WinterDelight

Once again this year I partook in the Warsaw Optimist Triathlon. This is a sprint distance triathlon and is great fun. This event is perfect for someone wanting to try a triathlon. This distance are short and there are lots of nice people that are willing to lend advice, tips, and friendship.

The distances, in order they happen, are 400m swim (about 1/4 of a mile), 13.5 mile bike, and a 3.5 mile run. The lake is a bit weedy, but not bad and the water was 82 degrees this year. The bike is a mostly flat with some rolling hills. The run is nice through the trails, quick loop through a neighborhood and back on the trails again.

My goal for this year was to improve my times from last year. I felt I would be better on the swim and run, but knew I did not bike enough this Spring. All my times improved over last year, and last year was the first time the run was 3.5 miles instead of just three. This was my fifth time doing the Warsaw triathlon and in 2005 it was my first triathlon, so I feel it is special to me.

Winona Lake was in warmer than past years for this event. I started in the third wave and had a great swim. I think I could have gone faster if the water was a little cooler. I did pass three guys from the wave before me and that was very exciting. If you never did a triathlon before, you start in waves of swimmers at about five minute intervals usually the younger guys start first. So passing some 20 something year olds that started five minutes before me was good. My time did improve, but only by 24 seconds.

The bike I did not feel I was ready for and was ready to accept a slower time. When you start there is a hill before you get out on the highway. When I get out on the highway I like to start checking my speed and I was doing about 20mph and my cycle-computer was telling me that I was below average. I ignored this until mile three and I was still under and knew something was amiss. I check my average and it was like 80mph. I let this go until about mile six and then reset, so I would have a good reading on the average. The first half of the ride was into the wind, but it was not a strong wind and it was hard to tell which way it was going. I averaged about 19mph on the way out, which is good for me. At the turn around you could feel the wind at your back and I averaged about 21mph to finish the bike. My time was 41:14, a 1:11 improvement over last year.

The run was where I was hoping to get a good improvement. Last year I was cycling more than running because my ankle was hurting. Well, not that my ankle is better, but this year I ran the half marathon at the Sunburst, so I figured my times would be better than last year. I started out and just could not get my legs. About 2 miles in I got passed by a 17 year old kid and then I decided I was going to slow. I remember passing him in the bike, so I had to keep up with him. That worked for me and I started to feel better as we ran, I usually was in front, but could hear him behind me. Then about 2.5 miles in the first woman passed me, but I could not keep up with her (she finished in 1:09:56). Next year my run will be better as it should be. I think the key will be not to play basketball this winter, as I feel this is when my ankle gets messed up. We will see if I can stay off that court.

Last would be my transitions. Both were faster than last year by eight and 16 seconds respectively and I felt I did good in them. I do not feel there will be room for improvement there.

The best part is the people. I get to see so many people on the race and pre/post race that I know and was visit, talk about the race and just have a great time. I am looking forward already to next year where I hope to be faster and that will keep me motivated to stay in shape. In two weeks I have the Muncie Triathlon, half-ironman, and I am in major need of some bike time before then.

Here is some history of past years with this year:

Note that 2008 and 2009 have the new 3.5 mile run. 2007 was the first year with my new bike.