This was my first Triathlon ever! Sprint distance. The night before at the packet pick up they informed us that the lake had turned, meaning the hot water on bottom had risen to the top and the oxygen had dropped killing many fish. In other words it may change to a DUATHALON! I was disappointed but ready for the challenge. They said they would make a decision by 6 am. We arrived at 8 am to find that it was going to be a TRIATHLON! Thank goodness I had not done three weeks in a pool to run four miles and bike 10...
The event is in a private lake and gated community, a beautiful place. We got to the transition area set up all our stuff and got ready for the day. I should say I nervously went and checked my transition area 10 times hoping I had everything I needed and everything was in place, for other first timers I should say less is better. The outside temp. was 56, the lake was 74 so wet suit capable but why for a sprint? and why when the outside air is cooler than the water? I saw people suiting up in wet suits and thought there is no way that is an advantage. So it's a staggered start, men first, women second, teams last. I had gone with two other friends, my brother in law and best friend. We walk to the edge of the dock together all ready to do our first Tri as a group. We look at each other, the announcer says, the gun will go off in 90 secs. you can either get in now and tread or wait for the gun and dive. We all jump in, and I NEVER SEE MY FRIENDS AGAIN UNTIL THE RACE IS OVER!!!
The swim is unbelievable I mean structured chaos like crazy. I screwed up got nervous and when the gun sounded swam like crazy, unfortunately I swam WAY off course. By the time I caught the second group, the stragglers, I had not found a rhythm. On top of that I found the best strategy was to freestyle until you touched someone and then breast stroke around them and continue to freestyle. By the time I got to the end of the 400m I had caught the tail end of the first group, I was 58th out of the water. MY t1 TIME WAS 59 SECS. and I am very proud of that....
THe bike is a smooth ride for 1 mile and then you hit a 400m hill with a 22 percent grade. I couldn't do it, I had to clip out and hike, by the time I hit the top I was nervous and ended up relaxing for the next seven miles, A HUGE MISTAKE! THe last mile is ALL DOWNHILL! I should have hammered out the seven miles and got my heart rate back on the decent. LESSON LEARNED... as I coasted in to the transition area, I unstrapped and rode with my feet on my shoes for the last 100m, unfortunately when I came to the Transition area, I braked, and tried to use the force to dismount, it threw me off my bike and cost me precious seconds. Disoriented from the dismount I ran past my rack by two racks. RACKED MY BIKE and looked down to see pink shoes that obviously were not my 11 1/2's. By the time I re racked I had lost good time, I then exited WAIT I FORGOT MY STINKING BIB NUMBER!!! I had to return once again..I probalby lost 2 minutes getting my mind together in T2...... Another lesson learned.
The run was great I caught my cadence and in the bike and run passed 38 other people to finish 25 overall. Total time 1 hour 3 minutes 15 seconds. I finished half a second behind 24th. For my first triathlon I had SO MUCH FUN...What a great CULTURE WE ARE ALL A PART OF!!! The after party was free beer, free massages, free food, and live music!!!! I had the Triathlon bug now I got the fever. I can't wait until the next one. Unfortunately I got involved late in the season but next year I'm training for Olympic distance. LOVED IT!!! If you are in the area I highly recommend the race, just great people, a great course and a great cause.!!!!!!!
This was my first Triathlon ever! Sprint distance. The night before at the packet pick up they informed us that the lake had turned, meaning the hot water on bottom had risen to the top and the oxygen had dropped killing many fish. In other words it may change to a DUATHALON! I was disappointed but ready for the challenge. They said they would make a decision by 6 am. We arrived at 8 am to find that it was going to be a TRIATHLON! Thank goodness I had not done three weeks in a pool to run four miles and bike 10...
The event is in a private lake and gated community, a beautiful place. We got to the transition area set up all our stuff and got ready for the day. I should say I nervously went and checked my transition area 10 times hoping I had everything I needed and everything was in place, for other first timers I should say less is better. The outside temp. was 56, the lake was 74 so wet suit capable but why for a sprint? and why when the outside air is cooler than the water? I saw people suiting up in wet suits and thought there is no way that is an advantage. So it's a staggered start, men first, women second, teams last. I had gone with two other friends, my brother in law and best friend. We walk to the edge of the dock together all ready to do our first Tri as a group. We look at each other, the announcer says, the gun will go off in 90 secs. you can either get in now and tread or wait for the gun and dive. We all jump in, and I NEVER SEE MY FRIENDS AGAIN UNTIL THE RACE IS OVER!!!
The swim is unbelievable I mean structured chaos like crazy. I screwed up got nervous and when the gun sounded swam like crazy, unfortunately I swam WAY off course. By the time I caught the second group, the stragglers, I had not found a rhythm. On top of that I found the best strategy was to freestyle until you touched someone and then breast stroke around them and continue to freestyle. By the time I got to the end of the 400m I had caught the tail end of the first group, I was 58th out of the water. MY t1 TIME WAS 59 SECS. and I am very proud of that....
THe bike is a smooth ride for 1 mile and then you hit a 400m hill with a 22 percent grade. I couldn't do it, I had to clip out and hike, by the time I hit the top I was nervous and ended up relaxing for the next seven miles, A HUGE MISTAKE! THe last mile is ALL DOWNHILL! I should have hammered out the seven miles and got my heart rate back on the decent. LESSON LEARNED... as I coasted in to the transition area, I unstrapped and rode with my feet on my shoes for the last 100m, unfortunately when I came to the Transition area, I braked, and tried to use the force to dismount, it threw me off my bike and cost me precious seconds. Disoriented from the dismount I ran past my rack by two racks. RACKED MY BIKE and looked down to see pink shoes that obviously were not my 11 1/2's. By the time I re racked I had lost good time, I then exited WAIT I FORGOT MY STINKING BIB NUMBER!!! I had to return once again..I probalby lost 2 minutes getting my mind together in T2...... Another lesson learned.
The run was great I caught my cadence and in the bike and run passed 38 other people to finish 25 overall. Total time 1 hour 3 minutes 15 seconds. I finished half a second behind 24th. For my first triathlon I had SO MUCH FUN...What a great CULTURE WE ARE ALL A PART OF!!! The after party was free beer, free massages, free food, and live music!!!! I had the Triathlon bug now I got the fever. I can't wait until the next one. Unfortunately I got involved late in the season but next year I'm training for Olympic distance. LOVED IT!!! If you are in the area I highly recommend the race, just great people, a great course and a great cause.!!!!!!!
I have a bike for sale. Trek Equinox 9 2006
http://www.trifuel.com/forum/20756/trek-e9-for-sale-buying-2010-b16