Good morning! A few weeks have passed since competing in my second-ever Triathlon race. As mentioned before, I took my running fitness to the multi-sport courses and have enjoyed competing in triathlons.
In 2021 I raced the Hyannis II Sprint triathlon as a novice entry (mentioned in my previous blog). I placed 3rd for my division and was instantly hooked. Going into the 2022 Hyannis race, I focused my training from only running + strength training to a balanced training program of run, bike, swim, strength, and recovery work.
Pre-Race
Leading into the race, I felt stronger, fit, and more comfortable compared to last year. I ensured to taper one week into my Hyannis race to maintain top fitness levels. As everything felt great, the only issue was the race start time and how far my AM travel would be. Waking around 2-3 am on race day; I did not get the best sleep. My whoop (recovery) band indicated the red zone, meaning poor recovery, but this happens when your sleep schedule is interrupted.
Race Morning
I woke before my alarm (of course, when all you can think about is oversleeping)—morning hydration with BPN “Salted Watermelon” Electrolytes and some Himalayan Pink Salt. For simple carbohydrates, I had two homemade breakfast bars from Whole Foods (containing some mixed nuts, honey, fruits, etc.). After breakfast, I packed my gear and headed to Hyannis.
My Wife, Daughters, and my Dad (for his first ever Triathlon) joined me for the race!
- arrived on site around 4:45-5 am for race day check-in
- setup in transition 1 (bike on the rack, bag setup, and wetsuit on)
- next, we made our way to the swim start
I was in the beginning swim waves because I was racing competitively for my age group (30-34).
If you’re unfamiliar – when racing for your age group, your score within the USAT guidelines is added to your profile or USAT statistics.
Therefore, I was looking for a competitive score for my USAT profile. Also, if you race three races within one racing year – you are “ranked national” for your age group.
Results
My swim time was 8:19 with a pace of 1:53. I was able to shave off some time from last year’s race.
Transition (T1) – 1:44 shaved off about 15 seconds compared to last year.
Bike – 30:31 shaved off 3 minutes compared to last year. Avg MPH was 20.0. I know I can improve my bike some more this year. I have recently purchased a new Canyon bike (which I will be sharing some videos / additional blogs reviewing the bike).
Transition (T2) – 1:30, a much better transition from last year. Shaved off almost 1 minute. Still aiming for under 1 minute per transition.
Run – 24:37, Avg pace of 6:50 per mile (ranked 17 overall). I was slightly faster last year, although I hammered on the bike before the run.
Final Thoughts
I am very happy with my performance (especially with it being my 2nd Triathlon). I shaved off 4 minutes for my overall time and placed 1st! Also, was ahead of 2nd & 3rd by 2 minutes.
My next scheduled race will be the 2022 Buzzard Bay’s Sprint Duathlon – which is one week from my Hyannis race. Buzzard Bay race will be a 2-mile run into a 14-mile bike, followed by a 5k.
Let’s get it!