2007 Loveland Lake to Lake

Prologue

If you haven't done a race in Colorado, this is one of the best. The organization is great, the volunteers exceptionally friendly and the post race food is fabulous.

I last race here in 2003 and I was excited to return. The transition area is in a grass field which is so much better than pavement.

ACT 1 - The Swim - 1500 meters - 25:32, 1:42/100

The swim went really well. I've been working on weak side breathing and I think that helped straighten me out. Like all Colorado triathlons, the swim is in a lake and the visibility was extremely low. I kept looking for feet to draft off but I couldn't find any. I could see the bright swim caps when I was sighting but there weren't any feet.

T1 - 1:14

ACT 2 - The Bike - 30 Miles - 1:21:15, 21.9 mph

The bike course is as challenging as you'll find with a steady climb to Horsetooth Reservoir followed by two more challenging climbs with quick descents thrown in. I kept focused and held my pace through the whole ride.

When we got back into town, the bike route took an interesting twist. There was a wide right turn which put you on the wrong side of the road in curb lane. It was coned off but it was interesting to be traveling against traffic. As I approached on intersection, the race volunteer allowed a fire engine to make a right turn before me. Since there was plenty of space, it wasn't an issue but there was a pickup behind who decided to cut me off. I don't know how but I avoided the pickup but it definitely took me out of my game for a mile or two.

T2 - :50

ACT 3 - The Run - 10k - 40:10, 6:35/mile

The run has changed since my last race here and it's for the better. Before you looped around Loveland Lake which meant you crossed the entrance to the transistion. The course is now an out and back so you don't have to mix it up with the cyclists. My run started out a little slow and a slowly built to race pace. I felt pretty good the whole way and missed my 40 minute goal by only 10 seconds. That bodes well for my next race.

Total Time: 2:29:46

Epilogue

Overall I had a great race. Everything worked really and I felt really good. The bike went especially well and the run really came through.