Triathlon Weekend

Triathlon Website: Mission Bay Triathlon
Results Website: Y-Events Results
Distances: 500m Swim, 15km Bike, 5km Run

My Time: 1:20:57 (Swim: 0:11:23 Bike: 0:40:52 Run: 0:28:42)
Rog's Time: 1:18:27 (Swim: 0:13:09 Bike: 0:38:40 Run: 0:26:38)
Note: The Bike time includes both transition times.

Quick timeline of Triathlon weekend

I had made a reservation to rent a road bike, since I have been training on a semi-mountain bike. Don't get me wrong, I like my bike, but it is not for racing.

I decided to rent from Hollywood Pro Bicycles for the race. It ended up being a great bike and was the only reason I wasn't too far behind Roger.

Since the race was in Mission Bay, we went down to San Diego on Saturday night to stay with Roger and his family. Roger is the reason I got started doing this. We decided not to take Justin with us since sitting by the sidelines of a race waiting for a 10-15 second glimpse of your dad is not very exciting for a 2 year old. The older two, Kara (5) and Jeremy (8), did come with us for the weekend.

We dropped Justin at my Mother-in-law's house for the night (huntington beach). A big thank you to Phyllis and Morrie for watching him.

When we arrived at Roger's house on Saturday night, it was getting dark but I hadn't ridden the rental bike yet. We decided to take it out for a test spin to make sure it was OK and that my shoes were ok with the pedals. We then spent 20 minutes going over gear and making sure I had everything and was leaving things behind that I did not need. Found out that I had forgotten my goggles. Luckily, Roger had an extra pair at the house.

Dinner of Costco pizza and a pasta salad and went to bed early (9:45)
Comment to Rochelle that I am mostly nervous about swim in the morning for some reason

Race Day

• Woke up by Rog at 4:50
• Left house by 5:05 en route to mission bay
• Parking lot mostly full when we arrive at 5:20
• Get registration forms
• supposed to pick up on Sat
• Paid $10 late fee
• Go into transition area and setup equip in wave 8 (35-39 men)
• Bike on rack
• layout towel
• layout shoes
• Pin number to shirt to be prepared
• Get body markings
• left upper arm
• left thigh
• left calf (age)
• Visit Restroom
• VERY IMPORTANT
• Dress for swim and get kicked out of transition area at 6:35
• Tri Bathing suit (like bike shorts, but easier drying pad)
• Short wetsuit
• Goggles
• Wave doesn't start until 7:20
• Stretch and watch first waves go off
• Walk around nervously
• Walk down boat ramp at 7:10 to begin getting wet.
• water start instead of beach start
• Enter water at 7:15 and swim to boat dock for start of race.
• Bob in water and listen to instructions
• Swim straight to Yellow floating triangle and pass on right site (off left shoulder)
• North bound current so we are getting some assistance.
• Swim (500 Meters):
• Horn goes off and everyone starts swimming
• Kicked and hit by at least a dozen guys of the 135 starting in our wave.
• Cold water is knocking the wind out of my lungs.
• Keep trying to swim in cold water and mass of competitors.
• Switch to breaststroke at about 150 meters to check where I am.
• I'm heading a bit off course and hit someone heading off course the other direction.
• Switch back to freestyle, can't breathe
• Back to breaststroke to catch breath.
• Back to freestyle, still unable to breathe and can't tell which direction I'm going.
• Swim is going miserably.
• Decide to switch to breaststroke for the entire remainder of the swim at 300m.
• Easily finish off swim in a very dissappointing time.
• Hoping to be 3-4 minutes ahead of Roger out of the water, not even sure I finished in front of him.
• walk out of water and run up beach trying to unzip my wetsuit.
• Step on timing pad and into the transition area.
• Transition 1 (swim to bike):
• Went down wrong aisle coming in to the transition.
• Walk to the wrong tree and start looking for my stuff.
• Finally find my towel (green) and start towelling off my feet.
• Roger's bike is still there so I am slightly ahead.
• Realize I should take off my wetsuit before drying feet.
• Take off wetsuit and dry feet again.
• Put on my socks and bike shoes.
• Start to put on my shirt and Roger shows up.
• Roger knows I messed up the swim since I haven't left yet.
• Knows he has the race in the bag since he is a stronger runner
• "You're screwed dude"
• Shirt gets caught trying to get it on.
• Finally get shirt on and put on helmet.
• Roger has first bike shoe on.
• Grab my bike and walk/run to the transition exit to mount my bike.
• Say to myself: "Roger isn't going to catch me on the bike"
• Clip into pedals and I am off on the bike ride.
• Bike (15km):
• Got off like a shot and got up to speed.
• Look to see if Rochelle and kids are in the crowd as I get going.
• Easy climb up the bridge and down the other side.
• Head through the sea world parking lot and make the hairpin turns easy.
• Keep thinking I have to go faster to stay ahead of Roger.
• Rental bike feels great and I am moving quick.
• Roger is probably 40-50 seconds behind me. I expect to see him anytime.
• Arrive at the fiesta island loop (4km or so) and still no Roger.
• Pass a bunch of people and get passed by a few.
• At the halfway point, I feel good and in control of the bike portion.
• Kick up the speed a bit more on the second half.
• Get passed by a few people, but I'm passing more.
• Look at everyone passing me to see if it is Roger.
• Bike starts to make a noise. Not sure what it is
• Either I hit something or something fell off the bike. It bounces into the distance
• Noise has gone away. Not a great feeling
• look down at the tire bolts, the pedals and the brakes. Everything works, keep going
• Back along the street a bit. See the 9 year old riding her bike. Encourage her as I pass.
• Back through sea world parking lot and get bunched up with several people in the tight corners, but no one touches.
• Got passed in last corner when I was on concrete, had to hold the turn together until I was back on asphalt.
• Back up the bridge in an easy climb and accelerate down the other side.
• Coming up on the transition area.
• See Rochelle and the kids (and Roger's family) in the last 500 meters.
• Dismount at the line and start running into the transition area.
• Still ahead of Roger by an unknown amount.
• Transition 2 (Bike to Run):
• Got lost again.
• Went down wrong aisle (again).
• Found the markings on the ground and made it to my stuff
• Roger has just gotten there and is changing his shoes.
• I had finished the bike before him, but he found the transition without getting lost.
• I take off my bike shoes as he puts on his second running shoe.
• I have my first shoe on as he takes off.
• Get my second shoe on and start to run out of the transition area.
• Stumble slightly as my legs get used to the new motion.
• Run to the exit and step on the timing pad.
• Run (5km):
• I hit the path and start going. I am pacing myself slow to adjust my legs.
• Rochelle and the kids are 200 meters out of the gate
• Jeremy runs on the grass alongside me (faster than I am running)
• He says: "Look Daddy, I'm faster than you" (thanks)
• I respond: "Good Jeremy, keep it up for 3 more miles" (a few laughs)
• I think to my goal: run the entire 5k without walking.
• .75 miles I am following a runner whose pace I can match.
• She notices me, but doesn't say anything until the 1mile marker: "9:15 pace"
• I see the 1 mile marker and say "Ah Damn, is that it".
• Keep running along the path. I pass her and keep going.
• Running up the Bridge, I stay behind someone I could run faster than, but I am tired.
• On the way up the bridge, she passes me and says: "You'll have to pass me again"
• I decide to match her pace.
• Mile marker 2, she doesn't say anything.
• I said that I thought she was keeping time.
• "9:00 pace"
• Keep running. Haven't seen roger since mile marker 1
• Along a dirt path under the bridge and back up the other side. This is nearing the end.
• Make it to the top, all down hill from here.
• Keep my pace with the woman with the watch.
• Come along the home stretch and begin to increase my stride. I want a strong finish.
• See Rochelle and the kids in the home stretch.
• Startled to hear my name from the loudspeaker as I come running through.
• Melanie (Roger's wife) told the announcer my name as I came running through. He would comment on anyone's name he was told.
• Finish the race just behind the woman with the watch.

Total Time: 1:20:57
Roger's Time: 1:18:27

Haven't got the split times yet.

Roger (tall one) running at the beginning of the 5k

Keith (hidden in back) at the start of the run

A better shot of me at the beginning of the run

Heading toward the finish line with the woman with the watch

Even closer to the finish line!!