Tri Time Baby!!

Got my race packet, and all is looking ok to kick off the triathlon season with a bang tomorrow. I've actually only got 3 tri's on the schedule this year (which I'm not really happy about so I might add more), and the first one is the TOA sprint tomorrow morning at the Centennial Campus of NC State University. I did this one last year, and it was regarded as one of the funnier race reports if you missed it. The pics really seemed to start something too when I finally got them up. And yes, Kelley is coming tomorrow to take more pics this year.

I can't wait to push some speed up there this time. My overall target time is 1:15, it's a pretty short course. 750 m swim, 10.5 mile bike, 5k run. Itemized:

Swim: 750 m in 13 minutes, last year: 18:55
I have actually been practicing in the pool this year so I'm expecting a faster swim. Really I have no idea how much faster, but it should be a nice improvement. Secondary goal is not to come out of the water disoriented. Last year I came out dizzy and took over 6 minutes in T1 before I could stay on the bike.

Bike: 10.5 miles less than 35 minutes, last year 41:49
The course had a couple of climbs, and one really fast descent. I was just a budding cyclist last year, so I barely hit 15 mph. This year's plan is to hit 20 mph, or as close as I can get. With the new bike Roberta and all of the training I've been doing for next weekend's century ride, the primary main goal #1 is to hammer the bike leg hard. I said hammer........

Run: 5k, less than 30 minutes, last year: 30:53
I've turned in plenty of sub 30 minute 5k's recently in training, and the way speed follows endurance.... after the marathon I'm primed for some fast running. This was a strange and fun course last year with lots of turns and a downhill finish. So here we go, time to finish strong.

Transitions: 2 minutes. Last year: 9:11
I was pretty dizzy when I came out of the water in Lake Raleigh. And I took the time to take gels, tie my shoes, I didn't even have clipless pedals for the bike or yankx for the runners. Totally change clothes.... This year it's get in, get out. Going to wear a SUGOi tri suit, tape the one gel I'm going to need to Roberta, put one bottle of gatorade and one bottle of water on Roberta, and take the gel with a few miles left on the bike leg so I'll be charged for the run. This year I'm much better organized and prepared. Experience is a good thing.

I'm hoping the bike leg will be around 30 minutes maybe a little over, and the run leg will be around 30 minutes, maybe less. So that leaves 15 minutes really to get the swim and transitions in. So if I can beat any of the individual times I'll be able to break 1:15 for a sprint, which is something only fast people normally do.

You may also remember that a 12 year old girl beat me by 20 minutes last year. That's just funny so I thought I would mention it again. I think I might have a chance at beating her last year.

The main goals:
1. 1:15 total time
2. Hammer the bike leg
3. Beat somebody. I'm moving up an age group this year, and maybe the male 35 - 39 will be a bit more sluggish.

In other news:
The closing on the new house got moved up by a week to may 21. Go ahead and mark your calendars to come to NC and help me move. I don't want to lift all that furniture again.

May 22 is supposed to be the Warrior Challenge, so that's off the schedule. I was really looking forward to it too. next year I guess. Also Michael went to register for the Mud Run, and it's sold out!! My two brothers were going to run with a couple of friends, and we were going to run with some of Kelley's family. Now it looks like we are all available, and can't register! dang it. So that's TWO races off the schedule, and I have nothing in May now. I'm sure I'll pick up a local 10k or 5k run to do before we move into the house.

RunnerDude named me his Runner of the Week! It's a fun interview, and he's got a neat blog. Plus he's just a few hours west of where we're living now, so we might run into each other in a race.

Big shouts to Sarah, who's running the Boston Marathon on monday!! Get on it girl.

With the new move-in date, the Fletcher Flyer is back on! Come to Asheville for a century ride in the mountains!

I'll get the race report and pics up asap. Have a great weekend!