Triathlon - First time Tri sprint re-cap

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.

Congrats Triathlete! :)

Nice job.

Having family and friends cheer you on at the race really helps, doesn't it?

Way to go. Welcome to the "club"!

It's nice to read about your sprint tri experience. I'm considering a sprint distance in the spring. I used to run long distance and I've been a swimmer for the longest time, but just discovered biking.

What training schedule did you use?

I'm used to swimming laps in a pool (sharing with one or two people per lane). I can't imagine swimming with a whole group like that. That's the part that makes me nervous.

Also, biking so close to people. I have about six months. I usually work out by myself. I suppose I am going to need to start training in groups.

Congratulations,
Sandy

it is a fun club indeade good luck
the first is the hardest by not knowing what to expect

Great Job, I am sure the family support really gave you the push! Congratulations

Congrats dude, i hear ya, I have done triathlons by myself, not knowing anyone there. It make sa difference when you know that family is there, either in the race with you, or cheering you on the side lines. Knowing that someone is watching jsut you will definatly make you push harder.

Sandy -
Did at least three workouts each week for each event, and tried to brick at least once a week during the last month - all for endurance, nothing for speed increases (except an occasional fast bike). Best thing I did was took one day and did all three events together but at a longer distance than the race. Wore me out but gave me a good idea what each transistion would feel like.

Got most of my swim training in the pool - most of it in a 25 yard pool, then the final three weeks prior in a 50m pool. Only did two open water swims. Open water alone was a killer becuase of the solitude - nothing but brown water, sky, arm and the occasional buzz of a boat somewhere in the distance. Concentrated on form in the pool, which went to hell in the group swim. Was thinking about those around me more than swimming. Best thing I did for the swim was follow the feet in front of me and sight every once in a while. The draft effect alone saved me two minutes, even with the slowing and course correction. Just be patient on your first group swim. It was actually easier when there were others swimming around me. Learn to breathe on both sides. Learn to purge your mouth and nose while underwater without needing another breathe or breaking your rythmn. (you will get a mouthful of water at least once during the swim - someone will kick while you're taking a breath) But you said you are a swimmer - you could teach me some things

I didn't have clipless pedals or aerobars and still finished with a good bike time. Get clipless pedals and aerobars - will add speed (my pedals and shoes came in today).

Most of my brick workouts were bike run - get your body used to the transition.

Most tri events are no drafting and everyone is pretty spread out coming out of the water, so closeness on the bike is not an issue.

Find a training partner, buy a book with a training plan and nutrition advise (I bought the Triathlon Magazine's Complete training guide), and don't be shy to ask for advise.

Get to the staging area early. Find someone who looks like they know what they are doing, and copy their setup. Make a checklist and pack the night before.

Be ready to have fun and get hooked!

Welcome to the club. Did my first tri about a year ago. Actually doing the same event in a few weeks to close out the year. Have done 4 others between them. The best part about being a triathlete is after a race when you show up somewhere in shorts and have to explain to someone why you have numbers on your arms and legs. Pretty easy way to impress someone.

I'm looking forward to my next race. It's an open water 300 meter swim, 15 mile bike, and a 2 lap 5K. The run is on a trail around the lake that we swim in. My 3 year old will be there watching us (along with the in-laws). There's nothing like seeing a familiar (especially family) face at points along the course. Very good incentive to keep going...or go faster.

Woohooo! Good job. Your message is so POSITIVE - I love it!

Congrats on a nice race.
Do you have the "bug?"

Congrats on a nice race.
Do you have the "bug?"


Bug? No. Colony of bugs, yes.

Now have my new pedals and shoes - shopping for aerobars.