Metroplex Tri

Another triathlon under my belt.
800 meter swim, 30k bike, 5k run.

Swim: 15:47
Spent the pre race with Peter, Eric and Dave. Eric, being so young, had an early start while the rest of us started together.
I decided to move up a little at the start of the swim and ended up getting beat on (or beating on others) almost the whole
swim. The first turn was only a couple of hundred yards from the start and it was very crowded all the way there and around
the mark. I thought it would thin out on the long second leg but nothing changed. I got kicked, punched and banged on constantly. Then I started catching some “green caps” from the previous wave. These were big guys taking up lots of room. Four or five times I had to breast stroke in order to look around to see what was happening and to try to find open water. Finally around the next mark, but it was still crowded all the way to exiting the water.
Oddly I was pleased with the swim. I felt fairly confident during the swim even with the close quarters. I go frustrated but not anxious.
If this would have happened at the TexasMan (first tri, first open water) I would have panicked.
Lesson learned - three choice: 1 - if up front swim faster, 2 - swim outside the main group, 3 - start further back.
I am going to choose number 2 at Disco. I think I can have a faster swim with out all the banging and have a better time even after adding a few yards.
Grade A, not for speed, but good experience, and not a bad time.
Pace -1:58
Disco goal - about the same.

T1: 1:52
I could always save a few seconds, but fast enough.
Grade B+
Disco goal - will be slower because I will put on socks.

Bike: 49:01
It was a good bike ride my goal was to average about 20mph. Short flat course. I felt good, but I kinda backed off in the middle third of the ride. I was making good time, but I knew that I could have pressed it more than I was at the time. Maybe thinking about the run - maybe still have not completed enough Tri’s to know how much to push it - maybe just not man enough. So, in hind sight I should/could have knocked some time off the bike. Starting in the second to the last wave does have some advantages. You get to pass allot of people and don’t get passed too often. Good for my fragile ego. I did get passed by Peter after a couple of miles. Next time I am going to stay with him through the bike.
Grade B-
Pace 20.5
Disco goal - about the same.

T1: 1:40
Same as above
Grade B+
Disco goal - about the same.

Run: 28:49
Ah the run. My favorite leg of the Tri, NOT. I can’t (choose not to) be to hard on myself about the run. I just don’t train like I should. I want to run faster because that is were I can make up some time but until I train more it is what it is. I tried to do a reverse split and believe that I did. It takes a mile of running to get past the bike legs and a get a good rhythm. It was an out and back course so I saw my nemesis Peter coming back as I was going out . We high fived as we passed each other, next time I am going to trip him. With a mile to go I picked it up some. Passed Carra with about 100 yards to go and tried to finish strong. One of these days I will get faster.
Grade B-
Pace 9:14
Disco goal - 9:14 for a 10k would make me happy.

Overall time: 1:37:10
21st out of 28 in age group
243 out of 506 overall

I believe this was a fast group of triathletes.

Overall lessons:
Swim - clean water.
Bike - press it a little more.
Run - train or except it.

As with every Tri so far - a good time was had.
Oh, almost forgot, I lost a six pack of beer to Peter.