Hiwaay Sprint triathlon

[btchance]

So, I just got back from the tri and most of it went according to plan. I had a nice, easy warmup, and talked to some friends that were there, and even made a new one! The run started out well for the first mile, then my stupid abdominal cramps started and kinda shut me down. I kept pushing it, even when I was walking, and although I struggled, I still had a decent time for me on a xc course. It was 36min for 3miles.

The bike went really well, I was able to push myself throughout, but didn't kill myself. I might have been able to go a little bit harder, but the course was crowded, with a lot of the people not being very experienced riders (weaving, not staying to the right). which made it hard to navigate around them. I was excited though, even though it is kinda shallow of me, that I was not passed by anyone on the bike, and I passed all except for one person that I was using as a rabbit, so it went pretty well. I'm not sure about the time right now, but I think the 6mi bike and the transitions were together around 23min. (my bike and swim together didn't equal my run time, hmmm, I wonder what I need to work on, like always!)

The swim went pretty well. My back cramped up on me, but relaxed out after the first 50m. I wasn't able to get as good of a pull with my left arm as I would of liked with my shoulder, but it didn't start hurting (or at least I didn't notice it) until after it was over. I had to swim around some people at the beginning that were either stopped, breast stroking, or back stroking, but after the first 150m it all went fine. I was able to relax, and still felt like I could have kept swimming for quite a while, which is good for next week! My time for the 400m was somewhere around 11min, I'll have more accurate results later.

Overall I'm pleased with how I did. The run still needs some work, but my bike has improved, as has my swim, so I've just got to keep going!

[Running Mommy]

Geat job!!
Sounds like you had fun out there- despite the bum shoulder and cramps..:o
Where was the race at??

[RoadRaven]

Well done BT!

If you feel good about it in the analysis afterwards, it was a good race

I'm always in awe of people who do tris... I just couldn't do all three disciplines.

[btchance]

RM - it was in Huntsville, AL. I'm lucky as there are 4 tris in 5 weeks within an hour drive of where I live at now. I missed the first and am signed up for one next weekend (:eek: huge OWS), want to do the last, but will probably be on call. As far as my shoulder goes, I have some PT and strenthening exercises with anti-inflammatories to help. Let's help it does.

Road Raven - you're right, I do feel good about this race. I wish I had done better on the run, but really couldn't do anything about it. Of the tris I have done, this is definately the best one for me. Oh, and I bet you could do all 3 parts. I never thought I could run, well, I still can't very well, but I do well enough to do my preferred parts :)

[Lise]

Wahoo! It sounds to me like you did just wonderfully. An xc course, and didn't you say it had a hill in it? 36 min sounds like a good time. Bike and swim, well done. YAY for you! :D Lise

[KnottedYet]

Hooray! How was it doing the tri in the other direction?

Woo-hooo for all the TE triathletes!

[LynneK]

Congratulations! I'd love to do a race where I could get the run out of the way first.

[btchance]

Lise - yeah, I can't be too upset about at 36min 3mi, especially since my best 5K time is 33min. As for that hill, I didn't see a single person run up it OR down it, to give you a bit of an idea for the pitch. My calves were burning and I was out of breathe just walking it!

KnottedYet and LynneK - doing it backwards was awesome. I didn't have to conserve my legs during the bike so I could push the speed there, and then just relax and let the rest of my body do the work on the swim. Don't know about doing it in open water, since there's not really a chance of drowning in the pool!

[Lise]

I'm with those guys, I'd be happy to run before the bike, but I'm afraid I'd just sink to the bottom and take a nap if the swim were last! :rolleyes: That said, maybe I'd be all warmed up, and swim better. Not open water, though...blub, blub, blub...:eek:

[luv'nAustin]

Congratulations! I've never seen a tri done backwards, that would be very interesting. I like the thought of swimming in a pool too, the open water often sends me into a panic.

Great job and good luck with the next one too!

[Tri Girl]

Awesome job!!! I'm so proud of you! Sounds like it was an overall successful event!!! :)
A reverse tri sounds hard, although getting the run out of the way would be nice... I just know I'd drown on the swim tho- it's where I need most of my energy. Good for you for doing so great on the run- despite the killer hill. Wow!
Thanks for the race report! I've been looking forward to hearing about it all weekend! Glad you had fun!

[btchance]

Alrighty, I just got my times in and overall rankings for each part.

The run was 35:54, ranking 410/500. The bike, which included both transitions, was 25:01, ranking 276/500. The swim was actually faster than I thought at 10:50, ranking 269/500. Overally I was 352 with a time of 1:11:43. I was 8/9 in my age group, with the winner being 55:57. Got alot of work to do, but an improvement from the last time.

[Lise]

Good for you! That swim time is impressive.

Too bad they didn't separate out the transition times. It's fun to see how much faster I can get through those, or speculate on what slowed me down.

Isn't it great to watch yourself improve? So when's your next tri?

[colby]

So, I just got back from the tri and most of it went according to plan. I had a nice, easy warmup, and talked to some friends that were there, and even made a new one!

...

Overall I'm pleased with how I did. The run still needs some work, but my bike has improved, as has my swim, so I've just got to keep going!

Great job, bt! Your times were great, especially considering it was a backwards-tri and you had to fight through your cramps and everything at the beginning.

Woohoo! (more :cheers: here, my imaginary champagne!)

[btchance]

Thanks girls, I am happy with how it went. The next tri is this Sunday, the one with the big open water river swim. And of course I'm working in a town with people who are always on the river and talking about it, both with how deep it is, the current, what's in it (ie creatures that I HATE), and weird skin reactions after swimming in it. Not exactly helping me not freak out! It does help that the bike is twice the length, so if I can just get through the swim I get to have some fun!