Patriot's Sprint Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Started on Outside of pack toward back. Knew I was in the right place when a guy in front of me turns around before the gun and says, "If you can swim, get in front of me". Off we go, I'm relaxed the 1st 25-50 yards, passing people, not a lot of jostling or contact. Got an arm to the goggles and had to re-adjust, but nothing too bad. Then, I couldn't find a rythym for my breathing, swallowed some water, and started to feel tired and tight--way too soon--we are not even to 1st buouy, Did some breast stroke to regain composure, tried to get back to freestyle but couldn't. By 2nd bouoy I thought, I'm not going to make this swim, I'm eyeing up the Kayak and thinking I could use a rest- then some confusion as the lead group (about 15-20 swimmers) all skipped the 1 bouoy and cut the course, officials made them turn around, so the Kayaker was busy with that. I suck it up, tell myself it is normal 1st timer swim feelings, pass a guy doing a leisurely back stroke and join him for about 25 yards. Make the 2nd last turn, and see my son along the shoreline looking for me. I call out to him while doing the breast stroke and he starts rooting me on and runs to get the wife and other son. Now the cheering section is in full swing. Gotta do the freestyle now so I don't embarass them. Free/breast combo for last 100 yards and swim pretty strong. What can I say, goal #1 accomplished- Out of the water and didn't drown,

Relax, Relax, Relax. Lots more swim practice to build confidence.

Jogged the 100 or so yards out of water to T-area. Ate 1/2 a Cliff Bar and swallowed some Gatorade. Bike shorts over jammers, out HRM on, put Jersey, gloves, helmet on and shoes, wife cheering the whole time. Jogged out with bike (not real easy in cleats).

Faster T-1 is needed next time. Eat and drink on the bike. Get a Tri suit so I don't have to change shirt and put on bike shorts.

Glad to be on the bike. Because I drove the course last night, I knew that the 1.5 mi was pretty much down hill - flat and could be fast. No resting now, got the shoes into the pedals and took off at full speed. Passing lots of people- cool. Made the 1st right turn and now the fast 1st part is over, so time to eat and drink a little. Can't get the damn package open for either my fig newtons or cliff shots. Get passed a few times while fumbling with food. But pass them again. Only permanently passed by a few hard core types on TT/Tri bikes. Overall good ride. Could've pushed a little harder, but I am saving some gas for the run. Kept HR right in zone where I wanted.

Push a little harder last 3 miles now that I know I can do all 3 disciplines together.

I didn't practice taking feet out of shoes and leaving shoes in pedals so this wasn't the place to experiment, so I just unclipped and ran with bike shoes on. Very difficult. Rest of trans was good.

run in socks, leave shoes in pedals. Need to practice this

Started out deliberatlely slow. Legs felt pretty good right from transition area. As I came out of T-2, some dude goes flying by the opposite way into finish- Wow, he was really moving--and he is done, Passed by lots of folks, but I am comfortable with my pace, HR is in my target zone, and I am feeling pretty good. Plan was to take the 1st 1/2 comfortable and then kick-it up a notch on way back if I still felt good. Plan accomplished. Last 1/4-1/2 mile, passed a bunch of the same folks that passed me in the beginning- I am happy I kept to my strategy and disciplined my pace. Overall pretty good run for me- stuck to my plan. And accomplished goal #2- "didn't ever walk"

Go Faster. This is a flat out and back course. Now that I know I can do it and finish, I would try a faster pace right from the start.

Drink a gatorade, visited the family and hung out by the lake.


Awesome- my first tri! Met all my pre-race goals: #1- didn't drown in lake, #2- didn;t walk at all on run, #3-finish in under 1:30:00!! Can't wait to do it again next year.