Lehigh Valley Steelman Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

The water was nice and warm! Pretty cloudy but otherwise fairly clean.

This time I wanted to get a better start, so I started closer to the front. I guess I wasn't close ENOUGH to the front, because I got stuck behind some slower swimmers and had no space to get around them for the first 100 yards or so. I floundered around and started to panic a little until after I got around the first buoy. After that I was able to relax and get into a good freestyle rhthym, which I maintained for the rest of the swim. Found it hard to draft anyone, as just as I would start to, the person would stop or slow down too much.

Looked at my watch after running about 30 yards uphill to the transition area and was disappointed to see over 18 minutes. However, I was surprised to notice that most of the bikes in my wave's racks were still there when I got to mine!

Start even closer to the front (I was only about 2 rows back, but still); try to find someone with a similar pace to draft, speed up a bit (didn't really ever feel like I was swimming at my "race pace").

What the heck was I doing in there that took so long?? I know part of this is due to a lengthy run to and from my rack position, but still. I also took the time to put socks on, but to NOT wear socks isn't worth the 30 seconds saved to me.

Hustle! Looking back, my T1 time in my first tri was about 3 minutes, too, but that's because I was covered in muck from the nasty pond. This time should've been quicker.

A rather hilly, challenging course! Luckily I train on lots of hills at home. I maintained 11mph going up the hill out of transition and felt good. Tried to work the downhills to carry me into the uphills without trashing my legs. Felt good, though I probably could've pushed harder. Ate 6 more shot bloks and drank plenty of water and gatorade.

Push the pace a little harder - but not much.

For my first T2 requiring a change from bike to running shoes, I think I did pretty well. It'd be even faster with speed laces, but I don't really want to go that route. One thing that cost me a few seconds is that the person next to me didn't leave enough space on the rack for my bike, so I had to move theirs over a bit to get mine on. Thanks.

Not much...a better rack position would've made a big difference here.

I ran the entire way again! Woo hoo. Ate 3 last shot bloks on my way out of transition, and grabbed water at 2 of the water stops. Felt really good and knew I was running at a good pace for me, but even I was surprised to see my time - that's just 26 seconds slower than my post-high school 5K PR from last fall and 2 minutes faster than I ran at my last tri!

Nothing - hopefully I'll continue to get faster as I get more training mileage under my feet.

Not much...gladly accepted the cold wet Steelman Triathlon finisher's towel and draped that around my neck. Found Sara in the finisher's area and we both got some snacks and a bottle of Gatorade Endurance. Packed up our stuff and then stuck around for the giveaways and part of the awards ceremony.


Nothing other than still being new to triathlons - with more training and race experience will come faster transitions and overall times, I suspect.


Great race! Very very well-organized, tons of volunteers, and overall a great race atmosphere. Course was well-marked and maintained, and just enough of a good challenge for me. I'd definitely do this race again.