Topeka Tinman Triathlon - Short Course - TriathlonShort Course

Our wave had to have had around 60-70 swimmers and it seemed they were all first-timers. It was a mess. I stayed at the back to the outside hoping to stay away from the mess but it seemed like that didn't help at all. I would start swimming and then run into a wall of people who were not swimming! There weren't any arms moving at all....not sure how they were swimming. It was kind of strange!

For this race, I would have preferred to have been in front. I swam faster than a lot of the participants in my wave and if I would have been closer to the front I think I would have gotten out of the crowd and gotten into some clean water. Or, I would not be afraid to just swim and if I ran over other swimmers, well, I guess I would just swim over them. I felt pretty frustrated about the swim. I expected my performance to be better.

Did really good at getting out of the water, getting my wetsuit unzipped and lowered to my waist as I ran up the hill to the transition area. Once to my spot, I got my wetsuit off really easily (I think it was a lot to the Pam I sprayed on) and had all my gear set out really well. I was all ready to go and wanted to get some more GU but couldn't find it! It was hidden underneath my running hat and I wasted time looking for it.

Forget the GU and go on! I would have saved at least 1:30 in time if I wouldn't have messed with the GU. I might have left off the bike gloves, too. Not sure.

This course was pretty fun. I was able to come out of transition and get on my bike quickly and got up to speed fast. Passed a lot of other bikers! The three miles into the wind were also UPHILL so it was the toughest part of the course. The last 2.5 to 3 miles I was smokin'! Felt great about my cornering and turns. Felt like I was always in the right gear.

I would have pushed a little harder on the uphill windy part. Didn't get out of my seat at all on this ride and if I would have just pushed a little on that part, I think I could have taken some time off. But other than that, I was very pleased with my performance on this bike portion.

Did better on this transition than the first, but had trouble with getting my bike in the rack. The guy next to me (who happened to be my HUSBAND!) had racked his bike in my spot and so I had to move over with my bike away from my stuff. And when I racked my bike it kept going crooked and trying to fall over.

Not mess with my bike so much (and get all over my husband about his transition etiquette!)

I think I didn't give this run as much as I could. I did walk about every 8 minutes of running. I kept myself cool enough by dumping the water I didn't drink on my head. I did finish strong. Guess that's why I knew I still had something left to give!

Push myself harder! I could have done better

After I finished I walked around and jogged a little. Stretched some, but probably should have stretched a little more.


Being sick for the entire week before this race probably contributed to my performance being less than I wanted. I think my nutrition was pretty close to what I needed as I felt very alert and good the whole race. I think I just psyched myself out a little and should have made myself give more


Some of the problems with this race were not related to my course. But, the long course had trouble with the bike portion...the course was not marked well at all and SEVERAL bikers didn't get on the right course and were disqualified. Should have been some people on the course to direct short course and long course people. Also, we were supposed to get a technical tshirt and the race site made a huge deal out of the fact that you would NOT get a cotton tshirt and yet that's what we got.

But, for my first triathlon, I was thrilled. It was a great experience. The swim wasn't what I expected, but even then I was pleased with how I handled it all. And when I finished I was higher than a kite and so proud of myself that I was able to finish and I finished WELL!!