Chica: Seafair Sprint Tri Race Report (updated w/pics)

Professional race pictures added at the bottom!

Some nice bed head before the start of the race... I was up at 4 AM, cut me some slack!

Ready to head out into the water... brrr!

Hmm, that swim was not as good as I expected... but I still beat my time goal!

On to the bike....

Getting ready for a great ride!

Trying not to do what the lady in yellow did (fall on my face)!

Starting the run course... hey, my legs still feel good!

Nice little finishing kick at the end of a good run!

Nap time plz?

Bud and I in the finish area. Yay!

Background- I was actually fairly well trained for this race, although I could have used some more running and swimming speedwork. My long run is currently 13.1 miles, so 5K is a pretty short run distance. I had biked up to 30 miles and done a few 10-12 mile tempo rides, some of them on the course, which I think really helped. I had done plenty of open water swims and I felt my form was getting even more improved. I told myself I'd be ok with anything under 2 hours, and I'd be really really happy with 1:50 or 1:45.

Swim - The water wasn't as cold as I was expecting given how cloudy it was, but it was still COLD (low 60s). There were only a few other people without wetsuits there. I made the mistake of starting near the back of my wave because I wasn't sure how fast everyone else was, so it took me almost all the way to the first buoy to get in the clear. I was running into people, swerving, trying to get around people, getting run over, getting kicked... not so fun! By the time I came around to the second buoy, I was in a little more of a rhythm, but still wasn't feeling as fast and strong as usual. I struggled a bit on the long straightaway coming in to the shore, but I managed to push through it. I wasn't too pleased with the swim coming out, but I still managed a sub 20 800M swim. Time: 18:50ish

Transition 1 - I could probably get this a bit faster, but nothing bad happened, haha! Time: 4:30 (it was a long way to get to the bike start!)

Bike- This went way better than I was expecting. The 12 mile course is a lot of rolling hills and some flat sections, with only one big steep hill. I went out at a steady pace, not pushing too hard but riding strong and steady. I ran my bike up the steep hill and continued on across the floating bridge. I hit the turn around point in 24 minutes, well under my goal pace of 55 minutes for the bike. And my legs were still feeling great! I was able to stay really focused, strong, and steady for the entire ride. I finished in right around 49 minutes, which I was super happy with! Time: 49:20ish

Transition 2 - Uneventful, just dropped off my gloves and bike helmet. Time: 1 min

Run - I was very pleased when I started running and felt only a mild tightness in my calves and hamstrings - nothing like the incredible ouch I felt during the mock tri last weekend. I told myself that I wouldn't waste such a good bike ride by not pushing it on the run. I started off strong, steady, and still feeling good. I hit the first mile in about 10:30, which was a lot faster than I was expecting! Mile 2 came about halfway up the hill in the race, which is long and steep. I ran up most of it, only walking for about 10 seconds during the steepest part. Coming back down was a lot of fun! I ran mile 2 in about 11:00, and after coming down the hill, pushed it stronger and stronger until I saw the finish line, and then unleashed a pretty good finishing kick until I crossed the line. Time: 32:33

Final time: 1:45:33(ish)

Reflections - I am very happy with my overall time! The bike and the run were strong, steady efforts that were faster than I expected and I am very pleased with them (although I know there is always room for improvement!). I could practice my transitions a few more times but they weren't horrible. The swim got off to a rough start and I never really got settled, but I managed to push through and still finish with not a horrible time. I can't wait for the next one!