Danskin Women's Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Much anxiety over swim as race approached. Took beginner swim lessons prior January and couldn't make it to the other end of pool with kickboard. Wetsuit was a very reassuring psychological crutch.
Very well organized swim start. Elites went off with fanfare. Survivor wave received inspirational applause and much-deserved recognition. Swim wave groups gathered in on-beach holding area. When instructed, each group entered waist-deep water corralled by the swim noodles of their attending "swim angels." Each group received in-water pep talk from Sally Edwards. Every four-minutes waves were released with loud speaker countdown. I was never confused as to protocol.
Couldn't manage three-stroke-breath rhythm. Settled for breathing every two strokes on right side only. Managed to get heart-rate down and decided to just stick with two-stroke breathing. Water was somewhat choppy. Remained calm and tried to focus on form and breathing. Goal was to be as straight and steady as possible. Veered a little wide at times due to right-side only breathing, but worked out fine because there were a lot of breastrokers to navigate around--the extra yards were worth it.


Continue to practice stroke form and try to hit swim stride earlier. Work on breathing to left side for better sighting and straighter swimming. Actually rather pleased with result given that I was simply hoping to make it out of the water under my own power.

T1 was 1/2-mile from swim exit. I felt this was excessive. Race director requested that racers bring shoes down to swim for run back to T1 over rough pavement. Honestly, trying to find your flip flops among 1,000 pairs should constitute its own event.
800 yd dash added quite a bit to transition time.

Simply learn the ropes to shave off some time. Practice swimming without wetsuit to ditch the struggle to remove. Practice cycling without socks to skip a step. Increase coordination on bike to make better use of cycling time for fueling--standing in T1 chomping on Sport Beans for 2 minutes is not a good idea.

Was passed by three riders; at least two had tri-bars and seemed to know what they were doing. Felt pretty good about effort level. Did not hydrate and fuel enough--paid for it later.

Spend as much time drinking as pedaling. Continue training for endurance.

I am sure I will shave some time here with some experience. Sun had broken through cloud cover, and things were heating up. Should have taken a few minutes for more hydration. Left T2 with an esophagus full of GU sludge--that mistake will simply never be repeated.

Better organization in transition area. By this time, my wetsuit was crumpled in a ball under my bike, gear was migrating off my towel, and things were getting a bit sloppy. Practice running without socks and using yankz laces.
Drink. Drink. Drink.

Left T2 without running hat. Did not wear sunscreen. Did not drink/fuel enough. I started a bit too strong. I wilted. Spent the cycling portion yelling, "On your left," only to be passed by those same cyclists in the run. NEVER AGAIN.



I WILL TRAIN FOR THE RUN, I WILL TRAIN FOR THE RUN, I WILL TRAIN FOR THE RUN...

Wandered incoherently around race grounds searching for familiar faces. Post-tri life lacks meaning... finishing first race leads to existential crisis! Must race again!


Inexperience, base fitness, lack of confidence, poor understanding of hydration timing


I would highly recommend this as a first race. It proved a useful drill for learning the tri-race-ropes. My training this year will now have more focus, having had a peek at the end-game.