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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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Let’s talk let-down.

It’s the week before race day.
As you fall asleep each night, you’re thinking about your race. Your swim. Your sprint to transition. Your bike, your T2, and your run. Your finish.
You wake up on race day, ready to go.
And then its over.

Now what?

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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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Sandman Preview

I went to a classic theater in Oakland a few weeks ago to watch Jaws on the big screen. Great idea for an open water swimmer.

It was 2 days after I had registered for the Sandman Triathlon in Aptos, California (August 2).

And you know what was discovered the day before that? Fifteen great white shark pups hanging out around the Cement Ship – the focal point of the Sandman swim. You hear pups, and you may think, aw, cute, babies.

THESE BABIES ARE 7-8 FEET LONG.

Don’t get me wrong – I love sharks. What a truly awesome animal. But I don’t really want to swim through a herd of baby great whites during this triathlon.

What a glorious swim course. Just hope the natives aren't too territorial. — What a glorious swim course. Just hope the natives aren’t too territorial.

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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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Is this in the plan?

I’ve been on a training plan written by Coach Raeleigh Harris for the Oakland Triathlon Club. We’re training for the Oakland Triathlon at the end of August. Her plan is fantastic, but jeez it’s kicking my butt.

If I could train full time, I’d have a great time with the plan, but unfortunately I do have to pay for things (like more triathlons), so I have to work. I often have to readjust which activity I’m doing and when, but that seems to be the glory of triathlon. Can’t make it to the pool? Then run! Don’t feel like running today? Get on the bike! Can’t handle the hills today? Cruise somewhere flat!

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