First tri of the year

[Bron]

Yay, I finished!
Yay, I didn't come last!

I did this tri last year and blew up really badly (water too cold, air too hot, cramped and had to walk the run), so my aim was to keep going steadily, increasing the effort through the tri and maybe arrive at the finishing line feeling as though I could have gone a little faster, rather than having to crawl the last few metres. Training has been ok, but not particularly intensive and I've not got quite as much cycling in as I would have liked.

The start gun was fired by Faris al Sultan. This was where he did his first triathlon which is pretty cool.

The swim wasn't too bad but somehow I can't get the idea into my head that the swim is part of the race, and not just the annoying thing that has to be done before the fun bit starts. Not fast, but not stupidly slow either.

Cycle ride - they had completely closed the road for us which was nice. Couldn't get the speed up, I think this is the lack of speed training on the bike - wasn't puffing and panting, my legs just wouldn't go any faster (any tips, anyone?). I got passed by quite a few people.

The run was good. I had plenty of energy and didn't get the "jelly-legs" feeling (so maybe I could have pushed the bike harder). I just happily jogged along for the first 5k and then started to speed up a bit and pass people - what a nice feeling. A nice sprint into the finish picked me up one more place and the realisation that I really should have been able to run faster for the whole thing.

Being a German triathlon, there was beer (alcohol-free) at the finish.

Time 3:15 for 1500m swim, 48km cycle and 10km run. I'd like to get under 3 hours at the Oly I'm doing next week.

[HillSlugger]

Great race for your first of the season. Congrats!

[alpinerabbit]

Hey there, I'd take that any day. Can't help on the bike issue.

I like Faris. Not that he's overly cute...

[Tri Girl]

Wonderful job!!! Congrats on your first race of the season. Sounds like it's off to a great start...

[roadie gal]

That's a great time. I think you could probably hit that 3 hr mark for an oly.

[spindizzy]

Congratulations on your first tri!

I have found that it takes time and lots of riding and perserverence to get speed up consistently on bike. I do duathlons. My coach insists that I stay on the small ring the whole time I ride during a race. One time, I didn't listen to him and paid the price of totally dead legs....my 2nd run was brutal, awful, dismal. My "following directions" skill has improved tremedously.....