PATCO...meh.

So I will be blunt. Not too pleased with with my performance here in Oklahoma. Ya it is the first ITU in a couple of years, it wasn't what I was hoping but a starting point for the season. I have some tweaking to do before next weeks race in Austin Tx. Well here is what happened:

So race time was 4pm. So I got up at 9 for some continental breakfast Quick 20min jog with JP and back to the hotel for a shave and a nap. Quick lunch at 1pm and a coffee at 2. We hit the road at 2:30 off to the course, loop of the course and set up the transition. Quick Jog, a 20min swim and I was good to go.

Swim:

There was a bit of foreshadowing on the start line as when I dove in my calf cramped up a bit. None the less I managed to get a strong start and had open water early after accidently kicking someone. Sorry. So with clear water I looked to my left and saw another charge. I joined up with them and swam even. On the back side up current and into the wind I went to the front and set the pace and held it to the finish of the swim. So out of the water with a bit of a gap, my legs were already feeling some cramping but I ran hard into transition and exited in good position.

Bike:

A pack of 6 of us got moving working hard. I built into it due to the hard effort in the water. Mat Read, Hunter Kemper, Timothy O'Donnell, Matt Chrabot, Benjamin Collins and I built about a 2min gap over the 40km ride.

Run:

Fast transition on to the run but it became obvious quickly that the cramping was back. First lap was filled with sharp snaps back to reality that I had made a nutritionl mistake. I got into a bit of a damage control mode, unable to apply preasure. Second of four laps was better but the remainder of the run was on and off till a final sprint in for 12th. Not the kind of running seen at the TC 10km. Click Here for results. Triathlon Canada Articl.

So Not the way I would have liked to conclude the race, and not what I believe I am capable of. I am in the middle of making a list of the lessons I will take from this race and apply it to the continental cup in Austin. Top of the list is to figure out my hydration plan. A pinch of salt may be the trick but I will look further into this.

For now it is off to bed and recovery.

Ciao for now,

Andrew

No Cotton Wool.