TriDeltaThon - TriathlonMini Sprint

This was a little disappointing, I've been really working on my swim. I had expected around 8 minutes and would have been pretty happy with that. I thought I had seeded myself about right, but ended up too far forward and got passed several times. I thought I was about halfway back, which would have been about right, but Wendy said there were a lot more behind me, and that some didn't even get in line until I was almost in the water. I thought I did a pretty good job of not panicking when people were around me, and just trying to keep my breathing and stroke consistent.

Seed myself further back, but I've problems in races before where I get behind people and can't get around them, and that's no fun either. I would have liked to try a 50 meter pool before the race as well, because I've been swimming in 25 yd/meter and am used to that. Still, I swam the whole way in a 400 m race, and last fall I spent probably half my time on my back, so that's big for me.

I decided to try leaving my shoes on the bike for the first time! I had been practicing and felt like I could do it without embarrassing/hurting myself, so I gave it a shot. It wasn't perfect, and I had some trouble getting my feet in my shoes so the first 1/4 mile on the bike was slow, but I didn't wreck, didn't wreck anybody else, and saved quite a bit of time. I also went without socks for the first time, which didn't seem to bother me.

More practice getting going and getting my feet in my shoes. Still a big improvement from last year. All the time in the water has paid off as well, because I was much fresher out of the pool than normal. I thought that would be the case, and it was for sure. The times for both T1 and T2 are in with the bike, but I timed it at 1:19, and it's a long run from the pool to transition. I basically ran to transition, grabbed my helmet, bike, and glasses, and took off, so I don't think I could have done much else.

Time includes both transitions. I forgot to reset my meter, so I don't know average speed. I'm guessing just over 19. First time with clip-on aero bars on the bike, and I liked it. Felt like I was really getting after it (once I got my feet in my shoes). This is the same course as the Anchor Splash I did last fall, except the construction detour added just over half a mile. I looked at the results from that race and my bike+T1+T2 was 24:54, so I was 1:47 faster on a half mile longer route since September.

More practice getting in the shoes. Could have climbed a little harder on the hills.

I've taken my feet out on the bike before, but never tried the swing the leg over while still moving trick until this race. I didn't fall, so I guess it worked. Still needs lots of practice, but making progress. I tried rolling my socks for the first time, which worked really well. This was my first time not wearing socks for the bike, so the first time I had to put on socks in T2. Still felt like I was moving pretty good and didn't waste too much time.

More practice. Don't sit to put on socks. Have small water ready for run.

I haven't been running because I tried breaking in some new shoes a few weeks ago with disastrous results, so I've been trying to heal. I was hoping to break 26, and I barely did that. Hoping to get a lot better at this with more practice and shoes that fit. I was a minute faster at the Anchor Splash last fall.

Train

Found Wendy, got some drink, and changed clothes. Wendy checked the results and told me I was second in age group, which surprised me. I thought 58 min was a realistic goal, even without the 1/2 mile bike adder, so I was pretty happy with my time. I've come a long way in about a year and a half, but I've got miles and miles (literally) to go.


Lack of running, lack of comfort with 50 meter pool, lack of skill in endurance sports.


Had a good race for me. Plenty to work on.