Set a personal best, though it may be due to training in a 33m pool and racing in a 25m one (get to push of the wall 1 extra time per 100m)

Learn to swim front crawl well enough to cover more than 100m! (Swam breast stroke for this event)

Took too long drying off and getting socks on

Not bother with socks and use a proper t-shirt so I don't have to towel down so much

Couldn't shift down to my lowest gear which put extra strain on my legs on some of the steeper hills. On top of that my right calf cramped half way up the steepest hill (around the 5 mile mark) forcing me to pedal with just my left leg until I could move my right leg again!
However, my time was also a personal best for the distance

make sure I can shift into all gears before the race starts!

Cycled with running shoes on (cages on pedals) so just racked the bike, took off helmet and set off

Nothing

Started out too fast too early and shins were in pain before the first mile. Stopped to stretch them out a bit and set off again at a slower pace.

Practice bricks more

Took too long in T1, used up more energy that I should have not having lowest gear available on hills and set off too quickly on the run


A well organised event for my first race which never left me feeling lost and shown me what I need to work on for the next race