The Blenheim Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

This was totally awful! I really really struggled. I had trouble breathing as soon as I got into the water, the cold water really seemed to affect me and I just couldn't manage to breathe properly when doing front crawl so I didn't end up doing it. Did breaststroke and a weird side stroke type thing. My time was rubbish and it really tired me out. There was me and another girl swimming near each other most of the way around and we had rescue guys on canoes with us and chatting to us most of the way round - being able to flirt with one of them while I was swimming shows I probably wasn't pushing myself enough doesn't it??

Practice open water swimming more beforehand, try to relax, not panic with breathing and push myself harder.

Considering it was almost 1/2km from the swim end to transition and I had to walk a fair bit of it because I was tired and it was quite steep I don't think that's too bad a time for my first go. Putting my gloves on took quite a while but I can't go without them or my hands really hurt.

Nothing tangible I could change really, just be less tired from the swim.

The bike is one of my weaker disciplines but it felt like my stongest leg. the first lap was really hard but once I got into it and found my rhythm it was a lot better, especially as it being laps meant I knew what to expect. I managed to push quite big gears fairly comfortably.

I don't have bike shoes yet so there's not really much to T1 for me just rack the bike, take my gloves and helmet then go.

Practice jumping off bike while it's still moving and give that a go - not that it'd really make that much difference.

Was a bit awful, I walked an awful lot of it, probably most of the first lap to be honest. But considering how much I did walk the running I did must have been quite fast. A very nice lady gave me a jelly baby because she said I looked like I needed it, I don't know if it was a placebo but it really seemed to help so I'll be trying that out on long training runs and rides.

Not walk so much, if at all.

Ummm got too distracted hugging friends and family because I actually finished to warm down or stretch, oops.


Lack of training


I didn't do very well, my swimming and running was rubbish but I feel very proud of myself for finishing because there were a few times that I didn't feel like I would. I am now a triathlete! And at least I have a base to go from now to see how much I can improve - although I think I'll be even more nervous about the swim at London now.