Tri-ing for Children - TriathlonSprint

SCARY! This was my first "real" triathlon, due to the toxic algae at the Pewaukee race this year. Having practiced in open water for about 5 min. total about a month ago (and hating it so much I never went again), I was all over the place, in a total panic. I consider myself a somewhat strong swimmer (in a pool), but this was really different. I couldn't see where I was going and I just wanted to GET OUT. Maybe this feeling gets better with more practice?

Practice!

I had to pin my race number on because I forget to get a race belt. I was just so glad to be on dry land, I didn't care what happened next.

Race belt.

Every time I pass someone on a hybrid, I want to kiss my road bike and feel so fortunate that I could finally buy one this summer. Kudos to them for grinding it out on slower bikes.

Someone slap me, but I actually missed riding on hills on this course. What goes up must come down!

I liked the wild turkeys, gobbling at me as I rode by.


I unclipped way too soon, unsure of how far ahead the dismount was.

I've been practicing lengthening my stride, and it really helped. Until I got a wicked sideache so nasty that I stopped for 2 seconds. I never stop during a race! I sucked it up and finished, but slower than I would have liked.

Drink more water on the bike = less gut-splitting sideaches.

Ran into a few people I knew, drank that delicious free Gatorade, and took off before any awards.


Inexperienced scaredy-cat swimmer.


A little chaotic... running the 3 races at one time was very confusing for the volunteers and especially the Olympic distance athletes. Volunteers were unsure of which way to direct athletes, depending on what length race they were doing. I had no issues, but I heard a lot of frustrated outbursts around me.