# 193 Crystal River Triathlon #1

 Triathlon #193 today at Crystal River, Florida! Cool start, with 62’f and 15 mph winds at dawn. I’ve done this race before, so I was looking forward to a good time. After last week’s race in the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico was a welcome change with the water temp at 82’f.

All Males were the first wave, and the light chop and strong tidal current made it interesting. I got pushed off the swim line and worked hard to get back. OK swim time, so I pushed hard on the 15-mile bike. The twisty course was made tougher by the headwind I kept encountering during the direction changes. I knew I was in Third on the bike and wanted to catch Michael Chance before T2.

Despite my averaging 18.16 mph, I spotted Michael putting on his shoes as I racked my bike, and he got out of transition about 1.5 minutes ahead of me. I focused on him, determined to chase him down. I could see I was closing so I kept pushing and caught him with a mile to go. AT that moment, my right hamstring cramped slightly so I backed off. I caught him again about 200 yards from the finish and felt the pain again. I stayed with him but couldn’t catch him and I was 8 seconds behind at the line. I did post a faster 5k run time than him; 27:33 with 8:51 splits.

My final time of 1:32:03 was over 17 MINUTES behind the 70-74 winner, David Morrow (USA ranked #1 and 4th in the world), who was 20th Overall. Happy with Third and really enjoyed the challenge today!

Sunrise over the marshes

David Morrow and I

70-74 Podium

You get the first parking spot when you're early.

# 192 Vero Beach Triathon

I arose at 2:00 AM Sunday morning and drove 2+ hours to the Vero Beach Triathlon, on the Atlantic Coast. Sprint Triathlon with a longer swim; .46 mile. I’ve never done this race before so for my 192nd triathlon, this looked like a good challenge. Only knew a few people there which made it great to make new friends.

Ocean looked nice before sunrise, but a big swell developed by race start. The swim was a bit tough, and the rise and fall made sighting the buoys difficult. Bike ride down Route A1A along the water was fun as I pushed hard, passed a lot of people, and averaged 18.9 mph over the 12+ miles. The 5k run was hot and humid and I definitely need more heat training; time of 31:21 with 10:07 splits.

Final time was 1:38:08 for a fourth place out of seven in 70-74. Long time friend Matt Mahoney passed me at Mile 1 on the run to win 65-69. On to the next race! 

# 191 Sunset Triathlon in Clermont

Saturday was my 191st race, the Sunset Triathlon in Clermont. It felt odd going to a race so late in the day rather than getting up at 3:00 AM.  Scoped out my 3 competitors before the race and realized I didn’t know any of them.  I always race just to enjoy the experience anyway. Oddly enough, I was given race number 192.

The wind picked up just before the start and Lake Minneola was quite choppy.  Good swim and quick transition to bike, beating a competitor out of transition. The wind made the hilly bike ride more interesting, but I just pushed hard and finished with an average of 18mph; 28.8 max.  Took off on the 5k run quickly, looking to see who was ahead of me.  Since the run is an out and back, I kept studying returning runners but didn’t see anyone.  Then at the turn-around, I began scrutinizing people coming towards me.  Kept pushing hard to the finish and crossed the line, not knowing where I finished.  

Scanned my race number for the report and discovered to my delight I had won!  I was a bit stunned but very happy and a beautiful sunset capped the day. 

The wind is blowing

# 190 Ron Jon Cocoa Beach Triathlon

 Triathlon # 190 (April 16, 2023) is complete with a Third Place out of Six in 70-74. I had never done this race before because it was usually cold, but the warm Florida spring brought the Banana River up to 79'f at race start.  Big race; 650 competitors!

 Twelve-mile bike leg on A1A along the Atlantic Ocean was fine with a very fast 19.2 mph average speed. 5k run was on the golf course cart path with nice water views and no shade at all; 29:55 was my time. Total time 1:21:50. 

Friends Kerry Librada Girona was First Female OA and her husband Andreas Moraitis was First in Male Elite. Mike Moulton, Bill Black, and Enrique Mercado were there too. 

This was also the Florida Senior Games Championship, so I got a Third Place medal for that.

Beautiful sunrise

On the bike

Great run

Enrique Mercado

Enrique, Andreas Moratitis and his wife Kerry Librada Girona (R).

# 189 Great Clermont Sprint Triathlon

 This weekend was the season opener for Sommer Sports with the Great Clermont Tri (olympic distance)  on Saturday and the Florida Challenge (half-iron) on Sunday plus a sprint tri on each day.  With my plantar fasciitis acting up, I opted for the Saturday Sprint Tri.  Winter/March races in Florida can be a bit chancy on weather, but it's been so hot, the water temp was 74'f on race morning.  Air temp was 59' though and the wind was picking up at dawn.

The olympic distance started first and the lake was quite choppy by the time we started. I found myself struggling against the chop and my final time was a minute slower that the previous time.  Jumping on the Moulton, I headed out onto the first hill, watching two people in the wrong gear fight to climb it with one toppling over.  Passing them quickly, I hit the second hill and made the turn to head through town.  Going around the lake was tough, with a strong headwind most of the way.  Passed a bunch of people even with the wind, averaging 16.5 mph.

I reached transition and took off on the run.  My foot felt fine and I gradually increased my pace, feeling faster with each step.  The cool breeze helped too.  My mile splits were 9:27.  I crossed the line with a 1:13:42 resulting in a Third out of six in 70-74.  Very happy with the results.

Moon over Moulton

Mike Moulton from Cocoa Beach

with Bill Black

Rob Marens grabbed this one

On the Podium!

# 188 Spacecoast Triathlon in Cocoa

 I was a bit wary competing in today’s Space Coast Triathlon after yesterday’s 10k trail run. But everything came together beautifully with nice weather, warm water (74’f), and a fast course.

I led the bike leg for a bit but John Wilson passed me at mile one and I caught him at twelve miles. However, he was faster on the run and my legs were crying so I told them, “Shut up, legs!” Stayed strong and finished second out of six in 70-74; first Tri in new age group. Scott Sherman tried to run me down at the finish but I beat him by 8/10 of a second.

Very happy with my results! The finisher medal and awards depicted the Tesla Starman.

Transition sunrise

Swim course

Out on the bike

Almost finished

Beating Scott