The Loveland Lake to Lake Triathlon

The Lake to Lake Triathlon is a 1.5 km open water swim, 30 mile bike ride and a 6.2 mile run. It is held a Loveland High School in Loveland, Colorado. My optimistic goal was to try and complete this in less than 3 hours but I figured it would be more like 3:10.

I drove to Loveland on Friday to get my packet, race bib, swag, etc. I did not want to try and pick up my packet and prepare for the race on race day. Loveland is about 45 miles north of Denver. The town of Loveland is really no where near Loveland pass. I checked out the transition area and the lake which was next to the school. The run from the lake to the transition area is about 200 meters. Fortunately it is all grass. The transition area is all grass as well which was pretty nice.

Julie and I left the house at 4:30 AM for the drive to Loveland. The first wave started at 6:30 and my wave started last at 6:50. I set up my transition area and had the staff write my number and age on my arm and leg. 737 was written on my arm and leg and my age was written on my calf. I don't know why the age is needed but I always find it interesting to note the age of the people.

The weather was perfect. It was about 72 degrees with overcast skies. I greeted people I know from the Rocky Mountain Tri Club and went to find Julie. We walked down to the swim area and I looked around nervously. The swim is my weakest event. I went down to the water to acclimate myself and swim a little. The water was 60 degrees which is colder that I like but that's the fun of triathlon.

They called my wave and I went over stood at the starting line. I nervously waited and listened to some guys I knew from the tri club. I figured I would try and stay with the pack more this time. I usually try and stay behind the main scrum. The siren sounded and we were off. Run 5 meters and start swimming. I stayed with the pack around the first mark and just kept swimming. I found it difficult to swim with people grabbing my feet and seeing others feet a few inches from my goggles but that's the fun of triathlon. The water was choppy with the swimmers and the patrolling jet skis. At the second mark, I thought of yelling "Starboard! Room at the mark!". Wrong sport but I thought it might cause enough confusion to be amusing.

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.... I was falling further behind but I was not completely out of it. I saw a guy from the try club and I tried to stick with him. I am so relieved to complete the swim and I leave the water thinking Yes, now I can ride! Julie was there a the end of the swim taking my picture.

My swim to bike transition went well, 2:20 little faster than my last triathlon. I noted how few bikes were left. I left the transition area for the ride to Horsetooth Reservoir. 1.5 miles into the ride I hit a rock and 15 feet further I heard "PSSSSHHHHHHT". My front tire went flat. I turned to get off the course and the front wheel hit the curb and I went over hard and landed on my right shoulder. I normally carry tubes, CO2 and tools so I had what I needed. I changed the flat, packed my stuff, mounted the wheel and started riding. I figured I must be in last place by now. I could feel stinging on my arm and shoulder, but nothing seemed broken or dislocated. My bib number on my right arm was now a "7" instead of "737"

I noticed that my speedometer was not moving so now I had no idea how fast I was going or how far I had ridden. Just keep riding. The course support was terrific. There were people at every turn so I had no trouble staying on course. The first part of the course is mostly up hill. You end up climbing 700 feet in 15 miles. You ride out of the city into the foothills on your way to the reservoir. As I reached the top of a hill I kept wondering is this the top? Finally, I came around a bend and I saw someone holding a sign that said "Steep Hill". To his left was a hill that went up and to his right a road that went down. He pointed to his right. I saw the ambulance that was parked so it could see the bottom of the hill and the hairpin turn. "Yeah!" I thought to myself, it was all downhill from here and I was halfway done. I felt good for the rest of the ride and I thought I had finished strong. Again Julie was there to cheer me on and take my photo. She waited all that time and she probably feared I had become lost.

Now it was time for the run. Fortunately, this is my strongest of the three. I changed shoes and headed out. Leaving T2 is hard, you are tired from the ride and now you have to run. I saw may people from the tri club finishing as I was heading out. This was discouraging but I appreciated that each one waved or yelled encouragement as they went by. There were plenty of water stations that still had water and Gatorade. My wonderful wife was there again on the run course to cheer me on. I felt I was running well but probably not at my best effort. I finished the run and it was great to hear Charlie and others cheer me on to the finish.

Despite the setbacks I improved my swim and run time over my last Olympic tri. My finish time was very disappointing but I am glad I did not give up after the flat. I finished the tri in 3:36:13. My swim was 38:19, the bike was 2:02:39 and the run was 50:14. My transition times, especially T2 really need improvement.