Boulder Peak Triathlon - Race Report

I got lucky and was sent off in the 3rd wave at 7:00am after a 15 minute delay. My swim was marginal. We did the typical bouncing around out to the first turn. I think a lot of this was due to the sun being directly behind the first bouy so you really couldn't see anything when you tried to sight forward. I found a rhythm but never felt really good at any point in the entire 1500m. I came out of the water with an okay time of 0:28. I really need to work on that.

Heading out on the bike, I was careful to "stick to the plan". Small chainring for 90% of the ride out to Old Stage Road. A few short sections where I jumped up but mainly kept a steady pace to revive my lungs for the climb. I was also feeling my hamstrings a lot more than I would have liked. should have stretched more. My decision to change out my cassette to a 12-27 worked perfect. I couldn't spin my way up but was able to keep a steady chug all the way. Stood up for 10-20 revolutions out of every hundred or so. I'm always counting in my head - its my own particular distraction. A bike team was about 3/4 of the way up cheering us on and really yelling for the climbers (it felt great to be included in that group!). I didn't use the aid station but their lead bottle holder in stockings and garters plus platform KISS boots made you want to stop and hang out for a while.

the ride down the back side was uneventful - I am definitely getting more comfortable on the downhills. I did have to brake hard to stay under the 35 mph limit. 200 pounds on a great bike really cruises easy. the volunteer at US 36 seemed to be directing riders into the southbound lanes rather than the northbound to I got screwed up there too. The rest of the ride out to 63rd flew by. Feeling great and even singing a little bit. Got some fantastic cheering from our BTC volunteers at the aid station and kept rolling. At this point the legs started feeling heavy again so I pushed when I could and just kept going. I was passing a lot of people but its real disconcerting when a much better biker still flys by you like you're standing still.

At T2 I went to what I thought was my station. Things looked not quite right but the shoes, visor, and race belt were where I put them. I've been to enough races where things get scattered around by the wind or helicopter downdrafts or what ever that in my exhaustion it didn't register. Just then a guy comes up to me and says "hey, that's MY stuff!" Sure enough I'm one row off. Move over, change and get going.

Phil M came in as I was heading out. I knew that would happen. 15 minute head start gone before his best leg. Damn little guys!

True to racing, the first mile on the run sucks. Heading out on the dam is a slight uphill so I just set a pace that allows me to get into my groove. I'm pulling down 8:20s and am able to pick up the pace. At the turn around I know I have the downhill and a little juice so I gave it what I could and ended up with 7:57 mile splits. I'll take that.

I finished in 2:44. No bad but leaves you wanting more. I should have given more on the bike. I should take 30 seconds off each transition, 3-5 minutes off the swim, 8-12 minutes off the bike, and a couple on the run. Got a new goal.