Thought I was going well but this was a spectacular swim for me. Fullsuit obviously made a difference but this time I was more assertive at the start and lined up in the fornt row on the RHS (I'm a LHS breather and that way I could see the buoys easily and the majority of the field). I went off quickly to get away from any contact and then settled into a great long stroked tempo. Turned buoys well and went round a few earlier waves across the top and down the back straight. In hindsight though I wonder whether I swam this whole leg too fast.

Possibly slow down a bit - if only I knew for certain that one mins more on the swim equals two mins less on the bike or run. Tactics, tactics ..

About average for me. Took wetsuit off down to the waist running up from the swim exit. Got stuck a bit on the heels but the main problem I had was with the aero helmet. Should have practised putting that on in a hurry with the sunglasses. Tip : helmet first, sunglasses afterwards. Didn't have the shoes clipped in but I don't think I lose very much here (and I passed two people on Rte 108 who were putting their feet into their shoes - of course they rhen blew past me but that's a different story)

Practise, practise. Repeat the mantra : helmet first, then sunglasses.

This was a strange bike leg. I was concerned at my high HR coming out of the swim (over 160 - Z5 for me) and so I didn't want to push early on. Never really got into a rhythym all the way round. Didn't feel I was pedalling in circles, never really cranked the power. Strange because this is all coming out in retrospect. Bike leg summed up by opening a gel packet all over my hands and having to live with a very sticky pair of aerobars for the rest of the ride. Back hurt as well - is my set up too aggressive (and yet I've ridden the E-man course with this set up without these problems). I think I've got a split a couple of minutes faster in me.

Swim pace ?

Great 'textbook' flying dismount despite the volunteers shouting at me to slow down from 200 yards away from the dismount line (was there one ?)

Then managed to stuff my bike through the transition rack so that it faced tghe wrong way. Not sure what I was thinking here ...

Not much - could have shaved a few seconds off by racking the bike correctly.

Hmmm. I'm not sure I'll ever learn to pace myself on a competitive run. I know there was more left in the tank again. But at the start I felt like I was hanging on to a 7:40 pace. Managed to latch onto another runner and stayed with him until at the top of the neighbourhood loop. Then left for home.

Splits :
Mile 1 - 7:22 (150)
Mile 2 - 7:37 (151)
Mile 3 - 7:52 (151)
Mile 4 - 7:45 (152)
Mile 5 - 7:10 (154)
Mile 6 - 7:13 (157)
Mile .2 - 6:09 (163)

Run harder.

Nothing. Nada.


Pacing. Tactics.


My second Columbia race. This one was to exorcise the demons of last year (puncture on bike, helmet trouble - see last's years race report). My objective was to place in the Top30 of the M40-44 AG and I did that. So I'm pleased. But in hindisght I think I made a tactical mistake in going too hard in the swim and then being unfocussed for a lot of the bike leg. My lack of road racing pedigree really continues to hurt me as I just don't know how hard to push myself and what I'm capable off. Perhaps I'm not capable of going faster : I'm just not sure at the moment.

But overall I'm pleased with this performance - I've been training hard since the New Year and it is paying off.

This course is really tough, but probably plays to my strengths as a lighter racer. CTA generally put on a great race. Nothing flash but just a well-run, well-supported regional triathlon.

Two gripes : (i) Swim buoy markings didn't work. Either you do the same as the Nation's Tri and mark them with the distances or not at all. I didn't see the letters and had no idea anyway what they corresponded to; (ii) Port-a-potties - need to make sure they are all unlocked before transition opens : some near the finish were permanently engaged (either that or a lot of people were reading the paper for a long time ...)

Now that Andrew Yoder character ... boy he flies.

Next stop ... Eagleman.