Tri The Midlands - Triathlon

The novice female group was the last swim wave to go. It was a small group of only 12, which was really nice for one's first tri. I didn't get bumped, pushed or swam over at any point. Need to sight more often...I find that I have a tendency to veer left. I started off conservatively, just trying to find a rhythm to my stroke and breathing. Sighting after the 2nd buoy was much better.

Started to feel a little tired after the 2nd buoy. Switched breathing patterns so as to get a bit more air.

Caught up swim some slower swimmers from the two waves ahead of me after rounding the 1st buoy.

Swim finish was a longish uphill run from the water.

Practice sighting more in OWS. Swim more/longer distances in open water.

After the run up from the water, I breathing pretty heavily. Took a minute to slow down my brain and my breathing, hence the 2:13 transition. I wear gloves on the bike, and those were a royal PITA to put on. Socks (which I had prerolled) went on easy peasy.

Figure out the gloves...I really don't like to ride without them. Practice this transition more.

I felt like I really pushed myself the first 2/3 of the bike. The girl who eventually won my division passed me about 3 miles in and said, "I've been chasing you ever since the swim," which motivated me to return the favor and pass her. We played hopscotch the entire way. I passed about 20 racers ahead of me in earlier start waves. I drank on the bike for the first 10 miles (Infinite custom blend) and got about 16 oz. of fluid/nutrition in me. Used my gears wisely and used the aero bars on all the flats and downhills.

I felt really good about the bike leg (except the whole glove thing in/getting out of transition). I thought I was faster than I was, though.

Took my time dismounting and running in my bike shoes/cleats. Took extra & unnecesary time reracking my bike as my seat post was about 1" too high to fit underneath the bike racks. Fortunately, the bike rack I was assigned to was full of novices, most of whom were behind me so had room to lean it over and fit it under the rack. Wore my race belt and number on the bike, so that was one less thing to worry about. Got the gloves off much easier than they went on in T1.

Multitask...remove bike 'stuff' as I'm running from the dismount area to the bike rack. Maybe start practicing/thinking about practicing removing feel from shoes while clipped in??

Did I say it was hilly? I walked up two steeper sections, as I was walking faster than the people around me were running. As I was in the last swim wave, most of my tri club friends were finishing the run as I was heading out, so I got lots of shout outs along the way. That was encouraging.

I've got to get more serious about my run training. More speed work and more hills.

Grabbed a water and a banana, chatted with the tri group and shared my 'first time' experience with them.


The fact that I've only been swimming and riding a bike since mid March and neglecting my running a bit since I was working so hard on the swim and bike portions.


Although the run was challenging, this was a really good experience for a first time triathlon.