Longmont Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

First, this triathlon is weird because swim heats are seeded slowest first. Each lane gets 5 swimmers, and passing is only permitted at the wall. Second, it was decided earlier that the wheelchair athletes would all be in the first heat, regardless of our swim times, so that we would all hit the bike/run course early, before it got crowded. I lay awake the night before worrying about how to swim in a lane with 4 other swimmers, all of whom had swim times twice as slow as me.

It turned out that I didn't need to worry. The four wheelchair athletes got two lanes, so we were able to split the lane and swim freely regardless of our different times. I was the second one out.

Handcycle was racked facing out, in low gear. My daughter pulled my wetsuit off, almost dumping me out of my wheelchair in the process.

Make sure the front brake is off! I went up the first hill with the brake on, darn it. Practice getting the wetsuit off.

The course was on roads with volunteers and police, but not closed to traffic. There were a couple of very bumpy/potholy spots, especially the turn from Lashley on to Mountain View. I was on the road alone for about 2 miles before the first bicyclists caught me. The first handcyclist caught me at about 3 miles. All the other handcyclists passed me (which wasn't a surprise).

Just need to do more hill work.

When I came into the transition area, I was last (among wheelchairs), so everyone was very eager for me to get going and try to catch someone. But I really had to pee at this point! So my daughter got my every day chair, and I got into the port-a-potty (I hate port-a-potties!). The port-a-potty was on a sidewalk, with maybe 28" between it and the curb. The door was very tightly sprung. Getting out I was trying to push the door open while at the same time not falling over the curb, and I fell over backwards, wheelchair and all. The door slammed shut on my head. Thank goodness I was still wearing my helmet!

Everybody hauled me up and stuffed me into the racing wheelchair.

The whole peeing situation (as is so often the case in disability) is a problem. It was real work to get out of and back into my swimsuit, which is what I was wearing.

I wouldn't let the kids help so much getting me set up in the racing chair. I'm really better at putting my own gloves on than they are. They mean well, though.

I was surprised at how easy the transition from handcycle to racing chair was. In fact, it felt great to change positions and start using a whole different set of muscles. The run seemed very short and very easy.

We're going to need to modify the run course for wheelchairs again, and make sure the volunteers get better training to direct the wheelchair athletes.

You're supposed to cool down?

Since I had three other family members competing later than I did, I was running around trying to take pictures.


For my first triathlon, it was great! I've attended this event maybe fifteen times, so it felt really comfortable and familiar. Aside from my swim anxiety, I felt calm and ready for the event.

I was also really pleased at how open the race director was to including wheelchair athletes, and how much time and thought she spent with me and others to make sure it was a good race for us. Obviously there are a few things that need to be fixed (the run course, get that port-a-potty off the sidewalk), but for the first time including wheelchair athletes, it was super.