Pinchot Park Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Ugh. We begin from wading about knee deep. I take two or three steps to get my momentum and dive in. Instantly I have a severe pain in my left butt cheek. I either pulled my glut or pinched a nerve. I panic and just keep swimming. I begin to wince in pain and my goggles fill with water. From there, things don't really improve as I, 1) swallowed too much lake water and got nauseous, 2) couldn't get my breathing under control and needed to breathe every two rather than three strokes, 3) was horrible navigating. After navigating the final buoy I headed for shore but my goggles were foggy and I was swimming into the sun. I basically couldn't see 10 feet in front of me and needed to look up every 2 stokes.

Main Goal: Not freak out. FAILED. Between my leg, the nausua, my inability to see, and the adrenaline of my first tri, I became disoriented and the whole swim just stunk.

Bonus Goal: Swim under 17:00 (in the pool my PR is 14:27). FAILED. I finished in 19:30

1. Get more (any) experience swimming in open water.
2. Don't drink the water
3. Stretch better to avoid leg injury.

Transition 1 was good. The run uphill from the lake to the transition location was bad because of my glut, but once there I was in and out in good time.

Goal: Under 4:00. ACCOMPLISHED

Nothing, T1 was good even with socks and tying my shoes

Loop 1 on the bike was very rough. Because of the glut injury I could not generate any real power from my left leg, especially going up the hills.

Loop 2 was better. My leg didn't hurt as much, plus I resigned myself to just trying to finish the race regardless on the time. That lack of pressure helped me to bike at a more relaxed rate.

Main Goal: Never get off the bike to push up any of the hills. ACCOMPLISHED (though I struggled more than I should have).

Bonus Goal: Finish under 1:03- FAILED (if my leg wasn't hurting and I wasn't gassed from the swim I might have hit my goal)

Can't really say. Had the swim gone differently the bike would have also.

I did get really nauseous on the bike. Don't drink so much fluid before the race. (Admittedly the lake water didn't help, but I have a habit of over-hydrating and then exercising with a gut full of water)

Great, no complaints everything went well. Just racked the bike, took off the helmet, and ran out.

Nothing

Being that the run is normally the worst of the three disciplines for me, I had little hope this run would go well. Boy was I suprised. My leg finally calmed down and I was able to run well, even uphill, though it was a challenge. Seeing Abby, Eli, and mom cheering for me near the end was the highlight of the day for me.

Main Goal: No walking. ACCOMPLISHED

Bonus Goal: Finish under 30:00 ACCOMPLISHED. Actually the 24:14 is a personal best, even in normal training so I am happy about that.

Considering that running is normally what I stuggle with, I was happy.

Nothing really, I stretched a little, had a banana, and enjoyed my family.


Obviously the glut issue was the major problem of my race. Not too much I can do about that I suppose. Additionally, I need to practice swimming in open water and also limiting my fluids so I don't feel sick.


My main goal for this, my first triathlon, was simply to finish. Seeing as how I did that, I am happy. I was hoping to finish in 1:55 but missed that by 3+ minutes. Immediately after the race I was really bummed about that even considering the leg problems.

On the ride home I was able to process a little and came to the realization that 8 months ago I was 65 lbs. heavier than I am now and probably could not have swum to the first buoy, made it up a single hill on the bike, or run one mile. Considering all the progress I have made, I feel pretty good, though I do need to redeem myself in my next two races.