Iowa Games Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Seeing that this was my first triathlon and my third time actually swimming in open water I think I did well. I had never attempted to draft before but that really didnt matter since I was one of the last one's out of the water. The water felt great and I felt comfortable in it. I did manage to swim right into the first bouy but was able to get around it witout a problem. I soon found my rhythm and was off. I ended up with my fastest swim time yet. I was able to get around the other bouyes without any problems.

I need to work on sighting and being able to keep up with the others. That being said, being one of the last one's out of the water meant that it was easy to find my bike!

Transition I think went as well as it could. This was my first tri and I really did not have any idea or experience on how to do things. I can watch YouTube videos on it all day but until I actually do it I can only hope for the best.

Put my socks in plastic bags. It rained a little bit before the swim leaving me with wet socks and shoes, Yuck! Other than that I think I T1 was laid out in a logical order.

Since I wore a tri suit I was able to keep my transition time down. Getting out of transition was interesting. We had to run down then up a small grassy ditch to get to the mount point. Since I wear clips on my shoes it was interesting trying to keep my balance on wet grass and still hold onto my bike. The course it self I thought was challanging but not impossbile for a first timer like me. My chain slipped off the front grears twice costing me precious time. I was able to get everything fixed and set to go both times without any help. I managed to break one of the most basic rules in racing though: Nothing new on race day. I had backed in my back pocket a GU energy gel that I soon found out I could not safely eat and bike at the same time. It hung in the back of my thought leaving me feeling like I was choking. And it was so sweet that I only had half of it. Even with water it was not a pleasant experience. Of course I didn't even try to odo a flying dismount off my bike but I was able to run into T2 without a problem.

Run the bike through the heigher gears the night before race day to make sure the chain will ride all the gears. I will also like to do a lot more hill work, the hills on the course just about had me. It let me know where my weaknesses are.

Getting my bike up and on the rack seemed easly. I slipped my bike shoes off and my running shoes on without a problem. Took a quick drink of my Powerade and headed out. By time time I left T2 I realized that I forgot my sunglasses. It was still overcast but the sun was peaking out in some placed and I had one my bike with them on and had gotten accustom to it looking slightly darker than it really was. Since it had rained eariler my other pair of scocks were wet to I just kept my current pair on.

Keep my sunglasses on. Put both pair of scoks in seperate baggies to keep them dry. Condider taking a small water bottle for my back pocket for the run segment.

I got out of T2 feeling great but soon my legs were going much slower than I wanted. My legs did not feel heavy but very tired. I flet like I could not swing my hips foward enough leaving me with a run/shuffle gate for most of the course. I was hot and feeling miserable from still having lake water in my hair and my compression clothing wet with lake water and sweat. For most of the course I did a run/walk combination but was able to get across the finish line without feeling like I was going to die and still felt ok physically and mentally.

Wear dry socks, even if its just for mental support anything would have helped. I need to work more on my brick workouts to get used to running off the bike.

Walked around talking to people and eating the snacks that where provided.


It was my first tri and I think I did as well as I could. I wish my chain did not slip on the bike and that I could swim faster but overall I'm happy with my performance.


It was my first tri and I think I did as well as I could. I wish my chain did not slip on the bike and that I could swim faster but overall I'm happy with my performance.