Lake Padden Competitive Triathlon

[jesvetmed]

OK... "Competitive" is only the name they give it b/c it isn't a true "Olympic" length. It's a bit shorter.
But I did this on Saturday. It was GORGEOUS. We started at 8:30am, so the heat had not hit too badly before we finished.

Here's my details. Race was 0.5 mile swim, 21 mile bike and 5.2 mile run on trail around the lake.

I finished 188 overall out of 256 total. NOT LAST!!!!

My times:
Swim 15:57, T1 3:28 (oops!)
Bike 1:14:18, T2 2:16 (oops!)
Run 58 min (BIG OOPS!)

Yeah... Swimming went FINE. I didn't push it terribly, had a comfortable swim without ANY ISSUES!!!!! My goal for the day -- to be honest, this was making me VERY nervous.

I thought I was quick in my transition -- apparently not! That's alright.
Bike: I felt good, but the hills were big and many and I went out VERY fast, and couldn't seem to tell myself to hang back and let the legs relax a bit -- a friend has told me over and over -- "save the legs for the run". I don't ever listen well - -have to learn the hard way! I had to stop and give a tube to a gal who had already used hers and got yet another flat! But, I have to thank Coach Troy here -- the UPHILL GRIND helped.. I passed many men and women on the hills!

T2 uneventful -- apparently I was in no hurry b/c I took the time to stretch out, chat with hubby a bit... hmmm... did I forget what I was doing?!

Run... oh boy! No legs. They were cramped already -- calves on both sides. And I couldn't get my breathing to calm down. I ended up walk/running it all -- the first loop (2.6 miles) I did in 25 minutes, and the last one, well, way more than that. I did take a potty break in there (how does anyone avoid this with all the drinking?!)

At any rate, I finished! Did I mention, NOT LAST!?

I know where I need to work now! But I had fun, and felt pretty good about most of it. Everyone was VERY nice and supportive. I'd recommend the race to anyone. They did a sprint after ours. LOTS of people out for that.

Here's a couple pics from the day. Notice who was RIDING out of T1 when the rest were walking!??? And that's not a smile on my face at the finish -- it's a grimace. I tried to get a little sprint going, and both calves cramped! YIKE! I had enlarged the pic of me in the wetsuit -- and it looks like I'm crying! Really... I was NOT! I swear!