Issaquah Triathlon 2009

400m swim, 14 mile bike, 3 mile run. (actually nobody really knows)

Pre-Race:

I woke up at 4:30am and didn't get much sleep at all. Good thing it is a sprint. I had almost everything ready to go and was able to eat some breakfast and stretch a bit. I was feeling pretty good and a bit nervous for the race. I got to the park right at 5:30 and was one of the first few in transition. I was assigned the front rack and grabbed the end spot. I'm pretty sure I had the best position out of anybody. I did some stretching, hung out out the tent and though about the race. I then swam with a couple of teammates and we did almost the entire course. The water felt great and I was feeling good about racing.

Swim: 6:35
I decided to try the front outside for the swim. I was in the first wave, which I thought would be cool. The number of people in my age group was overwhelming. The gun went off and I ran and jumped in, I slammed into two swimmers and actually stood up. I looked around and there was nowhere to go, so back in I went. Every stroke I hit someone, and someone hit me. I popped my head up around the first buoy and noticed I sort of turned but was really wide. I don't even remember turning. I was a bit bothered by that but it was such a madhouse there wasn't much time to think. So I continued bumping people and the next thing I know we are headed back to shore. It was more of a brawl than a swim. I've never had to deal with that much contact past the first 50 yards or so. Crazy!

T1: 1:43

Had to run to the front, but much better than running that far with a bike. I had a lot of time to get my wetsuit down past my waist. I was a little slow getting my wetsuit off, but overall it was a decent transition. Simple and quick.

Bike: 41:17


I passed two people just by mounting faster than them. Then out of nowhere there are four duathletes in front of me in the no passing zone. I think we were going 8mph. I was getting a bit flustered and wanted to pass, but there was just no room and it wasn't worth getting a penalty. I must have lost over a minute behind them. Finally after the no pass zone ended I went ahead and started to hydrate. There was a small group of us riding through the cones, I held back a bit. After a few miles I pushed it a bit and was feeling good. Some great riders blew by me, but I felt like I was holding my own. I hit the climb and stood up and went hard to crest it. Right when I started descending I saw another biker crashed in the ditch. He must have just crashed. I kept cruising down the hill and my speed was good. I hit the turn around at exactly 20 minutes. I was very surprised that my hamstrings weren't hurting like normal. My heart rate was pretty high and I was happy about that as normally my legs hurt well before my HR goes up. I hit the steep climb and it was challenging. there was a pack of four riders who were blatantly drafting who passed me. That sort of upset me as I was not drafting them. I finished the bike strong and I could tell I went hard, but I still have a lot of room to improve.

T2: 1:01

Not much to say here except I really need to get those zip shoe lace things. My hands were trembling a bit and tying my shoes was a challenge.

Run: 21:05

Ouch! I was gasping for air right out of transition and was thinking that this was going to be one painful run. I was behind a guy who looked strong and stayed behind him for the first mile. I could not catch my breath. Eventually the guy ahead of me started to fade so I passed him. Then someone passed me looking very strong. I kept him in my sights but could never catch him. This was great being in the first wave and knowing that passing people mattered. I saw a runner ahead of me a bit, and I was pretty sure he was the one ahead of me drafting on the bike. I told myself that he was going down soon. The last mile I picked it up and caught him. It is crazy how I first think I can't catch someone, then I tell myself to go for it, then when I pass them I realize how much stronger I am then them. I hit the section in the trees and couldn't go much faster. I turned it on for the last 200yds and finished strong.

Overall: 1:11:41 24th out of 92 AG

This is the best performance in a triathlon I've ever put together. I could have not gone any faster. My heart rate was peaked out the entire race. I can feel myself getting stronger and it sure does pay off. This race was a ton of fun and even better with so many teammates around!