Cactus Challenge Triathlon - Sprint - TriathlonSprint

This was my first triathlon so I had never done a open water swim before, and I for sure had never done on with lots of other people slapping and kicking me. Also I didn't do a practice swim in my wetsuit. Boy was I in for a shock. Normally I do about a 10 minute 500 m but I was very dioriented during this swim. I had trouble breathing, swallowed water, couldn't tell where I was going and so on. I had to flip over on my back a couple times until my head stopped spinning. After I reached the midpoint I got the hang of it though. There was a "oh shit, what did I get myself into" period of time though.

Practice an open water swim. Swim in wetsuit. Practice swimming with people kicking and grabbing me!

So I never bothered to practice the transitions! I had trouble with the run up to the T1 area due to the fact that I have trouble running barefoot so I had to grab my shoes from my boyfriend (he kindly was waiting with them held out for me) and slip them on my feet. Then I had to think about what I needed to bring with me on the bike in case of a flat (as if I would know what to do with that equipment).

Suck it up and run barefoot. Not bring anything with me on the bike as I wouldn't know what to do with it. Practice it.

I need cycling shoes!!! I only did it in my running shoes and at the start my shoelace got caught in the pedal and I couldn't move. Of course this happened right as I passed somebody so I'm sure I almost made them crash. I had to stop and unravel it then hop back on. Hills felt better than they did during training.

Nice gear would help for the next one. I was passing people, so that is decent I guess. Maybe actually doing some research on biking would help though during training. I don't even know what cadence is (bad, I know!). I had trouble knowing when to pass people.

I couldn't find where I was set up without my bike there! I stood around looking confused as my boyfriend yelled at me to get my act together. I figured it out, racked the back, then fiddled with my race belt. I had only bought it the day before and had no idea how to put the number on it.

Figure out the race belt. Use a bright colored towel to mark my place.

Sucked it up here. I'm not a good runner anyways (training at 10 minute miles) but I was really hurting here. My muscles felt great, no pain or stiffness, but my lungs were killing me. I just couldn't catch my breath. I would walk a few seconds then run a few and repeat. I was really disappointed in myself. People were passing me left and right. The last mile was the worst due to the hill. Of course I got acid reflux during it and almost threw up.

Train much more. I hate running so I would make excuses not to do it. That and weighing 20 lbs less would probably help.

Nothing! I went and met my family/friends and waiting for my friend to cross the finish line.


The fact that I'm overweight most of all. Also I should have done more bricks. I should have followed a true training plan. I just kind of made mine up as I went.


I liked the race but I think the run trail was too challenging for me. Overall I was happy with it all though. My personal goal was to complete it under 1:45:00 and I did it. My other goal was not to walk at all during the run, which I messed up, so I was upset about that. When compared against were I would have come in on my age group I would have been #14 out of 23, which is better than I ever expected. And thanks to the fact that there were barely any athenas I won that!