2008 T-Gator Series Triathlon #3 13 July 2008
	Click here to view the photos from the race

Hello, My name is Chad Soileau and this is my account of swimming, biking and running the T-Gator Triathlon Series #3.  The distances were 525m swim, 15 mile bike and 2.5 mile run. 

How many times in previous years have I neglected the simple pleasures of life?  As I made my way to new Orleans Saturday morning to ride the Ironman 70.3 course with Hunter and his dad I took in an amazing sunrise which I consider to be one of those simple pleasures. As Jack Johnson strummed through his latest hit on the radio a smile crept across my face as I realize that my 'new' life now consists of early morning sunrises.

It's only fair to start this race report a day early to include the training ride of the 56 mile New Orleans Ironman 70.3 bike course.  A few wrong turns and that 56 mile, three hour ride balooned into 70 miles and 6 hours.  The ride itself was great. The scenery and company made it better so I didn't mind the extra mileage and time. I even got to change my first flat on Hunter's dad's bike. The main thing I got out of the ride on Saturday? I knew I could have gone more. I think I could have easily done the 112 with no issues. So on to the T-Gator Triathlon...

As Beth and I made our way to Lake Charles I was surprised that I wasn't sore from the New Orleans training ride. We got out of Baton Rouge late so I had to speed . Well, that was a mistake since it resulted in a speeding ticket on the other side of Lafayette.

"But officer, I'm sorry I was speeding because I'm late for a triathlon in Lake Charles.  Registration closes in less than 30 minutes," I said.

"That's where you swim and bike and stuff?  That's great.  Good luck with that Mr. Soileau," he responded as he inked in my name on white paper and started writing the ticket.

We made it to the race site with only a few minutes to spare. I rushed through body marking, picked up my packet and wheeled my bike into transition to setup my gear. The bike racks were tight as I squeezed my bike into a tiny spot near the center of the transition area. No time for a warmup this morning as everyone started moving down to the boat launch to start the swim.

I carefully shuffled down the slick boat ramp and slid into the water. It was comfortable, if not a little warm. I waded out towards the middle out front and chatted with Boggs for a few seconds before the race director announced the 30 second warning. I adjusted my goggles and readied myself for the 525m swim. 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 - GO!

The swim was easy. Yeah, I just typed that. The swim was EASY! It was a warmup for the bike and nothing more. I wasn't the least bit nervous and I did freestyle the entire time. I got off course a few times and I had some issues with my RoadID falling off but other than that it was a non-event. In each of the other two T-Gator triathlons earlier in the year I was WAY at the back of the pack and each of the waves that started after me caught me. That wouldn't be the case today. I got out of the water WITH my wave. It was the back of my wave but I got out of the water with them which is a first for me.

I ran up the embankment through the grassy path doing my best to avoid the roots. After a quick foot bath in the kiddie pools I jogged into T1 to get ready for the bike. I put my bike shoes on first and then realized that I didn't have my bike shorts on. Thankfully I was able to maneuver my bike shorts around my shoes. I put on my Team 464 jersey, my helmet and my glasses, grabbed my bike and clopped to the mount point.

I didn't know if I was going to have the legs after the New Orleans ride on Saturday but I pleasantly surprised myself as my bike computer said 20 - 24 the entire 15 mile ride. A couple people passed me but I know I passed at least a dozen or more. I geared low going down the small hills and hammered going back up. My bike average ended up being 21.3 mph! Biking is still my least favorite of three events in multisport. Saying that I don't like biking is not accurate though. Compare having to choose a vacation destination that included Hawaii, Florida or California. I'd probably choose Florida last of those three locations but they are all vacations.  The bike is my Florida but that's slowly changing. 21.3 mph and I'd say that would definitely be changing!

I coasted to the dismount point and popped out of my clips. I'm not comfortable enough doing a flying dismount yet. I figure MY flying dismount would involve me actually taking flight into the air before I came down in a spectacular mess on the pavement. I'll stick to just unclipping and swinging my leg over for now after I stop. I only spent 41 seconds in T2 anyway so I doubt the 4 seconds I would have gained by executing a perfect flying dismount would have really mattered.

The run course for the 2.5 mile trek was changed up just a little for this race to accommodate the extra .5 miles. From the moment my feet touched the pavement of the run course I started to experience gastric distress. I reluctantly passed up each of the bathrooms on the course as it winded it's way out to the path that cut through the woods. I wasn't too keen on sock sacrifices so I made sure to prepare by loading up my race belt with a huge gob of toilet paper. I think the twangs of gastric discomfort really hurt me on the run. Wow, was it HOT! I know the temperature had to be over 95 when I hit the turnaround point. I dumped a couple cups of water over my head and sloshed a big gulp around in my mouth as I shuffled through the aid station. I constantly fought the urge to go off path and dart into the woods for the entire run but I luckily ended up completing it without any explosions. I finished the last half mile to the finish at a moderate 8:45 - 9:00 mile pace and crossed the finish line at 1:25:40.07.

A few first for me for the T-Gator #3 included a finish in the top half of all the competitors.  I finished 64th of 134 racers overall and my 21.3mph bike split got me a 30th of 164 place for the bike course.  I'll take it. I really enjoyed the T-Gator series this year and I look forward to racing them again next year if they don't interfere with training for the full Ironman in Florida and / or in Hawaii.  I'm sure they won't but I'll leave that up to my tri coach.

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed reading my race report as much as I enjoyed writing (and living) it!