Harbor Lights Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

This was supposed to be a beach start but due to the cold water they had us wade in first. I was in the first wave of women and wasn't as nervous as I was for my first tri a month ago. I think not having to wait around as long helped. I started in the back of the wave and went out slow and tried to get a good rhythm. Jockeyed a bit for position but it wasn't too bad. Once out at the buoy, when I started to swim north, I managed to draft for the rest of the race. Don't know what it would have been like otherwise but I sighted a bit and just followed a pair of feet pretty much until the end. I never panicked and my heart rate never went to high. Sometimes I'd pop my head up more than I wanted but only because of people bunching in front of me. I swam as far as I could til I felt I had to finally stand up, which was actually pretty far out due to the tide. I felt great and noticed I beat some fellow pinks caps out as well as some of the men from the wave ahead of me. I saw Kelly snap a picture of me as I was coming out of the water and I was all smiles. Felt great.

I think it's time I seem myself a bit closer to the middle of the wave. I think starting behind some faster people might help a bit. I think I could have done this a bit faster, but I'm really pleasantly surprised with 29/ 69 for my age group. Especially since I'm really slow in everything else. ;) I love the swim. It's my favorite part of the race. I still think the time is a bit too fast, but oh well.

I donno what took so long. I was 51/69 out of my age group. I don't wear bike shoes yet. Hopefully next year.

I don't know. Maybe go over the transition in my head more.

I don't spend much time on my bike. I know this. I also don't have bike shoes and pedals yet. I think I did ok for the time I had put in. My legs felt better than they had at my first tri so that was good. The beginning and the end of the bike course were absolutely horrific. Potholes everywhere. I was afraid I'd fall or get a flat and I'm so happy neither happened. Probably would have gone a tiny bit faster if not for those nasty conditions. But the rest of it was on a closed of highway type road. On the second half of my first lap I looked up at an overpass and saw 5 of my friends. *I* saw them first and had to wave to get them to notice me! Pretty funny. I didn't expect to see my crowd support on the bike so that was fun. Wasn't thrilled to go up the overpass twice but I felt ok on this ride.

More t.i.t.s. Clearly. Looking forward to getting bike shoes.

I was 11/69 for my age group. Felt good about this transition even though I dropped my visor and had to stop to grab it. Obviously I will be slower when I get bike shoes.

Not drop my visor.

Felt ok at the beginning. Just tried to stay steady. Was happy to see 5 friends as I headed out on the run. After mile one we had to go up an overpass and I don't run hills period so I was less than pleased but I did run up it. Main goal was to run the entire thing and the secondary goal was to stay under 11 minute miles. I managed both. I felt ok at the end, was ready to be done but I had some left in the tank. I was all smiles at the finish line and saw my crowd support - 6 people who trekked out from the city to help me celebrate the race and my birthday.

I could probably push harder. I'm still trying to learn how to pace and not blowup. I don't know. I want to push but just don't do it. I was also careful since it was 4 miles not 3.1.

Not much. Grabbed a drink and walked with my friends to transition. Grabbed my stuff and walked the 1.5 miles back to the car. This was annoying.


Inexperience, lack of time on the bike. Just generally being slow? ;)


I had fun. Some of the bike course is nasty but overall I really enjoyed myself.