Toronto Island Triathlon - Sprint Distance - TriathlonSprint

I started the swim waaaay too fast, trying to keep pace with those beside me. I can actually remember thinking I didn’t want them to pass me. What a bad idea. Not even 2 minutes into the swim, I was gasping for air like crazy. It hit me so suddenly too that I didn’t even realize what I had done, and I tried to keep swimming, but I had to breathe so frequently that I couldn’t even take a stroke. So I swam a bit with my head out, and then would try to swim normal again – no dice. I was trying not to panic or anything, and did a pretty good job. I knew I just needed to slow down, regain my breath, and swim at an easy pace. Unfortunately I couldn’t catch my breath even going slower. When I started to reach the first turn buoy, I was still struggling with frontstroke. So I decided to give backstroke a try. That way I could breathe constantly and still swim. I did this for basically the last half of the swim which thankfully got me to the end.

Pace myself from the beginning, and not try to keep up with the elite swimmers!

I recovered a bit and put on my running shoes (no bike shoes) and set out on the bike.

Transition faster.

I was excited to get on the bike, and I was able to put my swim behind me. I mentally focused and relaxed and was passing quite a few people. I felt really good and wanted to go hard and strong, maintaining >30km/hr, which I did. My goal was to finish in less than 1hr which I did.

Need to upgrade to bike shoes and clipless pedals.

Pretty much took my helmet off, had 2 bites of a banana, and ran off. Running shoes were already on.

Same thing, only faster!

I wanted to loosen up and get focused, keeping proper running form and mental focus. Well about 1.5k into it, there was a turnaround that was a bit unclear and I ended up running past it. I realized I had strayed when there was no girl in front of me and I had remembered one just passing me. So I ran back and got back on course. I probably only lost 20 seconds there, but it messed my mental focus up a bit. Plus I ran faster on my way back to the track. Then I got going, did a full loop, and then was like MAN I still have another to do? The loop was 3.75km and so we did 2. By this time, it was 11am and the sun was beating down. I had a hat and sunglasses on, but it was still pretty brutal. In the 2nd loop, I just kept thinking I wanted it all to be over, and I could feel my body dragging and my form falling apart. I just constantly regrouped and reminded myself to be strong and maintain form and focus. Well, I eventually made it. I didn’t have to sprint to the end (there was no one near me) although I did run a bit faster. I finished the run in 47 minutes.

Pace myself better on the swim and bike so my energy is not so low by the time I get to the run. Also, I realized I didn't train enough in the running aspect...

I felt pretty exhausted when I was done, but refueled on a PowerBar and stretched. I could feel my quads and glutes burning. I got a massage a few days later which helped immensely.


Total time – 2 hours and 6 minutes. I was hoping to do it in 2 hours, but I still made it close. I know the swim really messed me up cuz it drained me of a lot of energy I could have retained for the bike and run.


For my first triathlon ever, I was really happy. I trained for 3 months, but one month of that I was either sick or injured (fell off my bike and scraped my leg and knee badly). I placed 13/30 in my age group which I feel is pretty good!!