In for a Swim? (recap)

Distance: 21 mile bike & 2.5 mile run
Calories Burned: 1300 (Jeanne Fleck's)

Outing Highlights
Whereas last week there were underwhelming numbers, I was impressed with how many people showed up for this Tuesday Night Tri Group. I cannot recall the exact numbers, but 12 seems about right, with many new faces, at least to me.

I came personally ready to put in a frigid swim and had grabbed my running shoes as a out-there what if we skip the swim. Well, I'm glad I did because the group consensus was to forgo the swim leg this night and add a short run after the bike. It probably would have been a chilly bike after if we had taken the plunge. As a piece of advice for future tri nights, make sure to bring clothing you can strip off after the swim and/or a jacket you can put over any wet clothing. There is the oversized porta-john adjacent to the boat landing. It may not be ideal, but you can change in it...just make sure that you can hold your breath if you have a good sense of smell.

Instead of the swim, Clint went over transitions tonight. Transitions can make a significant difference in a race, especially at the sprint length. Consider if you were able to shave off 45 seconds from your second transition time as you head into the run. In a three-mile run segment, that time savings would be equivalent to increasing your pace from 8:00 minute miles to 7:45 minute miles! Having worked on transitions a bit after last year's transition night, adding many or all of the time saving tips realistically can save at least that much time for each leg, often more. If you missed this tri night, make sure to stop down at the DRC prior to your next triathlon and get a verbal rundown of some of the tips that were covered. Also, for those of you who were there, make sure to practice as many as you can (it is unlikely you will be able to practice preferable bike racking!) prior to your next triathlon. Try laying out a mock transition area in your garage and see where you tend to gravitate when reaching for items. Finally, one of the biggest time savers for me was picking up Yankz (also available at the DRC). This inexpensive lacing system will completely eliminate the need to tie your shoes, easily saving 20 to 30 seconds alone.

Next, we all headed out on a group ride. The section on Martin Rd is in no better condition than last year, but Lavaque is smooth sailing. The group broke into multiple paces. For those who went the full distance, the ride was just over 21 miles. This will be the typical bike leg for anyone wanting to ride the whole way on Tuesdays. Several people, however, turned around early which is perfectly fine too. The idea behind the Tuesday Tri Nights is cater to multiple levels, so anyone is welcome to do half of a segment's distance. Last year, I often went half the swim leg. On the return ride, everyone pretty much stuck together. Group rides can be great because they tend to make you want to push the envelope and, when you get tired, it is perfectly accepted to draft behind someone, which saves considerable effort.

For those who were interested, we stretched out our legs with a 2.5 mile run, following the same path and distance as the Brewhouse Triathlon short course. Jeanne and Clint were the clear leaders. There was a good deal of talking on the way out, but the return leg was silent except for some heavy breathing as everyone pushed.

Again, it was great to see so many out on a night that turned out to be nearly ideal for a bike and run. No matter your ability, feel free to join us and enjoy some good times with this mini tri community.