This Tri Makes Four

Today, I competed for the first time in the Los Angeles Triathlon. The event is unique in a couple of respects. First, the course covers a lot of ground, with widely displaced transition areas across The City of Angels. You start at Venice Beach and end at The Staples Center downtown. Second, the event simultaneously provides both "sprint" and "olympic" distance gauntlets. I opted for the "sprint" distance, since I felt I wouldn't really be trained enough for the longer "olympic" distance.

Under an overcast sky, we launched into the waves about 20 minutes late. The "sprint" divisions were scheduled after the "olympic" ones and some troubles with earlier starts kept us out of the water until almost 9:00am. I'd spent a lot of time in the ocean during the summer and swam the 2-mile Pier-To-Pier course in August, but the occasional series of 5-6 foot breakers I saw earlier groups contend with had me a bit apprehensive. Luckily, my group managed to avoid a big set and I was around the course and out of the water right on schedule. It's a good 100 yards or so from the water to the bikes, but I covered the ground smartly and was headed for the T1 exit soon enough.

Since this would be the only transition at the beach, each competitor must pack their swim gear into a numbered bag before departing on the bike. The bags are later collected and transported for you to the finish area. This worked smoothly enough, although it added a little extra time to T1.

The highlight of this triathlon is the ride. For a native Angelino who knows the city well, it's a real treat to ride the big, familiar boulevards across town without a car in sight. Undoubtedly, all the road closures annoyed some early Sunday morning drivers, but for the athletes (or at least this one), the experience was quite memorable. Some complained that the course was not well enough marked, evidently causing several olympic distance riders to miss their turn for the longer course. Luckily, the sprint course posed fewer navigational challenges and I managed to stay on course. My odometer measured the course at just short of 22 miles, the last 1/2 mile of which was down a breathtaking hill on Grand Ave. I think I hit 38 mph.

T2 was orderly enough, although it took a while to get to my assigned number - lots of entrants today! Sure enough, my T2 bag was where it should be and I was quickly out on the run. As I crossed the T2 exit point, I noticed I had made very good time on the bike. Unfortunately that very same breathtaking hill I screamed down was now right in front of me and looking steeper than ever from the bottom. This was a killer! Most folks were just walking up it. I managed to maintain a "running gate" - but just barely. At the top was the magnificent Walt Disney Concert Hall, County Courthouse and all the other familiar downtown landmarks.

By now, we'd left the marine layer at the beach and the growing heat of the day was definitely pressing in. About half way around the 5K run I was feeling enormous respect for those hearty souls on the 10K course of the olympic event! Finally, the killer hill was back - this time to descend. Going down was almost as hard as going up - well, almost. When the Staples Center swung into view 3/4 of a mile later, I was very happy to know it was almost over. Through the shoot, turn in the timing chip, receive a participants medal, grab a water bottle. After a brief rest, I collected my bike and T1 bag, which had been delivered from the beach, as promised.

Considering the sheer number of people involved and the challenge of coordinating this event over considerable distance, I thought the LA Triathlon had been well managed. Later, I discovered I'd placed fourth out of 17 in my age division, coming in only 8 minutes behind the division winner. Gee, maybe it's time to get a real road bike? I might even be competitive!

I'm pumped for Long Beach in two weeks!