TriGirl Super Sprint Triathlon - TriathlonMini Sprint

Wow. This was a very short swim for me. I can easily do over a mile in the pool without stopping, so 200m would usually not even be a warm-up. My 200m time in the pool is about 3:45, not fast, but not too slow either. I was hoping for under 5:00, but I was not expecting how packed it was going to be.

I started off way too far in the back of my wave, and too far inside. I guess I am not as confident in my swimming as I should be, so I stayed in the back, probably one of the last 15/75 or so to get in the water. But then I had so many feet, elbows, arms in my face the whole time there was absolutely no way to "swim." I tried really hard to just get to the outside, I didn't care if it was further, I just wanted to be able to put my face in and take a real stroke! But I couldn't even navigate to the outside it was so packed. Finally on the first turn I got a bit to the outside, but at this point, my breathing was just ridiculous. I was close to hyperventilating and couldn't get it under control. Rounded the second buoy toward shore and finally got way to the outside where I could SWIM! I passed a lot of people coming in despite my continued breathing issues. Overall, I finished 25/75 in my wave.

Better position to start for sure. More open water swim, preferably in a group to get more used to it.

Way slower than I would like, but I think not too bad for my first transition ever! I declined the wet suit stripper, wanted to practice doing it myself and it went pretty well. The run out from the swim was over some grass that had lots of burrs in it, so had to stop and pick those out of my feet. I'm still using so socks right now, and regular cycle shoes, so that added some time. Overall, I was just glad that I remembered everything and didn't leave T1 with my helmet on backwards (quite a few did!)

Not have to pick burrs out of my feet! Carpeted swim out would be nice. Get tri shoes for the bike and get used to going sockless.

Bike is by FAR my weakest leg. I was 25th in my AG coming out of the swim, 58th after the bike! Obviously I got passed a lot! But I was prepared for that. I did about how I expected to do. I just started riding in February, and biking has been a big challenge for me. I'm improving, but I am pretty cautious on it still, taking it very slow on corners. I'm kind of afraid to go fast. People were flying by me downhill because I was breaking so much.

Mount and dismount line were a big fear for me, but it went really well, maybe being a smaller race helped. I had no problems with either, just stayed to the right out of people's way and it went fine.

Get more comfortable on my bike, more time in the saddle

I guess this one went okay, I thought it seemed faster than that. Almost dropped my bike running in with it, but seemed to get it racked pretty quick, switched shoes, took off helmet, grabbed my number and a hat to put on as I was running out of transition

Nothing really, just do exactly what I did a little faster!

Felt good coming out of T2, realized that I hadn't pushed myself at all the whole race, but really I was just planning on doing it as "practice" and for the experience, so that was okay with me. I had NO idea of time as I didn't check my watch on starting and had forgotten to reset my bike computer. I didn't really care though and just wanted to enjoy the run.

I took the first mile too slow probably, my legs felt fine but I didn't know how to pace it. They don't really bother me off the bike (probably because I don't "race" on the bike yet) After about 3/4 mile I started passing a lot of people, which was tough on the narrow course. At the halfway point I really picked it up. Started chatting with another racer the last mile, it was her first tri too and we are both doing CapTex in Austin in a few weeks. We ended up finishing together, kind of fun to have some company on the run. We were back before I knew it, 2 miles is pretty short for me, it went by quick. Saw my husband and kids as I came in.

I definitely did NOT push myself at all on the run. The photos my husband took of me finishing I am smiling, laughing and chatting. Obviously I had A LOT more left in me if I was doing that!

Not much, just walked around a bit, but I didn't really feel tired - after it was over I was kind of like, "That's it? I was barely getting warmed up!" Which I think is a testimonial to my training since my real goal is a full sprint that is 700m/12m/3m


Biking skills, 25/75 on the swim, 33/75 on the run....58/75 on the bike. I would have finished much higher if I could get my bike skills up to my swim or run performance!


Race was awesome. Perfect first-timer race. TriGirl Sports did a great job, well organized, fun atmosphere. Not intimidating, very supportive and low-key. BEST race swag I've seen: tech t-shirt, towel, decals, pens, even TriGirl chocolates! Only ONE thing I would love - carpet from the swim out, lots of "ouch, ouch, ouch" from the burrs in the grass!