Well, for a first time experience, it was positive! I really had a blast! I can see now why athletes are drawn to triathlon, and I'm totally hooked. My only regret is I didn't start sooner in the season this year because this was pretty much the last Tri of the season. However, I DID reach my modest goal of COMPLETING a sprint, which I did. Next year, my goals will be a bit more involved. But for now, I will always remember Monster Triathlon 2008 as my first...my baseline.

As I look at these numbers for the first time, I can tell you that it's obvious that my transition times are pretty bad. I had no practice and very little instruction because I missed a critical training session with my team where the coach taught transition techniques. The night before the race I just stood there standing and staring at my bike in the living room THINKING. Just staring at my bike. I got some pointers on-line, looked at some pictures of how to lay everything out on a towel next to your bike in the transition area. Do I dry myself off before I get on my bike? Do I need fuel? How cold is it outside? Sunglasses? Hat? Gloves? AAaaagh!

Is this a long T1? :-)

Get a Tri-suit. Try bike shoes already clipped-in technique.

Wet in some spots from early morning irrigation. Lower back cramped up. Took a few posture breaks by standing up on pedals.

Train harder...more hills...more miles.

Tried to put handlebars on rack...oops! It's the SEAT that goes on the rack! Can I wear my race # belt while on the bike? Yes, but don't forget to flip it around to the front for the run.

Make some decisions on what to wear for the run BEFORE the race! Know my fuel and hydration needs. Had 3 GU's in my bike jersey pockets that started bouncing all over the place as soon as I started running, so I stopped before exiting the transition area and removed them. Would prefer to not run in my bike jersey. Either a sleeveless top or shirtless altogether.

Legs (quads) were really stiff coming off the bike. HR at max (176) for almost the entire run. Tried reducing work load to lower HR but kept getting passed.

Neglected run training because I was too pre-occupied with the swim. Do more speed work at the track.

Why are the race volunteers so OBSESSED with getting the chip off your ankle the second you cross the finish line?? :-) Just walked it off for a few minutes until my HR got back down then found my wife. Found my team mates and hung out for a little while at the finish line. Team pictures!


Inconsistent training schedule due to being self-employed. I know, that's weak, but I could make more intelligent use of training time by doing all 3 disciplines in one session. Will definitely add strength training this winter.


The race itself was well organized and a lot of fun. When we arrived there at 6:15am, it was dark and about 45 degrees outside. All you could see after finding a place to park was a line about 2 blocks long of everyone lining up with their bikes to check in and get body marked. In the background was the theme to the Halloween movie playing on the loudspeakers. I felt like a head of cattle after the marked both my arms and one leg with my race number, and my left leg with my age. All the race coordinators were in halloween costumes, including my coach who was in a Girl Scout outfit. There was a Monty Python guy on the run course, and they even had chalk marked outlines of 'dead bodies' out there too! You couldn't help but grin now and then in spite of the pain of stomach cramps and stiff quads!

My awesome wife, bless her heart, came to the race with me and documented the entire thing as Team Photographer. It says a lot when your wife gets up at 4:30am on a Sunday morning to support her husband. I love you sweetie! You're doing YOUR first Triathlon next year! :-)