Running The Race

I did it. I have completed a sprint triathlon!

Got up around my normal time of 4:30. Ate some oatmeal and piddled around the house going over my check list for the race. It is enough getting stuff together for a road race, but when you have to add stuff for the bike and swim, I knew I would forget something.

Gayle got up and went with me. I know it was a sacrifice especially with today being a holiday but it was great to have her along.

We left the house about a 5:45. We pulled into the parking lot at the race site shortly after 6. I started checking my bike tires and I hear someone call my name. It was Michele and Lana. They had just pulled up.

Finished getting my gear together and walked my bike to the transition area. I fittled with setting up my stuff and how to lay it out. Whet and got the timing chip and body marked. Then just hung around. Talked to Michele and Lana and we spotted Laurie, our blogger’s group. It was good to see everyone.

Finally it was time to start. The race was a 200m pool swim, 8.5 bike, and 2 mile run, a good beginner triathlon.

They started us by our race number which was assigned based on anticipated swim time. After about 30 minutes, it was my time to swim. I did OK, especially considering I couldn’t have made it 25 meters in March.

The pool was a 50 meter pool about 4 feet deep. This rather large lady ended up in front of me on the last lap. I could not believe it. She was walking the whole length of the pool moving her arms like she was swimming. She was making good time too. The funny part was from underwater, it looked like a Discovery Channel feature on how a hippopotamus moves under water! It was hard to keep from laughing!

I had estimated my swim time as 6:30 and I made it in 6:10.

Made it out of the pool and down the hill to the transition area. My legs were more unsteady than I thought they would be. I had to sit down on the ground to put on my shoes because I was afraid I was going to loose my balance. Walked the bike out the transition area and headed off.

The bike course was not too bad. There were some small hills and some long grades but not too steep. There was one big hill between mile 5 and 6.

I was chugging along and Laurie blew past me about mile 3.

Made it back to the transition area and since I didn’t have to change shoes, I was out of the rather quick. I had estimated the ride to take about 40 minutes. My time was 37:57 and that includes the swim transition.

My legs felt like jelly but I soon got into my pace. Right after I got on the road there were Lana and Michele cheering me on.

I caught up with Laurie at the turn around point, grabbed some water and took off. Saw Michele and Lana as I headed toward the finish. My run time was 16:42 which included the bike transition.

My finish time was 1:01:37, a PR. But then again, any time today would have been a PR

Hung around a little while and talked with folks and then headed out. We stopped at Parnia Bread and picked up bagels for the girls.

It was a great morning and a great race. I feel like I always learn something at every race. With three sports, I learned three time as much this morning.

I learned I still have a long way to go on the swimming. It is hard to get into your rhythm when you are used to swimming in a lane by yourself.

I learned that I need to spend more time on my bike if I’m going to get serious about doing a tri.

And, I learned that running after swimming and biking takes a different approach than just running as a single event.

I have now completed a triathlon…got the t-shirt and metal to prove it!

This entry was posted on Monday, May 28th, 2007 at 5:36 pm and is filed under Race Reports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.