Carmel Sprint Triathlon (formerly Splash, Flash & - TriathlonSprint

They changed the swim start this year, instead of a person every 5 sec, it was person after person. I never once got any water of my own. In a pool, 3 wide, people in front, people on my feet, I think there was even people on top of me!

First of all, I hyperventilated with the chaos the first 100m. After that, I started getting into a rhythm. By 150m into it, I didn't even notice the kicking, grabbing, biting, whatever was happening to me!
I don't know that I can control this, but I wish I could have warmed up before hand on the swim. I think that might have helped.

Good- better than last year
15/44 in my age group!

Have it not be raining and all of my stuff being soaked, even covered with the trashbag! I guess, I would line the ground with a trashbag first, then set up, then cover it with another trashbag.
Also, wrestling a long-sleeve shirt on a wet body in the cold doesn't help the time either!

Awesome, awesome, awesome!! I kicked major butt on the bike course!!

Had there not been so many turns, and it hadn't been raining, wow- I could have really flown!! Pleased with my performance!

Went as expected in the rain! Removed (I mean wrestled) the long-sleeve shirt I had put on for the bike.
18/44 in my age group!

Not have it rain!! Move a little faster!!

I definitely was red-lining the whole way, yet trying to keep enough in reserve to kick it in at the end. My ending HR was 172!

Drink something on the bike. I had a gel for the beginning of the run, but someone stepped on it in my transition spot and it exploded everywhere. My nice wet white hat had some yucky brown goo on it!! Oh well! I really needed that boost too..

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1. Swim- I have so much to work on. But, really, how much of it was truly me and how much of it was the mass of people doing a POOL swim? I need to try to relax more at the beginning, even with people swimming on top of me! :)
2. Weather


I am SOOO HAPPY with my results. I have to remember, this was a "C" race for me, supposed to be a really hard workout. Yeah, right- damn competitive spirit!
I was not impressed with the course this year: 1. didn't like the swim at all. Allowing the entrants to enter the water as fast as they did definitely didn't help. I don't think anyone had a good swim. 2. Too many turns in the bike course (though, I did kick butt and take numbers on it!) 3. The run course was reversed this year and the killer hill at the beginning really challenged the legs off of the bike.
I'm in much better shape this year.. I learned a lot today that I hope I can carry with me:
1. I learned how to swim with a mass, getting kicked, pulled, etc- for a long ways...
2. I learned how to take corners and turns faster on the bike, on wet roads, while it's raining..
3. I learned that when I get ready to do a longer distance, I will absolutely have to pace myself. This race I red-lined the whole way. I knew what I was capable of and how long I could hold my lactate threshold pace. In training, I plan to push that even further.
4. I learned that I do need to take in some water on the bike, even on a sprint. And, have a back-up gel for when one explodes or something else happens to it. :)
5. Overall, I had fun and am proud of myself and the day!