Blue Lake Tri Race Report (my second tri!)

[Susan Otcenas]

Well, I think you did great!

+1 !!

You should be proud of yourself. An OWS tri is a whole 'nother ballgame compared to the pool tri you did in May. Your reaction on the swim was very very common. It really DOES get easier with time. (For me, it never gets "easy" but it does get easiER. )

More OWS practice at Hagg, a few more sprints, and you'll be amazed at the difference. BTW, there's an all-women's sprint at Blue Lake on 7/31, if you want to do two more before Black Hills instead of one.

[GLC1968]

BTW, there's an all-women's sprint at Blue Lake on 7/31, if you want to do two more before Black Hills instead of one.

Yeah, I thought about that one, but I don't think I want to swim in Blue Lake mid-summer. I think the water temps will be too warm for me. Anything above 70F and I'm going to have to ditch the wetsuit, I think.

[Veronica]

Yeah, I thought about that one, but I don't think I want to swim in Blue Lake mid-summer. I think the water temps will be too warm for me. Anything above 70F and I'm going to have to ditch the wetsuit, I think.

So ditch the wetsuit and do it. Think of it as a race simulation. It will give you a chance to practice your transitions and maybe help calm some of the OWS anxiety.

Veronica

PS Congratulations! You did well!

[Red Rock]

Congrats GLC. I can totally understand your feeling on the OWS. I have to reteach myself the freestyle in the swim myself. So your progressing. Keep it up. Not only that but you placed! How sweet is that.

Red Rock

[roadie gal]

Great race! The swim is always stressful, although as others have said, it does get easier over time.

[colby]

Congrats on your pretty shiny medal and 1st OWS tri, GLC!! Great pictures, too. Glad you had a good time AND came out of it with concrete things to work on for next time. Always fun thinking about NEXT TIME!

I can swim in my sleeveless wetsuit just to around 72 or so degrees. If it's warmer than that, it starts to get too warm. Or.... you can swim the distance without a wetsuit, I'm certain. There was a tri I did a couple years ago where the water was so warm in July that they banned wetsuits (75?), a lot of women freaked out but pushed through it anyway and did just fine. It was like swimming in the pool.

[Susan Otcenas]

There was a tri I did a couple years ago where the water was so warm in July that they banned wetsuits (75?), a lot of women freaked out but pushed through it anyway and did just fine. It was like swimming in the pool.

I would DNS. Seriously. The wetsuit is the only thing that keeps me from completely freaking out.

[Veronica]

I would DNS. Seriously. The wetsuit is the only thing that keeps me from completely freaking out.

I'm such a sicko that I keep hoping my races will warm enough that they are not wetsuit legal.

Veronica

[Susan Otcenas]

I'm such a sicko that I keep hoping my races will warm enough that they are not wetsuit legal.

Veronica

Well, it would certainly reduce the competition. I *know* I'm not the only person who uses her wetsuit the way Linus uses his safety blanket.

[tulip]

GLC, you are AWESOME! Congratulations on a great race. I really value your analysis of each stage and transitions. If I ever do a tri, I'll definitely learn from your tips.

That's a big IF. But I think it's getting smaller.

[OakLeaf]

Way to go GLC! You rock.

[Susan Otcenas]

GLC - I think that last photo would make a GREAT avatar photo! You look so delighted.