SuperTri Austin (formerly CapTex Tri) is the new name for what used to be the CapTex Tri, but the feel of the race is still very much the same—fast, local, and competitive. This year I raced the super sprint, not because it fit neatly into a long‑term build, but because I wanted to race alongside Brandon and Preston. It as Preston’s first triathlon.

That was the right reason to show up.

Short races like this don’t give you much room to hide. You race what you’ve trained, and whatever gaps exist show up quickly—especially on the run

The Super Sprint Format

The super sprint is simple on paper: a short swim, a short bike, and a short run. In practice, it’s aggressive from the gun and unforgiving of mistakes.

There’s no time to settle in, no long bike to smooth things out, and no chance to pace conservatively. Execution matters immediately.

That’s what makes it useful.

Swim: Exactly Where I Wanted to Be

The swim went as well as I could have hoped.

I was first out of the water in my age group, which set the tone for the rest of the race. Clean water early matters a lot in a short format, and it allowed me to start the bike in control rather than reacting.

The focus was simple:

• Stay relaxed
• Breathe well
• Exit the water ready to work

That part of the race went to plan.

Bike: Short, Hard, and Controlled

The bike leg was fast and punchy, with no room to coast.

In a super sprint, the bike is less about steady power and more about riding hard without panicking. I focused on smooth accelerations, staying composed, and not chasing effort just for the sake of it.

Racing with Brandon and Preston added to the experience. It sharpens your focus without turning the race into something it doesn’t need to be.

Run: Where It Fell Apart

The run is where the race exposed the gap in my preparation.

I simply hadn’t trained the run well enough for this kind of effort, and it showed almost immediately. What should have been a sharp, controlled push turned into a fight to hold form and pace. In a race this short, there’s no time to recover once things start slipping.

No mystery here and no excuses—the run fell apart because I didn’t put in the work there.

That’s the lesson

The Takeaway: Train the Run

This race delivered a very clear message:

If I want to race well, I have to train the run more.

Short formats don’t allow you to hide behind fitness from other disciplines. They reward specificity and punish neglect. Swim fitness and bike strength can only carry things so far—eventually the run demands its due.

That’s something I’ll address heading into the next block.

Racing With Friends Still Made It a Win

Even with a fading run, racing this event alongside Brandon and Preston made the day worth it.

Sharing the course with people you respect changes the tone of the race. The pressure comes down, the experience goes up, and the finish line feels more meaningful regardless of the clock.

That matters.

Final Thoughts

I crossed the line in 1:02:19, tired, honest about what went wrong, and clear about what needs work next.

SuperTri Austin (CapTex) was exactly what I needed—a fast effort, a reality check, and a reminder that racing doesn’t always have to be about perfect execution. Sometimes it’s about learning quickly and moving forward with intention.

Next one: SuperTri Kerville and a better run prep.