a little "off"...started to feel as if I were hyperventilating. Had a hard time slowing my breathing down after I crossed the finish line.

Wear a visor, instead of sunglasses - they kept fogging up on me. Slow down to drink water at the aide stations...trying to run and drink resulted in water up my nose, in my face, everywhere but in my mouth.

Grabbed a water and tried to get my breathing back to normal. Felt like I was hyperventilating a bit.


Pain in my feet and knee.


Post-race food was decent - pasta, breadsticks, pretzels, Clif bars. Awards ceremony was good...I didn't win anything, but it was cool seeing all the other winners get their awards.