20th Annual IRP Wool Capital Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

Overall I was pretty pleased with the swim. I felt good and comfortable in the water. I just kept focusing on the next bouy until I made it through them all. On the way back the sun was in my eyes. At times I would come to a stop and get vertical, shade my eyes to see where the next bouy was. Thank goodness for tinted googles or it could have been way worse. This also slowed me down. I kept a slow pace and knew it at the time. I was hesitant to push myself since it was my first olympic distance race. It was a pretty slow time but next time I will push harder.

I am planning on hiring someone to help me out in the pool. I know there are things I could improve.

smooth transition

nothing

The bike course was nice and smooth. I was having some issues with my gears. My bike started to act up last week on a long ride and I didn't really think much of it. Before the race my husband and I drove the race course and it was a dirt road. The bikes were on the back of the car and got very dirty. LESSON LEARNED!! I tried to clean the gears as best I could in the hotel room but it was a goopy mess..... At the race the gears would not stay put and I messed with them the entire time. GRRRR. I will clean my bike and take it to the bike shop for a tune up this week.
I was warned to hydrate LOTS on the bike as it was getting hoter and hoter for the run and I would be glad later. I could feel my bladder geting fuller and fuller!
I guess all things considering my time was decent.

I would have had a clean bike and maintenced bike.
If my gears would have been working properly I think I might have pushed myself harder. I definately could have.

This transition could have been faster. I was slow to get off the bike and rack it. I now have yanks on my running shoes and was very pleased with how this made the transition faster. I needed to relieve myself but there were no bathrooms in the transition area so I headed out for the run.

Go faster

It was very hot. This was the leg I was most nervous about before the race. If anyone has read my logs before they know I like to complain about running in the heat. I am a cold weather runner. This was not my most enjoyable run. I ran/walked a lot around mile 2. I began to think I needed something to take my mind off of this hot run. I began to pray from my dear friend that has been struggling with an eating disorder. She has come so far and I know that she will make it through this terrible disease. I kept telling myself, "I know that if God can heal her, I can certainly suck it up and continuing running." I know it sounds kind of cheesy but my constant praying for her helped me to continue on. Just when I would think I wanted to stop and walk a breeze would blow through or I would come across an aid station.
I kept trying to look for a place to duck out and relieve myself as my bladder was begining to hurt but the course was surrounded with weeds and cactus. This was definately a challenging run for me.

I could have been more prepared for running in the heat by doing some warmer runs.
Not have a full bladder!

My husband was waiting for me at the finish line with some cold water. I headed straight to the bathroom and then packed up to go shower!

Attending the awards ceremony back at the host hotel, inside air conditioned.


Lack of experience.


We arrived at the packet pickup at 2pm (Packet pick up was from 2-8) and no one was there. They arrived around 2:30. There was a mandatory bike inspection and they did not arrive until 3:30. There was also a mandatory meeting that was scheduled right in the middle of dinner time. It was a little frustrating!
Overall the actual race was well organized but the packet pick-up could have been better organized!