Barron Lake Number 4

Today was my 4th time taking on the Barron Lake Triathlon. I won't write a ton this year, wrote a longer blog in 2024 for my 3rd run (Blog Link). 

I focused my training this year on my Ironman70.3 coming up in three weeks. I figured I would to do better on the swim as I trained a lot more this summer on the swim, and I did and am feeling more confident and ready for the longer triathlon swim. 

I hoped to do better on the bike, some tech challenges getting my watch/timer working threw me off, and I think I need more time to get used to my new seat position and using the aero bars. My run was slightly faster, unofficially, the official time got mixed with my transition time, and no distance markings on course made me have to check my watch more often and delayed my final burst to finish strong. 

Anyhow... results over the years: 

	2019	2023	2024	Target	2025
Swim	12:21	16:39	15:17	12:00	11:24
Bike	53:32	54:18	51:20	50:00	53:17
Run	27:29	25:40	25:37	25:00	24:25
Total	1:37 (4/4)	1:40 (3/7)	1:36 (2/5)	1:27	1:33 (3/6)

    

So how am I feeling about it all? MY watch actually said I did the swim in 10:59 and went 492 yards... so slightly less than 500, but I assume that I ran more than 8 yards into and out of the water. So breaking under 11 minutes feels good, and I got lots of gas left in the tank... I think that 1.2 miles swim is feeling less and less daunting now. 

I do feel bad about the bike... I thought some new gear, more long distance training would help, but I honestly have not been trying to push myself faster. So I won't give myself too hard of a time, especially since my run broke under 25 minutes, so that is good! 

All in all... good day, and while I missed Cruz's first JV Football start (I didn't know he was starting!), this was a great tune up for my Ironman70.3 in September. Special thank you to Jennifer for being patient while I train, my kids and family for understanding on my scheduling and meals, to my triathlon helpers, Jason, Maureen, Ric Z, my friends at the Twyckenham Community Pool, and to my Pro Form Friends... I'll improve on this bike, that work was not for nothing (at least not yet). 

Some overall results break down:

Total Times

2019 1:37:31 for 47th of 65 (72 percentile) weighed 153

2023 1:40:04 for 35th of 60 (58 percentile) weighed 155

2024 1:36:29 for 21st of 50 (42 percentile) weighed 151
2025 1:33.22 for 26th of 62 (42 percentile) weighed 150

In 2025 I ranked 35th in the swim, 33rd in on the bike, and 11th (!!) in the run (adjust time, not the official time). 

The water was cold enough for wetsuits, so some of the swimmers who wore them had a major advantage and you can see it in the overall times getting faster. I also think the official swim length was shorter, at least according to my watch. 

Swim

2019 12:21 for 55th of 65 (85 percentile)

2023 16:39 for 45th of 60 (75 percentile)

2024 15:17 for 37th of 50 (74 percentile)
2025 11:24 for 35th of 62 (56 percentile)

Bike

2019 53:32 for 50th of 65 (77 percentile)

2023 54:18 for 39th of 60 (65 percentile)

2024 51:20 for 19th of 50 (38 percentile)

2025 53:17 for 33rd of 62 (53 percentile)

Run

2019 27:29 for 38th of 65 (59 percentile)

2023 25:40 for 20th of 60 (33 percentile)

2024 25:37 for 13th of 50 (26 percentile)
2025 24:25 for 11th of 62 (18 percentile)

I feel like I had more left at the run and didn't push like I wish I would have sooner (started my burst late). So man I really think I could have gotten under 24 minutes and been top ten in the run! That also feels good for this year. 

Anyhow, water confidence is up, bike I know I can improve on, so its on to the big(ger) one! 

One More Scar

Summer of 1997 I had an ACL replacement surgery and had my meniscus scoped. It was a pretty big scar, a couple actually, it was a long healing process and despite the hard work post op I never ended up playing soccer like I had wanted to... the injury happened my senior year, a season with a lot of promise, was cut short just a few games into the season by the injury. 

Summer 2021 my knee didn't turn just right getting up and I knew something was wrong. I babied it, I went to the doctor, who did X-rays and recommend physical therapy. I did that, followed orders, but no major improvement. I was not in pain, but I couldn't really run, and my activity was very decreased. So back to the doctor and got sent to see an orthopedic surgeon. 

There I was given two options, pain management to keep current activity levels, or surgery to regain my normal activities. I had been planning more triathlons, and hopefully a 70.3 Ironman... but of course those plans were all stopped with no running, biking or swimming at all since May. 

I chose surgery, easy choice, I love running, and enjoyed the challenge that triathlons brought me and I wanted to continue. 

November 11, 2021 I had my meniscus repaired. In the grand scheme of things it is a fairly minor, and honestly becoming routine surgery. I think my crutch picture got me more sympathy than I deserved but I appreciated everyones concern. 

That was three weeks ago. Today I rode a bike for just over 20 minutes. I have a long way to go, I won't be able to run they say now until maybe February (was originally hoping for January). Not sure when I can get cleared to swim, no rush there I hate swimming, but it is an important part of triathlons. :)

So I wanted to check in since my last post on social media was about my surgery. Interestingly in the past month or so I also had surgery on my eye, and my Z even got a new scar... turning around at my garage space I hit a commercial truck... so my and I both have new scars. HA. (at least I can laugh about it)

Don't worry I am taking my time and following doctors orders. Doing PT three times a day at home, now twice a week at a professional facility and icing and doin all the things to be back as soon as possible. 

I think scars are like visible memories. Reminders of pain, loss, but also of growth, repair, renewal, a reminder of just how strong our bodies (and skin) really are for us. This year I got a few more scars, and hopefully good comes of most of them.

Well here goes to December, a new month, heading into a new year, getting ready to see what this knee can do, finish up my Z work, and hopefully start a new normal in 2022. 

Quarantine Reflection: No Ironman

This past weekend was the anniversary of my first triathlon. This summer was going to be hopefully my first Ironman 70.3. Over the winter I looked at dates, there were a few that worked and were close, and I made a training plan. I would start swim training in March/April and get my bike legs going over early summer. I got a bike trainer, I got new swim shorts, I got a pool membership. 

The triathlon this past weekend was canceled. So were the two Ironman 70.3 events I had looked at completing. I did still bid on an item in the Barron Lake Tri silent auction... nice little FleetFeet gift box on my desk and I supported a good cause. Good news. However, the Speedo I bought over Christmas break, still has the tags on it. Bad News. 

So what happened? Well we all know Covid happened. The pool I joined was closed for a while, but it opened back up. While events were canceled, I had other friends get create and still train, and still in their own way, do it. Not me, no Ironman here. I event bought Ironman branded sunglasses, maybe that was my mistake. 

So did I fail? Well you know as a motivational speaker I need to use some cheesy quote like, you only fail if you stop trying, or failure is one step towards success as long as you don't turn around, insert inspirational mount climber picture, yada yada yada. 

I didn't do it. I could of done it (I think), I just didn't. I have lots of great excuses, and they reduce my guilt, but honestly, I just lost interest in doing it. Does that make the failure feel any better? No, really makes me sad I spent money on some nice swim trunks though, but makes me glad I didn't buy that triathlon body suit though! (whew those are expensive). Should I try again next year? I did enjoy all my sunrise runs and still will be running and biking and I do need to get back into the pool. 

I am not sure even the point of this post. I guess I am just saying failure is okay. Some goals don't matter, no mater how much you cared about them, spent money on them, or whatever. So I thought, let me celebrate the shape I did get in this summer, even if I am not an Ironman, I threw my glasses on and did a killer river workout the other day and got some pictures. 

I am no Ironman, and thats okay.