Southwest Valley Regional YMCA Sprint Tri - TriathlonSprint

The swim, as always, was a matter of just getting through it. I had feared that I would have trouble after getting my HR elevated on the bike (this was a reverse tri event). Once I got in the water, I was okay (as okay as I ever am on a swim!). I even managed to pass a couple of people as I made my way through. Of course, a couple passed me as well. Overall, the swim was adequate. I just wanted to prevent it from ruining my race, and it didn't have any negative effects, so I am happy with it

Improve overall swim. I don't think there was anything I could do differently at my current level that would have improved in this race.

This was actually the run to bike transition. All I had to do was put on my helmet and sunglasses, change my shoes and I was off. HUGE improvement of transitions in previous races. No clothes changes, no bathroom stops. even though my HR was racing at 174 after the run, I didn't delay at all - just went straight for the bike.

Nothing - this was as good as I could have done.

The bike portion was fantastic! I was able to pass routinely and didn't get passed a whole lot. Despite some rough roads and narrow lanes, it was great. It was flat and fast. Some riders didn't know to stay to the right which made for some challenging passes, but overall it was great. I wanted to average 20+ for the segment, but came up a little short. I'm extremely happy with the 19.8 that my computer gave me as I pulled into the transition area.

I should have counted lap times just for reference. It would be nice to know if I was slowing down or speeding up as the race went on. I also should have slowed a little to take a drink. I forgot to after the run and didn't at all on the bike, so I didn't take in any fluid between the start of the event until after the bike, and then it was just a sip. I'll need to be more careful as the weather gets warmer. I got away with one in this race.

This is actually the bike to swim transition. At the transition, I removed my helmet, sunglasses, shoes, socks, and shirt. I took a sip of my Gatorade, grabbed my goggles, and headed to the pool. I had a little trouble racking the bike due to a crowded transition area.

Drink more; practice racking bike a few times before the race. Still a huge improvement over last year.

I don't know what got into me on the run, but compared to my training times, I was flying. In training, I have never gone faster than a 9:15 mile. I was able to put two 8:08 miles together back to back. Granted my HR was going through the roof (my watch was screaming at me to slow down), but I felt comfortable at the pace. Since it was a sprint, I just decided to ditch what the HRM was telling me and let my body dictate the pace.

I don't think there is anything different that I could have done to have gone faster. I guess if I had really pushed myself, I could have come in below an eight minute mile. However, I didn't even realize that it was a possibility until after. Even if I did, it might have work me out for the bike and swim - pribably not a good idea to push harder on the first segment.

Saw the other BTers after the swim and talked a little. Had some sport drink (HEED - nasty; it may not have been mixed properly) and a croissant. Socialized with the other BTers in the transition area before saying goodbye.


Slower bikers on the course not getting to the right. Narrow lanes on the bike course, rough roads. The only other limiter was my swiming ability!


I believe that all you can ask for on a given race day is to perform at the best of your ability on that given day. In that respect, I had a near perfect race. I ran faster than I ever have. I biked as fast (and generally faster) than I trained, and I was more comfortable in the water than I have ever been i an event (it was a pool swim and not OWS, but still...). For the first time, I felt like I was racing, and not just participating. I kept telling myself, "you can't blow up in a sprint; you've trained - your body can take it, just let it go'. It was uplifting to meet Tom, Mike, Tanya, and Sally and have friends there. It is inspiring to see them placing at the top of their AGs. It was the first race where I was not alone on the course, and I was strengthened by that. (and, by the way, thanks to BT and the friends I have made here - it has made a huge difference in my development!) I look at where I was just seven months ago at my first race, and I can't believe how far I have come. I was nearly the last finisher at that race, taking 15-20 minutes in transition, nearly drowning on the swim, and plodding along on the run and the bike. Flash forward to yesterday, where I actually competed. I felt fast. I was able to come in fifth place in my category (Clydesdales). I know I have many ways in which I can get better, so it's back to work, but this race was a massive boost of positive reinforcement. I learned in this race that my ceiling is a lot higher than I thought it was. As many on this site have said, things are only impossible if you think they are. Overall, I could not have aasked for a better day than yesterday. Race days are the days that we live for, and yesterday was about as perfect as they come!