Camp Whitcomb/Mason Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

I was in the first wave so the water would be clear and the notoriously silty water wouldn't be stirred up that much. I decided to take it out hard this time so I would not get caught behind slower traffic. The best plans are not always followed. I did go out hard, but I was getting squeezed between the rope and some guy that did not know which direction he was going. Instead of going along the rope he figured he would swim diagonally toward the rope and squeeze me out - eventually coming over the top of me. I didn't want to stop and let him go in front of me and even if I did there was someone to his left so I would have had to go way around. So ok, if that is how he wants to play, then game on! He tried to swim over me but I used my arms to, um..., correct his direction. That worked for a while and he eventually fell back, but then some other guy taking an even steeper angle toward the rope swam over me. Everything was pretty bunched up until the turnaround. There was still a pretty good pack at that point, but I was able to turn it on and got into some clear water. From there it was just turn it over to the shore line. I was 6th out of the water in my wave.

Not much. It was good swimming without a wetsuit. I was able to charge hard and get good position. not much I could do about getting squeezed except to swim faster.

9/23 in AG and 68/290 overall. I was feeling good about not having to take off a wetsuit, but I had issues getting a shirt on being wet. I got the helmet on good but had issues getting into the shoes. I did not want to have the shoes on the bike with all the problems I had with that in the past. With my feet being wet, the tounge on my one shoe stuck to my skin and went along with my foot into the shoe. When I took the foot out to get the tounge back out, the padding on the bottom of the shoe came out with the foot. I got all that taken care of and took my bike out to run up the hill to mount at the top. That was not easy with the bike shoes on, but at leat I got on the bike, clipped in and off I went.

Possibly put some body glide in my shoes? Make sure I have a Tri top that I can swim in?

The first part of the bike course is just some rolling hills after you leave the Camp property, but the first thing I noticed was the wind. It was steady and in my face. Thinking through the course in my head, I was thinking that I would be turning soon and it would be at my back for most of the first half and then in my face for most of the second half. Not exactly correct. More on that later. Suprisingly, I was not getting passed all that much. I counted only about 15 people passing me and I passed 2 during the bike portion. My main problem on the bike was the hills and the wind. I can tell that I have become a stronger biker from the start of the season until now. I still have a long way to go though. This course has some monster hills. It really took a lot of effort to get up some of them but I did it pretty good. Also, the wind seemed to be in my face 80% of the time. Each time I turned, It seemed like the wind started blowing the wrong way. The only time it felt like it was at my back was heading north up the long steady hill into Washington County. As I am riding and watching all these people on their Tri bikes passing me I was thinking that I could really use one of those. I have a nice road bike, but if I really want ot get better, I need to be more aerodynamic, have faster wheels, and position my body better. That wind hitting me in the face really slowed me down. Between the hills and the wind making me use power and energy, I really gave what I could on the bike.

Practice even more on the hills. Also get a Tri bike.

10/23 in AG 72/290 overall. I was caught by my chiropractor Vicki just at the dismount line. She started in my wave so she beat me on the bike by the same I beat her in the water. I had practiced getting out of my shoes and leaving them on the bike because I had seen the night before how far my bike rack was from the entrance to the T2 area. That worked well and I ran in my bare feet to my spot. Getting my belt on & helmet off went well, but I had the same problem with my shoes where the tounge got stuck on the top of my foot and I had to take the shoe off again and put it back on to get the tounge out. After fixing that, I was off.

Body glide in my shoes?

It was hot. It was hilly. Hot and hilly is a recipie for draining even more energy out of a person. I started out going at about 7:00 per mile pace along the trails. However, once I got out on the pavement and into the sun, it started getting really hot. I doused my head with water and drank at the water stations but it didn't help me cool off. By the time I got back into the shade I was wiped out. When I got to the last big uphill, there was my son chearing me on. That gave me a nice boost and I gave my all going up the hill. He tried running along with me, but I guess I had more left than he had and he slowed down, but I kept hearing him "Go Dad, you're almost there!! Looking good!! Looking good!!" With that, I cruised in to the finish line. Along the run, I passed one person and had about 3 pass me. I ended up just under 8:00 miles and I wanted to go 7:30, but given the conditions I was OK with that.

Not much. I could learn to drink while running, but I needed to stay cool and to do tat I needed to drink.

At the finish, I met my family, drank some water and waited for people to finish that I knew were not that far behind me. I saw Scoobysdad finish (who ended up beating me by 14 seconds - aarrrhhh!) and Vicki. I got something to eat and spent some more time with all the Donkeys before wrangeling up the kids and heading home.


The heat. The bike. The sticky tounges of my shoes. I was a little dissappointed with the time, but overall I think I had a good race.


I liked this course. It was a challenge. With another year of experience and some training on these big hills, I know I can do better. I'll be back!!