Things you learned at your first tri (Page 2)

Be ready for things you aren't/can't prepare for... It rained hard for two days before my first tri. The lake was freezing (oh yeah, and OW swim before your first OW swim in a race!!!) and half the race was thick, nasty mud that caked onto your shoes.

Sometimes, there's just no way to be fully prepared and the lesson is to just be ready and willing to roll with the punches!

Memories of my first tri are still fresh in my mind since it was only two months ago.  Here's my $0.02.

1. Here's how I solved the "find your bike" problem:  make sure you're one of the last ones out of the water.  That way, the transistion area has cleared out and you can get to your bike without all the bumping and stumbling that I'm sure the MOPers had to contend with.
2. "It's only a 15 mile bike and I can hydrate when I get back for T2".  Probably not good thinking.  By the time I got back, I could only take a couple of mouths full of water.  Had to wait until the only aid station on the run to suck down 2 dixie cups of water.  When both quads cramped up, I knew it was time to hang some water on the bike.
3. Lots of bricks.  I'm not experienced enough to tell anyone when to do them, but I certainly needed more.  Or do I need to accept that my calves will cramp for the first 1/2 mile?
4. The ocean water you accidently inhale does not count towards your water for the day.
5. Whoever comes to support you (wife, girlfriend, both), take that person to a nice lunch.  And if you wife is drenched from standing in the rain watching you finish, get her some new dry clothes first. 
6. Bring a second towel and leave it in your car.  Just in case a giant thunderstorm opens up in the middle of the race and drenches the towel you've got in the transition area.
7. If you happen to grab a big handfull of butt-cheek in the middle of the swim, pretend it's a member of the opposite sex.  That's what I'm doing.
8. Learn how to track in the OW.  It turns out I hook right.  Might have contributed to lesson #1.
9. Wear your t-shirt with pride.  Don't be surprised when strangers read it and tell you how cool/tough/crazy you are.
10. Enjoy yourself. 

Things I learned in my first tri

1. It is really hard
2. OWS is way different than pool swims...one or two ows practice is not enough
3. Try and enjoy the day/race, I was to afraid to enjoy it.
4. Say something upbeat to everyone and smile at those who do it to you.
5. Finishing your first tri is priceless no matter what place you finish
6. Follow your training plan and the week before your tri is not the time to prove to yourself you can run 5K.
7. Next one is a little easier but still hard (see #1 above).

1.  Forgo Mom's gracious offer of feeding me bacon and eggs for breakfast even though I knew better.  Drink coffee you really are addicted to it and it is hard to do anything without it.

2.  Accept that I AM a slow swimmer.  Warm up a little in the pool before I start.

3.  TAKE OFF YOU BIKE HELMET IN T2  it is really embarrassing to have it on while running.  Yes this is my first triathlon.

4. down a gel half way through the bike course.

5.  Take off Camel Back in T2 you don't need it.  Plus  You look like a dork running accross the finish line with it on and carrying your helmet.

6.  My running sucks.  Got to work on that.

7.  Don't worry about what you look like in the tri top.  Don't wear a cotton t-shirt over it.  It gets too hot and sticky.

8.  Should have got a race number belt, then I wouldn't need the t-shirt.

9.  I get kind of goofy after the hard bike ride and should have a cheat sheet by my transition area listing all these things I learned in the first tri.

That's awesome!