Pleasant Prairie Triathlon - Sprint Distance - TriathlonSprint

I didn't get nervous till they said "Coral 17 and 18 you have 30 seconds". Horn blows and off we go. I stay sort of toward the back, next to a few buddys doing their first too. Get into the water and the people off in front of me are actually pulling me from their draft. I immediately relax and think this will be easier than I thought, just draft em. 1MS-2MS-3MS breath going well. I get about 3/4 of the way out and I need to do the back float and catch my breath. I wasn't able to, so I start to get scared. Try to go back to freestyle, and start to inhale water. I am surprised how quickly I forgot the MS counts. Turnaround ahead, as well as a lifeguard stand. Also, the Olympic swimmers comming from our right. The current was making it hard to get to the turnaround and I start to panic. I seriously thought I was in trouble, like about to go under and drown. I try to swim outta everyones way and I ain't moving. Inhaling more and more water, breathing hard, dry heaving. Get on my back and just paddle with my arms, still hyperventalating, not knowing where I am going. My hand hits a lifeguard boat, OMG thank you, and I grab hold. They ask if I want to be towed in. "NO" immediately comes outta my mouth thank god. They tell me to take some deep breaths. I think about a minute passes, maybe even longer. I hear a bell ringing and it kinda wakes me up. Breathing ok, I start to do a 3 count in my head. "I am OK" I tell the lifeguards, thank them and start to swim on my back again. Still not sure if I should freestyle for a bit. I keep breathing normal, doing my MS counts and decide to give freestyle a try again. Going good. I finish the last 1/3 freestyle, MS counting, and floating on my back for a 10 count. Get out of the water with a feeling I cannot even describe. Start to strip my wetsuit off while jogging. People everywhere walking.

Relax, get back to my counts, don't look back

Never felt like this before. Dizzy, disoriented, hazzy. What a trip ;)
Wetsuit comes right off amd start to put on my tri tank. OOPS. Rookie mistake # 1 - WEAR YOUR TANK TO SWIM IN. Couldn't get it on (I was wet), put it on backwards and only halfway down my torso, put my helmet on, start to take off my tank with the helmet on. 4:19 seconds in transition. Mrs T- and Mini T-'s see me and tell me to get going (Their voices are low and long - I was very disoriented). Took a few sport beans, a sip of 5hr energy and my water bottle. Start running with the bike, hop on bike right outta transition and cannot get my feet in my shoes (they were clipped in the bike already - don't try nothing new dummy!). Got off the bike, removed the shoes and put em on fumbling to get them back on, then couldn't get them clipped back in.

Learn how to put feet into cliped in shoes. NOTHING NEW RACE DAY

OK clipped in. pedal pedal pedal. Get oriented in < 1/8 mile. Start to pass people. I know the course really well and took advantage where I could. Passed a lot of people. Only people I notice that were passing me were the pros. I cannot count how many times I had to say "Passing left". This made me feel great. Miles peeling by fast. Pro Lauren Jensen passes me and I start to trail her pretty well. She helped me on a few swimming sessions (but obv not enough). Thanks Lauren and Coach Ken!

Take a little bit more advantage on the downhills, as I had some juice left in the tank.

Long run from one end to my transition spot. Running in my bike shoes, clop clop clop, thinking I should take em off. Everything comes off nice, laceless shoes go right on and remembered to take my helmet off. Beans, water and rest of 5hr energy go down nice. Run run run.

Don't think I need the 5hr energy anymore

A little outta breath at first. But I recognize this piece from other bricks and know my limits. It usually takes me about 5 minutes to get in the 'groove' usually. I get there pretty fast today. Legs feel great. About 1 mile in I pick up the speed and go with longer strides. At the turnaround I say thanks to the firefighters I know. They give me some cheering which gives me some energy. Horrible timing. At the turnaround the olympic run has to go a different way than the sprinters. I see Jose (A guy from my running club) with his arms in the air. "Which way for sprint?" he shouts. A volunteer starts to come on the course in front of me, extends his arm to point Jose in the right direction and ELBOWS ME IN THE MOUTH. YEP. I get injured IN THE RUN! (Wasn't this was supposed to happen in the swim). I almost lose balance, swearing up a storm, mouth bleeding and stinging. I start to laugh it off. It does give me another push. Still passing people. One Pro passes me and I start to pace him the remainder of the race. .2 miles to go (I know this course as well). I see family and friends. Mrs T- and Mrs Doc M both yell me to catch up to the pro. I turn on the heat and pass him. Finished!

Duck? Don't wait to run my azz off.

G2, water, 1/2 bagel


My first tri of any kind, so didn't know what to expect. Had a lot left in the tank


Goodie bag kinda stunk. Horrible color race shirt.