I got back on the race course for the first time in a couple years.

My last triathlon was in 2015. And it was the very same race as today. Good place to see what two extra years does, eh?

Through the spring I had been pretty good about sticking with a bit of a program. Things were rounding into reasonable form. However, the month of June disrupted what steady rhythm I had going. I was able to get some basic milage but not some of the focused work I had in mind. Being a dad and a husband and trying to train hard is something I will have to learn.

Langford lake was reasonably warm. Not warm enough to ban wetsuits. That race in 2015 was a wetsuit free swim so it has been quite some time since I have had to suit up. Man, I had forgotten just what a pain it is to put one on. Probably doesn’t help I am some what bigger then when I last tried. I got in the water with enough time to get some swimming in and remember what a wetsuit swim feels like. 2 turn triangle course. Went steady off the gun and felt comfortable to the first turn. Having not done any open water swimming since that last race it isn’t surprising that the turns felt pretty bad. On final leg back to the beach I felt pretty crummy. I was struggling against sighting and the suit. I would have been in trouble in warmer water, this was lack of training.

Thankfully the wetsuit came off without a fight and onto the bike. Leading into June I was coming into reasonable form on the bike. June didn’t see the top end work I had wanted but I was able to keep the base miles rolling getting to and from work. A quick bike mount, running, got me back a couple of places my slow swim left me with. Then steady until the last left turn on the course. That left begins the tough part of the bike. Rollers and false flats and today, a head wind. Hard effort through that section and back to steady on the way home. I made hay on the bike, the split was a bit longish. However, that wind slowed us all down.

On to the run. I really hadn’t done much running over the past month. Going to rely on muscle memory. I really just wanted to roll a reasonable turn over, pace will follow. While I suffered for that 5K I was pretty please given the training investment made. I gave back a couple of places but really couldn’t have asked for more.

All told I was 2nd in the age group and 18th overall. Most importantly though, I had fun.