This was a pool swim Triathlon and a new experience to me. We all turned in swim times and were lined up numerically based on what we turned in. At 9am the first swimmer started and we went off in 15 second intervals. The pattern was swim down the lane, under the rope, one full lap in that lane, under the rope, full lap and so on. I started off at a very easy effort and about 100 meters in caught someone in front of me. I stayed on their hill for 20 meters and then passed them at the wall. My data shows that I slowed down significantly after that but I have no idea why as I felt I really increased my speed for a negative split. (not what the data shows at all). Over all I was pleased with my swim. It was a new experience and I swam it at pretty close to threshold pace.

When I got out of the pool I was slightly out of breath but felt pretty good. I made the short jog to my bike and then spent way too long trying to put gloves on wet hands. I have no idea why I did this for such a short ride. Then I spent more valuable time trying to mount my bike. I couldn’t get clipped in for some reason.

Leave the gloves at home

Very tough bike course. As soon as we turned out of the center it was chip seal and 30 mph headwind. Then we turned onto the loop and the wind became a cross/head wind with much worse chip seal. You would think that with an out and back bike course the wind would get better…nope. Wind was brutal. There was about 4-5miles of smooth pavement for a nice change of pace to the jarring. I rode the bike portion very hard and my HR shows I was at or above threshold HR pace the entire ride. For that amount of effort I should have been in the 18+ mph avg so I was a little disappointed to see 16.9. I guess the chip seal and wind were tougher than I thought

I was not prepared to dismount my bike and when I came around the last corner and saw the voluteeer waving at me I quickly un-clipped my right side but couldn’t get my left un-clipped. Luckily right before I fell I managed to get un-clipped an avoid a bad fall at 15 mph. Again too much time spent with those stupid gloves.

Leave gloves at home

I started the run with a goal of easing into it based on how my IT Band feels. I started at a 9:30 pace. After 1 mile into the race my legs were very tight so I decided to play it easy and back down to a 10:30 pace for the remainder of the race. I ended up crossing the finish line with a very easy run and was pleased with it. I do wish I could have run harder but there is no reason to push my recovery with my A race in a few weeks away.

A huge thanks to everyone in the Manatee group for getting me through the last 6 weeks. I've been so frustrated and depressed over my IT Band. The group kept me positive and supported me through it and now I'm not only running but racing.

Very excited to be able to really run for the first time in 8 weeks due to my IT Band Injury. Overall I had a fun day and am thrilled everything went so well. I killed my PR for a sprint distance triathlon and brought home an age group medal. I am looking forward to IM TX 70.3 in April and I am still committing to Ironman Texas in May 2014!