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 Swim
Comments: Again, did I mention this was my first? I start out fully intending to swim my race, stay to the back and save for the bike. Well, after the first 50 yards things were going so well, I guess I must have started to push. Suddenly I'm passing people. Then more people. This is when I remember (a)that gu I meant to take 15 minutes before start and (b) that I still had to swim back. Eventually it dawns on me that I have gone out way too hard. Around the far buoy I felt a little panicky, so I rolled over and backstroked until I got HR and breathing down a little. Every time I would roll back and freestyle, my HR would spike again, not from OW panic, but because I couldn't keep my pace down. Ended up doing most of the way in on my back, but I was able to keep my place in the crowd, so wasn't too frustrated. The one great thing was my sighting went really well, especially as I had not really had a chance to practice. Never swam much either way, and the one time I drifted a little right on the way out, I picked it up very quickly and was able to adjust. The way back was real easy, as I spent most of the time on my back, just keeping the line of swimmers behind me between my feet. What would you do differently?: Better pacing. I went out too hard, couldn't keep a freestyle pace from becoming an all out sprint effort. Still, for first race I am pretty happy with this aspect.  Transition 1
Comments: This is added in to swim time. Other than forgetting my entire plan, it went well. The only thing that I forgot that would later bite me was to stand on the towel, and rinse the crud off my feet. What would you do differently?: Rinse feet before putting socks on. Little bits of debris became really painful during the run.  Bike
Comments: Ouch. I was totally unprepared for this, and it absolutely bit me in the butt. I had ridden Mt Bikes a long time ago, and was thinking that if I just got my fitness up with spin classes, that this would not be a major concern. At the start I was trying to take it easy, as my HR still felt a little high from the swim. After about a mile, I started to push, and felt good for a while. Got passed by a couple of people, but just kept reminding myself to race to my ability. About half way, my poor bike handling coupled with zero time in the saddle this year began to cost me. I knew I was having to make up for the handling with extra power, as my poor lines were rubbing speed at almost every turn and climb. What I didn't realize was that the added strain was also beginning to affect my back and shoulders. At about mile 7, my back tightened into a little ball of pain. I had to stop twice and stretch it in the last 4 miles just to get the ride over with. I was walking most of the final hills, and really cost myself a lot of time. finally got back to the start/finish area and was so glad to be off the bike I could have kissed the guy yelling to dismount. I also, in the midst of this, forgot to drink most of the time, despite riding with a camelback the whole way. What would you do differently?: Spend time on a real bike. Train. Transition 2
Comments: This is in the bike time I actually moved pretty well here, though next time I will carry some water out with me. What would you do differently?: Bring a smallish water bottle for the start of the run in case I forget to drink on the bike again.  Run
Comments: I started slow, still pretty wiped from the disaster that was the bike. However, I passed someone in the first half mile who was walking and vowed that I was going to run the full 5 miles. Now that I had a mini goal, I was able to keep focused on that and start building. Grabbed water at the aid station, and got going pretty much right away again. Hit the bridge and realized I was almost done, and that I actually still had some gas in the tank. I figured there was no reason to sprint at this point, so just held to a solid pace, but it was a good feeling to know there were some reserves left. The downside was that I felt I could have started pushing a little earlier in the run, but that will be for next time. What would you do differently?: Push harder from the start. Post race
Warm down: walked around for a bit. What limited your ability to perform faster: The bike. I need to spend more time on a bike. Also, pace the swim better. Event comments: This was a great race, beautiful setting. It may have been a bit much for a first time race, but not overwhelming. I will definitely do this race again, if just to get a decent bike split. Last updated: 2008-04-14 12:00 AM
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United States
65F / 18C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 114/132
Age Group = M 35-39
Age Group Rank = 0/
As this was my first Tri, I was a little nervous. Couple that with a 4 year old who couldn't sleep, and sharing a double bed with my wife (and eventually 4 year old) when we are used to a king, and it all adds up to very little sleep the night before. I finally gave up at 4:45 and got up. For Breakfast I had a whole wheat english muffin and PB, yogurt, a sip of OJ and some coffee. Then sat around for 15 minutes until off we went. Got to the race sight and nervous energy took over. Decided I needed to save the 50 grams and switch from the semi-padded seat to the older race seat I had, pumped tires, checked and rechecked camelback supplies, etc. I swear you'd have thought I was about to embark on some epic expedition.
Anyway, finaly went down to packet pickup, paid my one day license and got marked. Somewhere in this process I noticed the other athletes standing around me and had my first wave of doubt. I had been feeling pretty self-confident about my physical shape, but these folks were cut. Well I knew I wasn't competing for a win so I put it behind me.
Back to car, got bike and bags and headed down to set up transition. Did I mention this was my first tri? Thanks to all the advice here, I thought I knew my pre-race plan. I had my transition area all mapped out, all I had to do was walk down to the rack and lay on the ground what I had pictured in my head so many times. Yeah, it was like blind dental surgery, it took my 5 times to lay everything out. I was seriously trying to figure out where on my towel the wetsuit was supposed to go until my dad kindly asked when most people put them on. Finally got done, grabbed a gu for race minus 15 and went to listen to pre-race briefing with goggles, cap, earplugs and gu tucked into the flapping edge of my wetsuit.
No real warm-up, I think nerves alone had my heart rate plenty high. Got in the water neck deep to acclimate to temp, then backed out so I wouldn't get swam over in the upcoming mass start.