Swim
Comments: Unless you can convince about 40 of your closest friends to come swimming with you before hand, there is no way to really prepare for these starts. I had read about people panicking, and now I understand. You're in water, all you can see are body parts (mostly arms and legs) flailing like crazy, and your first insticnt is to escape (except your surrounded). So after I swallowed a few gallons of lake water and nearly drowned in the first 100 meters (not really, but it wasn't pretty) I did breast stroke until I cleared from the pack and people thinned out. Then I was able to pick up my crawl stroke, but decided breathing every stroke was a good idea as I was already in oxygen debt (from all the water in my lungs). Swam well along back of course where traffic was light. By time rounded last bouy, the wave behind me was catching me, so maneuvered through traffic (with better results!) What would you do differently?: Not sure, maybe choose pool swim for my first race? Transition 1
Comments: No wet suit, so time is deceiving for first time. I took my time as this was my first race. What would you do differently?: Nothing. Bike
Comments: I had no previous experience with competitive cycling, so for my first tri race and first cycle race on a moderate (not easy) course I was very pleased. I was passed, but went by a few people as well, especially on the first hill :) What would you do differently?: Not much, more base training, and spend more time in aerobars, but there was a lot of bike traffic to maneuver around. Transition 2
Comments: Again, I do not use separate biking shoes, so time is deceiving. I was in my running shoes. I took my time, made sure I took a some fluids. What would you do differently?: Nothing. Run
Comments: I drank to much during bike and had stomach cramping while running, especially if I tried to increase my pace very much. Otherwise, I was pleased. Legs felt pretty good about 1/2 mile into run, but really felt like jell-o immediately after bike (as I expected from previous brick work outs) What would you do differently?: Drink less on the bike. More base training. Post race
Warm down: HUGGED MY FAMILY!!!!!!! Drank some water, ate a banana and orange. Cheered for other participants. What limited your ability to perform faster: Better base of training. Need to incorporate some strength training to help with stamina. Event comments: WOOHOO! Completed my first triathlon. The swim was difficult, but I got through it and will be better prepared next time. I enjoyed the day. I subsequently competed again in September (pool swim), with better results (at least for the swim). Last updated: 2007-10-23 12:00 AM
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United States
Got The Nerve? Triathlon
84F / 29C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 205/528
Age Group = 35-39
Age Group Rank = 29/52
Woke up early. Had two pieces of toast with peanut butter and glass of orange juice. Put on Tri shorts, loaded up bike, race day bag and small cooler. Drove to race (about 25 minutes).
Got to event. Set up transition area. Got marked. I did some stretching, and 'drooled' over the really expensive road bikes. Fifteen minutes prior to event got in the very warm lake water (74 degrees). THANK YOU! (No wet suit). Scooted back to transition area for National Anthem and instructions. Off to water for very first triathlon.