Steelhead Race Report: T2

As I rode into the transition area, I unclipped my feet and rolled to a stop. I looked at my heart rate monitor and it read 154 bpm. Which is right at my AT. I quickly got off Christine and my legs felt a little woozy but I felt fine. I unlatched my helmet and felt where the bee stung me during the bike ride. It hadn’t swelled too badly. I ran my bike to my area and racked it. The ride was done and it was time for the run.

I was shocked that my friend was already gone from the transition area when I arrived. I knew that he was faster then me in the swim, but I was fully expecting to catch him during the bike.

I undid my bike shoes and put on my Asics running shoes. I also took off my sweaty bike jersey and put on a clean running singlet. I took a deep swig of the Gatorade and put on my running hat and glasses. I reached down and tied my shoes. When I stood up my head was spinning (I should have used the elastic laces that my wife got me… they would have kept my head from spinning)

Speed Laces are shoe laces that are made to increase the speed to tie a pair of shoes. I have had these for a while, but I have never run in them. I was told never to try out a new piece of equipment during a race and I wasn’t going to start now.

I put on my race belt that had my race number attached to it. While doing this, I tore one side off the eyelet and now only had one side secure. I should have put the belt on first then attached the race number. I tucked the loose side into my shorts and took one more swig form the water bottle.

I glanced at my heart rate monitor and noted that it was in the 145 bpm, which is zone 3 for me. I headed out of the transition area and said good luck to one of the guys that was changing next to me. I took a wrong turn out of the transition area and took the long way out. I finally saw my family who were cheering me on. I asked and my wife said that my friend had left the transition area about 8 minutes before me.

That was a huge lead and I got a little dejected as I thought that he was approaching the one mile marker as I was heading out of T2.