Great Clermont Tri - Sprint Distance - TriathlonSprint

The swim which set the tone for the rest of the day. I borrowed a sleeveless wetsuit because the water was 67 degrees. I don’t go into water less than 80 on a normal basis. It was brutally cold to say the least. Started off from shore and had to swim out, across, and then back to the beach. Up to now my only real swimming experience was in a pool. Open water swimming is a little (a lot) different. Not sure if it was because it was so cold, the water was dark, the waves were a little rough, or I was just excited/panicked, but I just couldn't swim. I can easily cover the distance in a pool without any problems. I just couldn’t get my head down to swim. I'd get water in my mouth, and cough. It was terrible. The realization that I had to go all that way with a side stroke was daunting.

When I got to the first buoy to turn I was dead. I was still only 1/3 of the way but I would have stopped if I could have. I actually grabbed the large buoy but it didn't hold me up so I continued on. I wasn't alone. In my wave I was actually 18 from the back. Shows how many newbies there were. Anyway, I did calm down enough to swim a good part of the last 3rd.

As I was running up someone yelled to me - it was the wetsuit strippers! Yea! Just lay down and they take care of the rest. I didn't’t think a race this size would have them but it was cool. It was quite a ways to the transition and I did kind of take my time. Did I say I was beat? I took a few extra seconds to wipe my feet and to actually change my jersey as it was a bit chilly and I thought having a dry one on would help.


Swim - seriously. When I swam most of the last one third I realized it wasn't that bad.

Other than the long distance to the Transition, this was fine. I was in no hurry as it was my first race and based on the swim I didn't need to worry about time.

Maybe hurry a bit more just for the practice.

Off on the bike to an immediate steep uphill. Not long but 30ft after that was another short straight up hill. Nice way to get acclimated! It was a very nice course mainly around the lake. There were a couple of really tough uphill sections that killed me. Did I say I was tired? I even lost my water bottle and turned around to get it. I had just bought it the day before, I was not going to lose it! Overall a fun course although I did spend a considerable amount of time up out of the saddle in first or second gear. That was new to me.

Ride a little harder. I think I could have ridden a bit harder and still had enough left for the run. But that swim wore me out!

Took my time - need to use my Yankz or similar tying system. I took them out right before my last marathon. Also stopped for a few pictures. what the heck another 10 - 20 seconds wasn't going to make a difference at this point.

Nothing

Next transition was of course quicker. Put on some shoes and my number belt an off we go. It was a 5k out and back. The Olympic distance people had to do it twice. I had practiced a bit getting off the bike and running some short bricks and it seemed to have paid off because I could run from the start. I didn't have the yucky feeling in my legs. I ended up with negative splits in the run so that is good.

Maybe get out of transition a little quicker.

Walked around a bit and talked to some of the team. Cheered the Olympic folks on.


First race, didn't know what to expect, how to pace, etc. The swim killed everything as it made me so tired. I used up a lot of leg energy during the swim portion.

I just started swimming and biking. Actually only been on about 3 bike rides up till now. I've been swimming, about a month or so. I have a long ways to go but I'll get there.


One of the nice things about this was that the Olympic distance folks started before us but they had a longer bike ride. Did the same course as us but had an extra road or 2 they had to go down. This mixed it up a bit. There was always someone on the road with you. I'd be grinding it out going up a hill and here comes a $7k bike with disk wheels flying by. Let's me know how fast you can go on a bike :). But even the run, since they started earlier than the Sprint group, most of us ended up running at the same time so you didn't feel alone at the back.

My only real disappointment was in the swim. I don’t care that I am slow it was that I couldn’t swim. Never expected that. It just threw me so far off that it took most of the swim course to recover. Then of course I used up my legs doing the side stroke. But my first one is done. Already have another in June, I am sure more on the way. After another sprint or 2 I will do an Olympic or 2 then looking for half Ironman next year. Then, who knows. I'd love to do a full, but will wait until after the half is in the book :) Heck I could even swim .75k. Did I mention that I was tired?