RR: Suncoast Triathlon

Breezy on the bike but a great swim

Overall 1:13:46
Swim 13:33 T1 3:55   (400yds across sand to transition)
Bike 30:00
T2 1:32  (trouble slipping shoes on because my feet were not sweaty)
Run 24:48

11th in age group (of 31)

Yes, it's still tri season in Florida.  There are a few more on the calendar but Suncoast would be my last tri for 2011. My husband and I were supposed to race together but...race morning dawned about 20F cooler than last Saturday.  Despite driving all over creation to get him a full wetsuit to wear for the swim, he bailed at the swim warmup.

Actually, he called it when he stuck his toe in the water. Oh well.

As for me, I also thought it was chilly but this is my sport. OK, maybe I haven't been swimming or riding since the new semester started. So? It's go time. I was crabby for certain but all I wanted was to run well off the bike.

Swim - 660yds - had my usual wetsuit freak out even thought I warmed up.  Actually started wheezing so I focused on slow, steady strokes. Stayed out of the crowd.  Finished in a fairly good time for me.

Bike - 10 miles - Numb toes made it really hard to get my feet into the bike shoes.  Much to my surprise, the podium pack for my age group is still within visual range. They must be having a tough day.  I keep seeing them. I pass girls in my AG but am passed by only one woman from another group. Then it hits me: maybe they aren't having a bad day. I'm making the jump to the back of front pack! Continue to hunt the top girls in my AG for the next 30 minutes without going crazy. It's a windy day and my focus is to run well. Finished about 90 seconds slower than my last go at this course in August.

Run - 5K - GO!  Drank a Red Bull shot that The.Leslie.Holton left behind in March. Much faster than trying to down a GU. Headed out neck

and neck with another girl in my AG.  She wanted to make a statement and I knew there was sand ahead.  She didn't disappear for long. My mile 1 split was almost unbelievable (7:10) so my goal was to make as much time as possible before the course headed to the beach.  By the end of mile 2 she was only 30 seconds ahead of me. I pushed hard to catch her, passed another member of my age group but she kicked it up at the end to maintain the gap.  10th place was so close!  Still it was a very good run. My run split was only 9 seconds away from my stand alone 5K PR. 4-5 minutes faster than my run on this course in August.  OK, it was much hotter in August but to run that fast off the bike makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. FINALLY!

That's it for triathlon 2011.  Overall I'm happy with my progress this season.  If I can stay injury free over the winter, I'm poised to make the jump to the next level: triathlon age group contender.  For now, it's time to focus on a PR at the Disney marathon. Maybe play with a new swim strategy over the winter to put me ahead for next season.