MULTISPORT RACING AND TRAINING: September 2014

S - 1.5k around the Pier | B - 40k | R - 10K 2:56:00
#1/6 (60-64)

The familiar feeling of Santa Cruz in late September is one I've grown to love over the the many years of participating in this triathlon. It was called the Sentinel for many years, the transition area used to be in the parking lot across the street from The Dream Inn... those days are gone. Though the finish line is still in roughly the same spot in front the the same hotel. I stayed in one of the hotels close to Depot Park the night before the race. Got to bed by about 9:30pm and got up at 5:00am, did the usual routine: Warm water + lemon, coffee, oatmeal w/banana and Hammer gel, Hammer whey protein and all of the vitamins and supplements by about 5:50am. I took my bike over to Depot Park by 6:00am and got into the transition without waiting in a long line because I was already body-marked..... always a good idea to carry a big Sharpie and ask a friend, in cases like this. I racked close to the Bike Out and then went back to the hotel.

By this time is was a little after 6:30am, I got horizontal again for a while, drank some water and just hung out for the next hour inside the warm hotel room. I went to set up the rest of my things in the transition area, got my swimming things and walked down to the beach at about 7:45am. My wave was scheduled to go off at 8:15am.. it was on time. I took 4 Race Caps Supreme and 4 Endurolytes at about 7:15am and started sipping on Heed around that time. I drank most of it, but left my water bottle in the staging area before the race.

Swim Strategy -- Start on the left and try to make a bee line to the first buoy... well, that would have been easier if I had been able to see it the entire time..... I made a fairly straight shot to it though. I could see the other buoys better, rounded the end of the pier and headed to the swim finish on the beach.. The water felt wonderful, not too cold.. even though I did get a little chilled by the end of the swim.. maybe two caps would have been a better idea. After hitting the beach, I ran up to the ramp, took off my wetsuit at the curb and ran to Depot Park.

In transition, I got my bike and gear and headed out to the course.. I felt a little dizzy and sick for the first 10 or 15 minutes of the ride.. but thankfully, the bad feeling went away. The ride felt speedy, no issues mechanical or otherwise! I ate all of my Hammer Gel/Water mix, had one bite of a Hammer Bar and drank a little Heed.

The run was a meditation, again... I had Kenesio tape on my left knee to help with stability. It was a slow and steady almost 10 minutes per mile pace.... not so fast, but fast enough to pull off an age group win!

Thank you Hammer once again for fueling me in this sport I Love!