Open Water – swimcyclesprint

Race Report – Oakland Triathlon Festival

I love Oakland. Have I mentioned that before?

Date: August 29, 2015 | Location: Oakland, CA

Weather: Cool, fog to drizzle to fog to sun, 60-70 degrees

Race: Sprint | Age Group: 20-24

Results: Division – 1/11; Overall – 67; Women – 15

Location	Distance	Pace	Chip Time	Place (W/Div)
Swim	965 m (0:15:55)**	1:39/100 m**	15:55	2/1
T1	(5:49 min)		21:54
Bike	20 km (0:39:59 min)	18.6 mph	1:01:33	14/1
T2	(1:29 min)		1:02:02
Run	5 km (0:31:33)	10:11 min/mile	1:34:47	67/7
Finish	(1:32:05 min)		1:32:05	70/2

Aw. 55+ racers and dozens of volunteers. These folks rock.

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Oakland Triathlon Festival – Preview to the Preview

It’s almost time – we are officially 16 days out from the Second Annual Oakland Triathlon Festival.

I have been really distracted since the Sandman. I was working on a run foundation all last week, hitting a solid two-mile loop for five days, but this week has been negligible at best. I swam hard on Sunday, and haven’t done much of anything else (active, at least) since. I have been diving deep into other exciting things, but unfortunately that precluded my race preparation.

What does this mean? This weekend: all Oakland, all the time.

Love. The. Logo.

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Sandman Triathlon – Shark-not-O

Can’t believe it – my second race is in the books! I competed in the Santa Cruz State Lifeguard Association’s Sandman Triathlon.

Date: August 2, 2015 | Location: Aptos, CA

Weather: Cool, overcast, 64 degrees

Race: Modified Sprint | Age Group: 20-24

Results: Division – 1/4; Overall – 5/40

Location	Distance	Pace	Estimated Time	Place (O’all/Div)
Swim	0.75 mile (15:00)	not sure!	15:00	1/1
T1		–	16:00	1/1
Bike	13 mile (0:46.00)	17 mph	1:02.00	2/1
T2		–	1:03.00	2/1
Run	4 mile (0:40.00)	10:00 min / mile	1:43.02	5/not sure
Finish	(1:43.02 min)	–	1:43.02	5/1

Whoa picture in the newspaper (Kevin Johnson -- Santa Cruz Sentinel) — Whoa picture in the newspaper (Kevin Johnson — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

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Training Recap – July 25

You may choose to ignore it, but there is life in the open water.

My training buddy and I were standing at water’s edge in San Francisco’s Aquatic Park today, when not 5 yards away, a harbor seal was scouting the beach.

I know what you’re thinking – you’re in San Francisco, wouldn’t that be a sea lion? Nope, nope, nope. I promise. It was absolutely a little harbor seal’s face staring back at us from the cold water.

Look at this little face. Super cute, don't necessarily want an "Arrested Development"-esque surprise. — Look at this little face. Super cute, don’t necessarily want an “Arrested Development”-esque surprise.

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Training Recap – July 12

Productive Sunday mornings feel great.

Did you get a good workout in today? I got to swim in Aquatic Park in San Francisco with an old teammate. He’s training for a Channel Crossing (as in, English Channel) – whoa. That’s a little long for me! And he’s training to follow real open water rules. As in no wet suit.

Fortunately, that means he’s training at a pace that I can keep up with.

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The Call of the Open Water

Oh my gawd it’s frisson* out here!

*Frisson – A moment of intense excitement; a shudder (don’t worry, I had to look it up)

How do you feel about open water swimming? It seems like it’s a really divisive topic – people hate it, people love it, people hate-love it… Regardless of your feelings, “frisson” definitely captures the feeling of the open water.

My first open water experiences were brief, poorly planned excursions with my swim team in Santa Cruz. Hanging out on the beach, a coach would suggest we swim out to the buoy and back. I hated it. So cold! So scary! So not-what-I-wanted-to-be-doing-on-my-day-off!

This is about as close as I'll get without wearing a wetsuit. — This is about as close as I’ll get without wearing a wetsuit.

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Escape from Alcatraz – here, let me help you

Escape from Alcatraz is one of the most iconic triathlon races in the U.S. and definitely is a bucket-list event for many people. I had the opportunity to volunteer at the swim exit with Oakland Triathlon Club for the 2015 race.

Date: June 7, 2015 | Location: San Francisco, CA

Weather: Cool, overcast, 50-60 degrees

Volunteer Location – Swim Exit / Beach Steps

I know what you’re thinking: “What could have motivated you to wake up so early on a Sunday when you aren’t competing?” Well, quite a few things, actually.

See those feet? Ya, you know the ones. Don't enter the water like that. — See those feet? Ya, you know the ones. Don’t enter the water like that.

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