Pelican Fest Triathlon

Prologue

The Pelican Fest Triathlon wasn’t on my race schedule until three days before the race but after seeing some friends had signed up, I decided it would be a good early season race to see how my training was going. I was expecting a nice low-key, relaxing race without a lot of competition but was I wrong. Making the drive up to Windsor from Westminster, I started to wonder where all the nice bikes on the highway were going. When I pulled into the parking lot, I could tell it was going to be competitive, all the fast bikes were there and a lot of fast looking athletes too. Apparently a lot of people were using it as a tune up race.

ACT 1 - The Swim - 800 meters - 11:42, 1:28/100

The swim went pretty well except for the drifting off course a couple times. I need to work on the sighting more and I need to balance out my stroke. I’ve started practicing transitions and I think it paid off at this race.

T1 - 1:16

ACT 2 - The Bike - 10 miles - 26:49, 22.3 mph

I ran my bike out, jumped on and slide on my shoes without a lot of trouble and coming back in, I left my shoes on the pedals. I actually felt good about both T1 and T2. The bike course was mostly flat except for the half mile, six percent hill at the beginning. Once you climbed the hill, the course became pretty crowded. After the race I was talking with Jerry and he was wondering about drafting. To avoid drafting you either had to drop back or just pass everyone you could.

T2 - :52

ACT 3 - The Run - 5k - 18:17, 5:51

The run was held on the cart path for the golf course and had two very steep hills. The hills were steep enough that the concrete was grooved to provide traction. I pushed up the hills pretty good but you had to work pretty hard to stay in control on the descents.

Total Time: 58:57

Epilogue

Things that went really well: transitions and bike leg. Things that need work: swimming straight. For the first triathlon of the season and being a last minute race, I think it went really well. I finished twenty-ninth overall and fourth in my age group. I did get nipped at the end by the thrid place finisher in my AG. I don't know what I was thinking but I let up a little near the end and he took advantage of it. Next race, Bolder Boulder in two days, hopefully I’ll be recovered.