Wyckoff/Franklin Lakes Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

I completely blew up on the swim. Now I understand all of the OWS posts. First of I was totally intimidated by the lake. I never really thought about how far 880 yds looks when they are all in a row. I'm so used to swimming 25yds at a time. Then the black water and weeds didn't help the situation either. I tried to go out hard but after the first 100-150 yds my breathing was terrible and everytime I sited the bouy seemed to be getting further away. I actually started to panic. I thought I might DNF. Then I looked back and I saw a guy doing the backstroke then I looked over and saw another guy doing the sidestroke (which tells you how bad a swimmer I am) and they seemed to be fine w/ that so I flipped over on my back (thank goodness for wet suits, I need all the bouancy I can get) and caught my breath and a little bit of composure. I told myself that I knew I could swim the distance b/c I had done it in training, so I just leisurely finished out the swim using a combo of back, side and breast strokes.

Swim, swim, swim. Also ows, ows, ows. I have to be come more efficient in the water I feel like and know that I am just thrashing about in the water and wasting a lot of energy and getting know where. Must get out and swim more ow. I have to get used to swimming out to the horizion or some other distant point, a 25yd pool is not going to cut it for me.

There was about a +200yd run from the water to T1. On the run I got my goggles and cap off and unzipped half of my wesuit. I saw my mom w/ the camcorder and she told my that dad had the stuff I forgot and was waiting along the fence by T1. 3/4 of the way to my spot I saw my dad and he trew my a towel w/ my water bottle wraped inside. Got to my spot, had plenty of room b/c there were less than 5 bikes left in my area. Washed my feet in tupperware container I brought. Got my socks out of the ziplock bag and baby powder and they slipped right on. Threw on my glasses and buckeled up my helmet.

Overall happy w/ my time considering it was my first and I ended up ranking 277. One thing I would do is remember to put on my race belt, that came back to bite me later on.

After blowing up on the swim I altered my race strategy a bit and decide to go little harder on the bike then I had origianlly planned and not worry so much about saving my legs for the run. This is my area of strength and I figured I need at least one part of this race to be decent.

Go harder.

Came in got out of my bike shoe and pulled on my running shoes. The lacing system I got helped a lot. Grabbed my hat and took off. 1/3 of the way out I realized I didn't have my race belt and had to go back and get it.

Remember to put on my race belt.

I'm really happy with this time considering the strategy change I made on the ride and the fact that I have done zero brick training. My legs felt a little wobblely in the transition area but b/c my mom was taping me I pretended like I was ok. It probably took me 1/2 mile to really get into a decent stride. At around mile 2 a girl caught up with me and we started talking and pacing each other. We ended up running the rest of the way together. I think that is my favorite thing about the run, that you can meet people and talk and help each other keep pace.

Run harder. Brick train so that I can start running harder sooner.

None. Ate a banana and packed up and drove home.


OWS.


All in all I have to be happy w/ the race b/c it was my first all of my times are PBs! And based on my times I am within range of meeting my goal of breaking 3hrs in the NYC Tri in July. That being said, I am very disappointed in my swim. I have to get more comfortable in OW, I know I don't have enough time to become a good swimmer this season, but if I can stay calm and be a little more efficent I can work my way from aweful to very bad. On the other hand I am very happy w/ the other two legs of the race. B/c of my swim debacle I now know that I can go pretty hard on the bike and still have legs to run, what is for me, a good pace. I also have to say that I have a new found respect for anyone who has even attempted a tri and especially for those who excel at them. The time and courage it takes to sign up for, train and complete even a sprint is significant.