wheelchair racer - first sprint tri in 2 weeks

Good luck!

What is the distance? I suspect you will be overwhelmed by the kindness and support you will get from your fellow triathletes.

Thank you!

It's a 525 yard pool swim, 12 mile bike, 5k run.

I'm sure you're right about support from other competitors. I'm thinking more about things like logistics - I'm meeting with the race director this week to show her a couple of difficult corners on the run course, and we're both at a disadvantage - she's never had disabled competitors, and I've only been doing track wheelchair for a couple of months.

(Difficult corners: a racing wheelchair is between 5 and 6 feet long, and cannot turn on a dime. There are also a couple of spots on this course where runners go up a grassy hill, down a curb, across the street, and back up a curb - you can't do that in a racing chair, either.)

But it's a small, low key event, and I'm sure everything's going to be great - or if not great, a learning experience for next year.

Good luck and have fun!  Also be sure to put up a race report so we can read about your day.

I did my 10K today (the Bolder Boulder) and it was great! No equipment problems, perfect weather, and I didn't run into anybody.

I'm jazzed and ready for the triathlon on Sunday!!

Very cool story!  Welcome aboard!!!

Good luck tomorrow!

Good luck man!

Thank you! Will report tomorrow.

I hope your race went well, and that you enjoyed yourself.

The short story:

Everything went really well, except for being attacked by a portapotty door between the bike and the run. I finished in 2:00:00, which was last for the small (4) wheelchair division, but was great as far as I was concerned. I don't have my splits yet.

Should I post a narrative report here, or in the Race Reports forum?

You should post it in the Race Reports.  If you click on the "Race Log" button at the top of the page, you can then go to "edit" under that race and it will bring you into a nice little template for writing up your race info.

You could then paste the link in this thread if you wanted, and we could find it easier.

Congrats on finishing your first tri!

Do you think you'll do more?

Race report:
http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=211666&posts=1&start=1

I'll absolutely do more! I really had a good time. I think a tri with an open water swim should be next.

Edited by Katja 2010-06-07 2:55 PM

Katia, you're the first wheeler I've seen on this forum.  I'm a 55 year old wheeler and have done several sprint and olympic triathlons over the 13 years that I've been in a chair.  I'm training hard for the Rev3, a full ironman distance in Sandusky Ohio September 12.  Like you, I find that logistics with the chair are the most challenging thing, and it takes lots of communication with race directors.  Every one is different.  I'm finding a whole new level of logistical challenge  with a 13 hour event.  And that's over and above actually being trained and physically ready for the event!  Congratulations on your race.  Next one you'll be a real pro.  Bob M.

Bob, thank you so much for posting! It's great to meet another wheeler doing tris - it's so hard to find people to talk to and exchange information with.

Good luck with Rev3 - it sounds like a huge challenge! I know we'll talk again.