Dam Sprint Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

My breathing was horrific from the beginning. Been training with b/l but it went out the window after about two strokes, also was blowing out the whole time my face was in the water which was no good. About half way through I recognized this and tried to correct to blowing my breath out just before raising my chin for a breath. Avoided getting kicked in the face and had a few folks all over my legs, didn't feel my feet hit anyone in the face, so double bonus. I was able to stay with my freestyle for most of the swim which I was really happy about. Did ingest a couple of big mouthfuls of Lake Perris water (not tasty) in the first third of the swim which slowed me a bit. I feel like I sighted really well and stayed right on the lane buoys to the turn buoys. On my way in I was thrown off a bit on my position as I could see some guys were WAY off to my right on my breath, so I kept checking the lane buoys and I was right on target. I pretty much avoided drafting anyone since I have never done that, Celeste told me after that the bullhorn guy was saying "no drafting" which I neither heard nor saw in the race packet/info?? Made it into shore and started the LONG run to T1.

More open water swim practice with b/l, stay with b/l longer.

The run from the water to T1 is ridonkulous, really long, need to find out how long that run is. I thought the transition went really well, I washed down my feet, seemed like they had some sand but maybe not, could have just been dirty. I got changed and out on the bike very well I thought.

Not much, time warp that long run somehow.

Was really glad to get to the bike, while I was in the water I was thinking "I get to ride pretty soon." I felt really good on the bike, but I apparently was going way too hard in retrospect, see my run and HR data. No stomach cramping so I was glad about that. I was passed by maybe 5-6 guys and all but one of those were on tri bikes (only one guy on a roadie) so I was liking that. One guy in front of me on a tri bike was having all kinds of mechanical trouble, felt bad for him. He stopped at one point and got off to fix something, but then came back to drop me a short time later and then blow me out on the run, good on him. I slowed a bit on the climb at the end and hammered it on the downhill back to transition.

Pay attention to my HRM, listen to Gordo and save something for the run, but that's it, I had fun on the bike.

Got my bike gear off well, went to put on my run shoes and had something in my right shoe. Figured it was my sock bunched up and tried to just head out of transition and work it with my foot, got half way out and felt it was something more. Stopped and took off the shoe...it was one of my ear plugs. Poorly played, would have been a bad move to do the whole run with that in there. Live and learn.

Chuck my ear plug in the opposite direction of my run shoes.

I blew up on the run. I was jogging but would probably have been faster if I would have power walked. I did not feel like I had pushed too hard on the swim and bike till I tried to run, I was hammered. Got passed by a bunch of people, including a 13 year-old kid. That kid was awesome. Didn't walk, but maybe should have, just have a thing where I am thinking "don't give in, don't walk" but I need to change that mindset, it is tough. My HRM was blowing up but I just could not bring myself to walk. Fortunately I didn't injure myself. I was pretty wiped out coming across the line. The family was there cheering though so that helped me finish up. Annie and Griffin came out to finish the run with me, Annie ran all the way through, Griffin got half way there and turned around running back to mom, that was classic.

Keep training, spend more time running, don't kill myself on the first two therby avoiding the explosion on the run (hopefully).

Crossed the line and got some water, Gatorade, oranges, fig newtons, and bananas. Consumed snacks, cheered on folks finishing, went over and stretched in the grass. Again Annie demonstrated nice downward dog. Took the kids to Mimi's and was able to get more stretching in while we waited for our table.


Conserve more energy for the run, need more/more efficient training.


I missed my goal by 5 minutes, so that was a bit of a drag. But I feel like I learned from the race and had a lot of fun doing it. And the most important thing is that my left foot (heel and ball) feels great. Going into my last race my heel was bothering me and after the race the ball of my foot hurt too, everything is perfect right now. I'm really glad that I can get back to training next week. Had my mom there as well as my wife and kids so it was an awesome family day. I am very proud to have completed my third triathlon, can't wait for my next one.