Speed-n-Power
Just competed in my first triathlon on Saturday. Better performance than any of my individual workouts.
Great day for the race, sunny and about 75 for the start. Felt like a salmon swimming upstream - lucky enough not to get pounded in the face. First group swim, but swimming in the bubbles really helped. Got a little off course at the top of the triangle, but turned out to be a good thing - put me behind the lead group, but well in front of the trail group, and gave me that last 100m as a solo swim. Exited the water, glanced at my watch and saw my best 400m time.
Long, up-hill transition to bike. Still using toe clips, so T1 was very slow.
Best bike ride yet - nice to have someone to chase/be chased. The family met me at about the 8 mile mark and gave me great energy. Last turn to the finish was not marked and caused most of the field to add about a half mile to the bike. I averaged about 19.5mph and clocked a better bike time than practice rides - think I could have done much better with clipless pedals.
Had the fastest T2 with 24 seconds (cycled in my running shoes). Willing to trade a few seconds here for a few minutes on the run.
Run felt great - slower than I had wanted, but still great. I managed to pass a few people and still had a little energy at the end. Not my best 5k time, but better than my previous brick workouts.
Overall time was 1:13:46. Happy to be under 1:20:00.
Now I've started looking for my next race and more appropriate equipment to shave a few minutes so I can place in my age group. I was 7/19 in my age and 39/175 overall.
What I think helped:
1. Rest and nutrition the week before the race.
2. Family support, before and during the race.
3. Reading a tri book for pointers.
4. Good breakfast before the race, and hydration, hydration, hydration.
Most of all, I'm happy to now call myself a triathlete.
Great day for the race, sunny and about 75 for the start. Felt like a salmon swimming upstream - lucky enough not to get pounded in the face. First group swim, but swimming in the bubbles really helped. Got a little off course at the top of the triangle, but turned out to be a good thing - put me behind the lead group, but well in front of the trail group, and gave me that last 100m as a solo swim. Exited the water, glanced at my watch and saw my best 400m time.
Long, up-hill transition to bike. Still using toe clips, so T1 was very slow.
Best bike ride yet - nice to have someone to chase/be chased. The family met me at about the 8 mile mark and gave me great energy. Last turn to the finish was not marked and caused most of the field to add about a half mile to the bike. I averaged about 19.5mph and clocked a better bike time than practice rides - think I could have done much better with clipless pedals.
Had the fastest T2 with 24 seconds (cycled in my running shoes). Willing to trade a few seconds here for a few minutes on the run.
Run felt great - slower than I had wanted, but still great. I managed to pass a few people and still had a little energy at the end. Not my best 5k time, but better than my previous brick workouts.
Overall time was 1:13:46. Happy to be under 1:20:00.
Now I've started looking for my next race and more appropriate equipment to shave a few minutes so I can place in my age group. I was 7/19 in my age and 39/175 overall.
What I think helped:
1. Rest and nutrition the week before the race.
2. Family support, before and during the race.
3. Reading a tri book for pointers.
4. Good breakfast before the race, and hydration, hydration, hydration.
Most of all, I'm happy to now call myself a triathlete.