Just completed my first Triathlon!(Redondo Beach Sprint)

2009-06-18 9:19 AM

Member

Subject: Just completed my first Triathlon!(Redondo Beach Sprint)

My first triathlon is complete and a learning experience it was. My Goal was to finish an hour or under and I was darn close, finishing at 1 hour 54seconds.

The swim.

Wow this was tough. My encouraging swims in the pool and the one swim at the beach did not even have me close to ready for this. Before I even got to the first buoy a life guard asked me if I was ok(I must have had a look on my face that said I wasn't). I honestly was thinking to myself. NO! but said "yes I am ok" because they told us if a life guard has to help you in any way you are done. And even though it felt as if I was "done" I could not quit and kept going whether it was on my back doing water angels(best way I can describe it), dog paddle or the occasional freestyle form. I was continually moving forward. And eventually finished

Transition

Jogged up to the transition area, Change my shirt put on my shoes and helmet and left.

The Bike

I thought I did really well with this, I was passing those on racing bikes, me being on my big heavy mountainbike. And felt I kept a constant pace. What I realized as I was biking is that there was something in my shoe, it was a GU pack that I had put in there that I was planning on taking during the bike. What this meant was that my transition from bike to running was not going to be as quick as I wanted because I needed to get that out of my shoe for the run. Which I think added a minute to that transition.

Transition

Took my shoe off got the GU pack out of there and went on my way.

The run.

Wow my legs were heavy. But I never stopped to walk. Would not could not and made it through to the finish

Results.

There is a picture along with this email that shows the results. I am #12 on the list out of 38 Clydesdales. The portion I finished the best on ....get this...THE SWIM! #5 over all in my division. Unbelieveable. My wife kept seeing me suddenly go into a grin through out the day and would ask me "what?" I would respond " The swim I just can't believe that I for one ,I finished it, because it felt so hopeless in the beginning and to come in 5th over all."

Until the next race
The start

2009-06-18 9:34 AM

in reply to: #2226359

Master

2477

Oceanside, California

Subject: RE: Just completed my first Triathlon!(Redondo Beach Sprint)

Congrats!... you beat me.
My bib was #38.
If we are in the same race next time feel free to say "Hi"
I think my next race will be the August Castaic Sprint as a Clyde.

2009-06-18 10:07 AM

in reply to: #2226423

Member

Subject: RE: Just completed my first Triathlon!(Redondo Beach Sprint)

eabeam - 2009-06-18 7:34 AM Congrats!... you beat me.
My bib was #38.
If we are in the same race next time feel free to say "Hi"
I think my next race will be the August Castaic Sprint as a Clyde.

Thanks! August Castaic I did not know of that one I will have to check that out.

How many times have you done the Redondo Beach Tri?

2009-06-18 10:40 AM

in reply to: #2226530

Master

2477

Oceanside, California

Subject: RE: Just completed my first Triathlon!(Redondo Beach Sprint)

Once, it was my second Tri. (My first was UCLA in March.)

I just started training in December.
I got fat while finishing school at UCLA for 3 years.

Down to 235 and counting, but I am still slow.

Link to Castaic Tri

2009-06-18 11:40 AM

in reply to: #2226630

Member

Subject: RE: Just completed my first Triathlon!(Redondo Beach Sprint)

eabeam - 2009-06-18 8:40 AM Once, it was my second Tri. (My first was UCLA in March.)

I just started training in December.
I got fat while finishing school at UCLA for 3 years.

Down to 235 and counting, but I am still slow.

Link to Castaic Tri

Congrats! on your second Tri then. You must have read my mind, I could not find the sign up for the castiac.

TriGuyBri

2009-06-18 9:11 PM

in reply to: #2226359

Expert

1276

Salem

Subject: RE: Just completed my first Triathlon!(Redondo Beach Sprint)

Congrats!!! Also completed my first Tri a week ago. Already back at it training for my next one in 6.5 weeks. One idea to consider so the Gu doesn't end up in your shoe again, is to tape it to your bike on the top tube. Run the tape right along the tear line. I did this and it worked perfectly. At about mile 10 I tore it off and sucked the GU and tucked the trash in my tri short leaving the tape on the top tube. Love the Chocolate flavored Gu.

Happy training for #2.

2009-06-19 8:04 AM

in reply to: #2228044

Member

Subject: RE: Just completed my first Triathlon!(Redondo Beach Sprint)

brihilsa - 2009-06-18 7:11 PM Congrats!!! Also completed my first Tri a week ago. Already back at it training for my next one in 6.5 weeks. One idea to consider so the Gu doesn't end up in your shoe again, is to tape it to your bike on the top tube. Run the tape right along the tear line. I did this and it worked perfectly. At about mile 10 I tore it off and sucked the GU and tucked the trash in my tri short leaving the tape on the top tube. Love the Chocolate flavored Gu.

Happy training for #2.

Thanks! and thanks for the advice. Even when I was putting it in there ,there was a little voice inside my head saying, "maybe you shouldn't" I should have listened. I will have to try the tape thing for my next try. I got the plain, and the flavor was odd to say the least. I think I will do the Castaic on in August mentioned above.

jsoza

2009-06-19 8:19 AM

in reply to: #2226359

Expert

1075

Champaign Area, IL

Subject: RE: Just completed my first Triathlon!(Redondo Beach Sprint)

Congrats on finishing your first tri....and at 1 hour 54 seconds!!!!!! damn you're fast

2009-06-19 8:19 AM

in reply to: #2226359

Master

2477

Oceanside, California

Subject: RE: Just completed my first Triathlon!(Redondo Beach Sprint)

Dude!

Unless you are psychotic, you ALWAYS listen to the voice inside!

I am so lucky that I am married to a wonderful woman.

Not listening to that voice got me in so much trouble when I was single.

Anyway, I will probably do both Castaics.
It is $50 for one, and $85 for both.

2009-06-19 8:41 AM

in reply to: #2228517

Member

Subject: RE: Just completed my first Triathlon!(Redondo Beach Sprint)

jsoza - 2009-06-19 6:19 AM Congrats on finishing your first tri....and at 1 hour 54 seconds!!!!!! damn you're fast

Thanks! Hey how far is Mattoon away from Alton, I have family there.

2009-06-19 8:44 AM

in reply to: #2228519

Member

Subject: RE: Just completed my first Triathlon!(Redondo Beach Sprint)

eabeam - 2009-06-19 6:19 AM Dude!

Unless you are psychotic, you ALWAYS listen to the voice inside!

I am so lucky that I am married to a wonderful woman.

Not listening to that voice got me in so much trouble when I was single.

Anyway, I will probably do both Castaics.
It is $50 for one, and $85 for both.

Yeah , live and learn. I thought it would pop out when I pulled my sock out and obviously it didn't . I will be out of town for the July Tri. So August is my only option.
Here! Here! to wonderfull wives, I would not be able to do what I do with out mine. And she is going to start doing Marathons with me. Should be fun.

jsoza

2009-06-19 9:37 AM

in reply to: #2228583

Expert

1075

Champaign Area, IL

Subject: RE: Just completed my first Triathlon!(Redondo Beach Sprint)

It's alittle over 2 hours....I am about 30 minutes north of effingham which is where I get on I-70 to go to St. Louis

IndoIronYanti

2009-06-19 10:50 AM

in reply to: #2226359

Melon Presser

52116

Subject: RE: Just completed my first Triathlon!(Redondo Beach Sprint)

Super congratulations! Very good placing for your first tri!!!! I did that race last year and yes, it is a rather brutally long swim for a sprint and that is one tough run up to T1! Well done! Great pics too.

2009-06-19 11:13 AM

in reply to: #2228946

Member

Subject: RE: Just completed my first Triathlon!(Redondo Beach Sprint)

TriAya - 2009-06-19 8:50 AM Super congratulations! Very good placing for your first tri!!!! I did that race last year and yes, it is a rather brutally long swim for a sprint and that is one tough run up to T1! Well done! Great pics too.

Thanks!. Yeah its quite a trek. I guess this year they changed the route to t1 from last year. I guess before ,they had you go up a set of stairs, this year they cut that out had you go straight up and off the beach and then up the sidewalk to the parking lot. I am glad they did. Stairs after that swim doesn't seem like a smart idea.