Post Triathlon (Route 66) Thoughts…

I debated posting this thoughts because I did pretty poorly at this triathlon (first of the season for me). It is embarassing, but, I decide that writing it down would be enlightening to me, and hopefully get me past it and have a clear slate for my next tri.

This is the tri that I did my first ever tri at last year, and I really hoped to smash my time from last year into smitherines. I have a year of tris under my belt, a ton of training, a trainer and thought I was smarter. I wasn’t.

Swim (500 meters), 14:42

This was an open water course.

• Start was ok, I did not hear the directions the guy was giving from the shore so the gun going off caught me off guard.
• I kept running into people in front of me and having to stop/slow and that took a ton of energy.
• Two times I lost sight of my place and faded right pretty bad, I corrected, but I swam more than I needed to. Worst, I did not see the very last buoy, and started swimming into the dock…bad idea, by the time I was halfway to the dock I realized I was alone and looked around and SHIT, saw the last buoy. Had to head back and go around. All-in-all I think I overswam about 50 or so meters.
• I did LOVE my new Xterra wetsuit, but do admit, had no training time in it prior to the race, but really do not think that had anything to do with my mistakes.
• Getting the wetsuit off was kinda weird. They had “strippers” there to help, and they did, but I turned wrong and added some time.

Transition #1, 1:16

I had a good rack space and it also helps that most of the bikes that were around mine were already gone when I got there. So did not have to fight with anyone.

• When I was putting on my shoes I had a little dizzy spell, almost fell over. Had to stand for a few seconds to right myself.
• Need to get some true triathlon bike shoes, instead of road bike shoes, so I can start trying to put the shoes on on the bike.

Bike (13 miles), 45:24 

The bike is my strong suite, normally. Not this day. I have had some changes on my bike: aero bars, HED Jet6 wheels and some other minor things. I really thought I would come out here and make the bike my bitch. I didn’t, it made me its.

• Got on bike well from transition. 
• Ok, now that I got the positive out of the way… I had nothing to give on the bike. I am not sure what was up. I’m hoping it was just a bad day.
• With the wider wheels on the HED’s my brake started rubbing on the back wheel halfway thru the ride, I could hear it and it was causing massive pressure to pedal (on top of the wind and hills). In hindsight I should have stopped to fix it, but I didn’t.
• I also need to rethink the smaller/harder cassette on these wheels. I had a hard time finding a good comfortable gear that allowed me to have a good speed/cadence. (Note: I have been on a few more rides since then, and am still thinking of getting a new cassette)

After the bad swim and bike, I was pretty much down on myself mentally and physically, and had to talk myself out of just throwing in the towel. I did not, but I had a huge battle going on in my head.

Transition #2, 1:00

Pretty decent transition time, not my best, not my worst.

• Still need to work more on taking off bike shoes on the bike. I have been practicing this, but today it just did not happen cause I was just mentally and physically beat.

Run (5K/3.1 miles), 47:21

HORRIBLE RUN! I admit I was done, after the swim and poor bike my head left the game, completely. I don’t care for the run normally, but then with all the shit that happened before it, I checked out.

• I did notice my lower back was really tight the whole run (well I say run, but there was just as much walk in this one) .. think it might be from aero bars, but I am not sure.

Overall, 1:52:45

There was a ton of negative in this post tri thoughts, that’s because it was a super negative day for me. I am really truly hoping this was just a bad race and it is now out of my system.

We will see, the sophomore slump shall not continue!