Showdown at Sundown - TriathlonOlympic

The cold murky water devastated me! I had never swam in water that cold before, not to mention the visibility was terrible. I never once fully caught my breath, I thought once I started swimming I would settle down, it did not happen. The low visibility cheeped me out. I ended up doing the side stroke and back stroke the entire race. If I could have figured out a way to have the rescue boat pick me up take me to the other end of the lake, drop me off, call my wife on a cell phone to pick me up so none of the spectators who have seen me get off the boat, return to the transition area during the night and retrieve my bike, I would have quite in the first 5 minutes of the swim. Once I reached the Sprint distance buoy I thought what an idiot, I could be turning and on my way back, if I had only signed up for the Sprint course. Oh ya, pretty much by this time all the women, who's start was 5 minutes after the men's start had passed me. The wind was blowing 30 mph which I was told creates a current, all I know is at one time while using the shore line to navigate I thought I was going backward. I made it to the buoys and finally on my way back in, of course my goggles fogged up and by this time the sun was in my eye's. The best part of the swim course was a nice size ship next to the dock, which was the exit for the swim. I could at least swim a straight line at this point. I was concerned there was a time limit and the rescue boat was going to pull me out of the water before I could finish the swim. I was the last male out of the water (I think, one male didn't finish the swim or I would have been last) and I think one female was behind me. I got up on the dock and was happy to be alive.

Considering I live on the East Coast and decided to start training for my first triathlon in November, I didn't have an opportunity to swim open water. The swimming pool cannot prepare you for the cold dark water, I can honestly say I was on the verge of having a panic attack at one point.

As I was emotionally drained and physically exhausted from the swim, I walked fast, not running to the transition area. It was exactly what I need to calm down and regain my composure.

Nothing

I actually felt pretty good on the bike, considering just about the entire coarse was hills and I had not trained for hills. The gear set up on my 1993 Trek rode bike didn't help the hill situation. I did pass one person while going downhill, but she quickly passed me on the next up hill portion of the course. By the end of the bike I was really starting to feel good about the whole triathlon event and I was glad to be participating. I think the distance of the course was closer to 25 miles.

Besides having a newer, nicer bike, nothing

By dismount time some I was emerge with the Sprint riders. I stayed well out of everyones way, came to a complete stop, dismounted, walked my bike to rack with bike shoes still on and had a smooth transition.

Nothing, I was happy there was no mishaps during mounting and dismounting.

The course being hills and I didn't train for hills I felt really good running. I started to get a sore calf the last mile or so, but lets face it, at that point there was nothing that was going to stop me from finishing my first triathlon.

Nothing

Gave my wife a big sweating huge and kiss, gathered my gear from the transition area, put everything in the SUV, changed my clothes, went to the bar and had 2 pints!


The swim: not being prepared for a cold, open water swim
The bike: older equipment (the bike) and not training for hills
The Run: Not training for hills


I thought the course was very difficult, due to the hills. My overall experience with my fellow competitors, organizers, volunteers and spectator was fantastic. I am very happy to completed my first triathlon, considering 5 months earlier I was lying in bed pretty much helpless with a broken hip in two places, smoking a pack a day. This was my mid life crisis/bucket list.