Lake Meridian Triathlon 2025 – Race Report

Date: August 16, 2025
Race: Olympic Distance – Lake Meridian Triathlon
Chip Time: 3:24:45
Improvement: ~19 minutes faster than 2024 Lake Meridian Olympic Triathalon 🎉

Results Snapshot

Segment	2024 Actual	2025 Projection	2025 Actual	Projection vs Actual
Swim	46:00	41 min	42:46	In range, but messy with fogging
T1	5:23	3:15	2:45	Faster than expected
Bike	1:44:38	1:30	1:36:05	Slightly slower than projected
T2	1:51	1:40	1:15	Much quicker than projected
Run	1:06:19	55	1:01:55	Fell short of target
Total	3:44:11	~3:20	3:24:45	Missed target by ~5 mins

Race Day in Pictures 📸

Race Prep

Training this summer had a different rhythm. Thanks to Allison’s coaching, I had nearly three months of focused bike work: long Saturday backcountry rides with hills and steady 28-mile sessions that built strength. Swimming was stronger too, with Sunday group swims at Samena pool after Seafair event giving me good practise.

By race week, I had a full race template written out, refined step by step with Allison. That structure gave me calmness — I knew what to expect and where to focus. My goals for the event were simple: stay present, thank at least three volunteers, and aim for a finish around 3:20.

Race Day

Construction on SR-18 meant an early start. Alarm at 3:15 am, shower, smoothie ready from the night before, and bike loaded by 4:15. I reached the venue at 5:15 am, giving myself plenty of time to set up transition without rushing. Keeping it minimal — only what I needed — helped keep transitions clean.

Before the start, I warmed up with a short jog, some dynamic stretches, and a dip in the lake to settle nerves. That little ritual eased me into the morning and helped me feel ready. Also met Coach Marques and Lisa who were docked right next to me at the transition. Lisa had her gels for the bike portion taped to the bars. I made a mental note to try this for my upcoming practise/race sessions as it could help grab them quickly during the bike sessions.

Swim (0.93 mi – 42:46, projected 41 min)

The swim started well, but within minutes my goggles fogged. I had to stop, clear them, and re-sight. That pattern repeated itself — each time I got into rhythm, I lost it again. I began toward the front of the wave, but with every pause, more swimmers passed me.

Even with the stops, I finished almost around in the projected 41 minute window. Compared to 2024, it was faster, but it didn’t feel controlled. Lesson: fix goggles, sharpen sighting, and build open-water confidence.

T1 (2:45, projected 3:15–3:30)

The first transition was smooth and efficient. Early arrival had kept things calm, and a minimal setup helped me move quickly. At 2:45, it was not only faster than last year but also much faster than my projected window.

Bike (24.8 mi – 1:36:05, projected 1:30)

The bike felt like my strongest leg. I passed riders steadily on the flats and held steady on the climbs. One of the highlights was leapfrogging with an Seattle Triathalon Group rider for several miles, trading spots and pushing each other along. It made the ride fun and motivating.

Nutrition and hydration worked to plan: steady gels and water at regular intervals. The flats felt sharp and fast, though hills still need work. One mistake: I left my watch in T2 mode, which meant no pace or distance data once I started the bike. It turned out to be blessing in disguise as I could rely on the watch to figure out if I can make the 1:30 target

At 1:36, I landed in the range my projection of 1:30 and nearly nine minutes faster than last year. This was the biggest single gain of the day and a sign that bike training had paid off.

T2 (1:15, projected 1:40)

Transition two was even quicker — smooth, minimal, and efficient. At 1:15, it was well ahead of projection and almost 40 seconds faster than last year. Had a small confusion on which way to exit for the run, but figure out quickly.

Run (6.2 mi – 1:01:55, projected 53–56 min)

The run was the toughest part of the day. I started at about 11-minute miles, legs heavy, and without my watch I had no pacing feedback. For the first three miles, I felt like I was gassing out a bit.

I kept myself moving by focusing on breathing, thanking volunteers, and just putting one foot in front of the other. Around mile four, I finally found some rhythm, though it never became fast. Anita from STG was volunteering at the aid station similar to last year. Thanked her and kept running. The last stretch was steady, not quick. Gave it all in when I saw the finish line and finished with a smile.

At 1:01, I fell short of my 55 minute target. Still, it was over four minutes faster than last year and proof that even when things don’t click perfectly, progress shows up.

Reflections

Crossing the line, I felt proud of the progress compared to last year — nearly 19½ minutes faster overall. The bike training showed up on race day, and both transitions were much smoother than I projected. Arriving early set a calm tone, and having a clear race plan kept me grounded. The biggest gap was the run, where cadence slipped and I couldn’t quite hit my target. Still, it was an improvement over 2024, and a reminder that consistent training does add up, even if not always evenly across all segments.

What Worked Well

Bike prep: consistent training → ~9 minutes faster than last year and on target with projection.
Transitions: calm setup, minimal gear, both faster than projected.
Early arrival kept stress low.
Race template provided structure and focus.
Thanking volunteers helped me stay present and grateful.

What To Improve for Next Race

Swim: fix goggle fogging, practice sighting, build open-water confidence.
Bike: more hill training; stock gels with a tape on the bar for easy access during practise rides.
Run: more brick workouts to smooth bike-to-run transition; build cadence and pacing discipline.
Gear/Process: double-check watch setup before T2 to avoid losing run data.

Final Reflection

My CUP is FULL ❤️.

I gave the race everything I had, learned so much over the last 9 months under Allison's coaching, and truly enjoyed the process. From early prep to the final sprint, Lake Meridian 2025 reminded me that steady, consistent effort quietly builds into results — and that’s a lesson I’ll carry forward well beyond this race.