Triangle Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Dear new triathletes/swimmers;
Do not, under any circumstance, lift your head up to "doggy paddle" at the start of your first race. you will take a face full of water, simulate drowning, and your brain will go into full panic mode. This is not good. If you need to breath, roll to your side or back, and breath. At your first race, when the gun goes off - wait. count to 10. then start swimming.

Intellectually I understood that "open water swim" meant "above my head". However the reality of this did not sink in until race morning. Training in a pool, if I took on some water, I would just stand up and cough. Stand up being key point. As a better swimmer now, I am a little more prepared - but it was an experience.

If you do panic on your first swim - hop on back and float. breath. keep breathing. kick only. you will finish the course in about 19 minutes.

Race Plan: wave starts ... wait for it...wait for it... now gently hop in water and swim. coulda woulda shoulda.

I can't swim, but I can get to my bike and get out of T1. Lucky in that my rack was near lone tree to use as guide.

Little congested at mount line, but kept running past it. this was a good decision. why are people running in cycling shoes?

When you turn by the Harris Teeter, you are at the top of the hill. Pass the school, underneath the light, and get some nutrition on the long, gradual downhill. Also, grab a drink at Novartis for the big hill on 55.

to the guy on the cannondale at a 45 cadence - dude, you got to learn to spin. it was painful for me to get passed by you, then to pass you, because I suck. Spin dude. spin.

more work at a faster speed. I just don't push the big ring like those 300 people that passed my for 54 minutes.

Full speed hot dismount. Blew past some guy trying to unclip his shoe and just taking up space at the dismount line. yes, you went .2mph faster than me, then waste it all fiddling with your shoes. Dude. It's the fourth discipline.

I thought you had to wear a shirt - and did so. got hot. turns out you might not have had to wear a shirt. modesty vs overheating?

I am almost a Clyde. So by 9am it is 80+ degrees, and this is all about keeping cool. I did OK, finished faster than I expected, but was really hot. dumped water on head at each station - probably should have had a sip too.

I haven't run since 1995. I have no speed base. Will start doing some 400 and 800M speed intervals to rock this 5km distance in the future. I'm a plodder, and it's a sprint.

sat down on grass


ability to maintain cool. heat management.


Excellent first triathlon learning experience. Thanks to all the advice from my friends, and hope to be back next year.