Wet Dog triathlon

[btchance]

I had my second tri this morning. It was another sprint, with a 400m open water swim, 15K bike, and 5K run. The entire course was pancake flat, which does not go with my strengths (please, at least give me a couple of hills).

The entire thing took my 1hr 27min, while my last one was just over an hour (but it was only 200y, 8.3mi, and 1.75mi), so the time wasn't that bad.

Before hand, I had someone say hi to me as I was frantically trying to get ready (everything is frantic for me in the morning). I just kinda said hi and kept on running, then a couple of minutes later I realized who it was. My attending!!! Not what I needed to do! Later, he asked me if I recognized him back there, oops! Oh well, he didn't seem to mind. I can honestly say I wasn't expecting to see him there. I knew he biked, but didn't realize he did anything else.

The swim was definately my worst portion. I really need to learn to swim with the current pushing me sideways. I kept being pushed out away from the bouys on the way out, which completely stressed me out, and in turn I lost my rhythm and ended up turning over on my back to relax. I got around the end bouy fine, and then headed back. This time the current was pushing me into people going the other direction. Aaahhh!! so frustrating. THe only positive thing to take out of this portion was that my last 50-100m went really well and I finally relaxed. But I survived it, and that's the important thing.

The first transition was not my best. I couldn't stand on one foot and get the other one cleaned and into my shoes. I finally ended up holding onto the bike rack and getting it done.

The bike leg, as I said, was way, way too flat. I think I could have done the entire thing in my big ring without even changing the gearing behind, there was so little variation. I didn't push myself too hard here, and I definately should have. I was trying to make sure I had legs left for the run. I have to say my new bike performed great here!!

The second transition went well, in and out very quickly. Although having your attending yell at you to get going definately motivated me real quick!!!

The run went much better than the last time. I ran the vast majority of it, using the old I'll run to such and such a point and then reassess what I want to do technique. Again, I probably should have pushed a little harder, but I was afraid of getting the abdominal cramps that I sometimes get when I run. I had a few at the end, but nothing I couldn't push through.

All in all, if I could throw out the swim I would be happy with how I did. I just have to find some place to do open water swimming. I asked around, but apparently all they have is the tri club meating about once a month at a quarry to swim, which I believe is completely clear with no current, so not what I need. Oh well, I figure something out.

[Lise]

I love it that your attending was there! I'm not surprised that you didn't recognize him at first--when I'm racing, I'm in such a "zone" that I don't recognize my nearest and dearest. It's nice to have that kind of connection with someone from work.

Sounds like a good race, with some new challenges. Any pictures, hmmm???

[btchance]

Unfortunately, I don't think there will be any pictures. There wasn't an official photographer, but a couple of people from Big Brothers, Big Sisters (who put on the tri as a fundraiser) took some pictures of me, so who knows, they might show up on the internet somewhere.

I just emailed the president of the local tri club here to see if there is any place to do some more OW. Now that I'm a little time from it, it doesn't seem as bad. I just need to learn how to deal with the current. I was completely relaxed warming up, but I only went out to the second bouy, which is about where the current began, so it wasn't the water that freaked me out, but the current. We'll see, I'm sure I'll get it figured out sometime.