Doing a super sprint tomorrow

[MCAP]

I'm so excited! I'm doing a fun fundraiser super sprint tri tomorrow. It isn't timed, you can choose your distances, and it is really aimed at just getting women out to get a taste of triathlon.

It is a 100m lake swim, 2, 4, or 6 mile bike, and a 1/2, 1, or 1 1/2 mile run. Definitely a super sprint.

I've never swam in open water before. I figure this will be a good time to try it out since it is not competitive. I can swim 1200 meters in the pool without stopping with no trouble so i'm not worried about it. I generally do 20-25 miles on my bike so i'm not worried about the bike at all. The hardest part for me will be the run, but anyone can suffer for 15 minutes or so and jog a mile and a half so i'm just going to do it.

I generally get really bad shin splints when I run. I have been running once a week just a little bit to test my legs out. The first day I ran 1/2 mile (light shin pain for 2 days), then the next week I ran .6 (no pain), then .75 (no pain), then 1mile (tightness but no pain). I think all the biking and swimming is helping my legs to gain appropriate strength- I hope!

This is the start of a long term goal plan for me. My goal is a half ironman. I have a long way to go, but I'm going to get there!

Here's my plan:

Super sprint tomorrow.
2011- 2 sprint tris
2012- 2 olympic tris
2013- HIM

I can do it!

[Brina]

congratulations, have a wonderful time.

[kermit]

Two things for the run. First make sure you have great running shoes, big help. Second, watch some you tube videos on running form. For tri's the running style is kinda different after the bike. I say this because as a once in a while tri girl, I really struggle at the run. What a difference proper form makes.
I really wish we had something like that race here. We are really big down here for triathlon and you just gotta jump in with everybody. Have a blast and let us know how it goes.

[MCAP]

I have good shoes- I got a gait analysis done at the specialty running store. That really makes a difference for me. Next spring I think i'll do another gait analysis to see if anything has changed to need different shoes.

I do find that form is really important. If I focus on keeping my lower leg relaxed and striding from the hip I have fewer problems. I'll look up the videos- that's a great idea.

This women's super sprint is a fund raiser for the local university's women's swimming and diving program. They have 350 women signed up for it. I think it is a wonderful introduction to tri for people who are curious.

I did one put on by the same university a couple of years ago. It was called the Try-athlon. I made it through that one. This time I'm in much better shape!

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm really excited.

[Bike Chick]

What a great idea! I wish there was one like that in my area. The longer distances are pretty intimidating for people wanting to see what it's like--especially the open water swim.

You go have fun and be sure to give us a race report!

[colby]

Awesome! Way to set yourself some goals, too - you should know each step of the way if you want to go to the next step, and don't be afraid to mix up the sprint and olympic distance races in your second year. Sometimes the sprint distance puts the olympic distance into perspective and vice versa.

Good luck tomorrow!

[kacie tri-ing]

How did it go??!!!

[MCAP]

I had so much fun!!

There were about 400 women there. The swim felt good. I wanted to get out front so I wouldn't get kicked and such. I got excited and swam a lot harder than I meant to. I had an easy time sighting the buoy. I made myself switch to breast stroke for a bit to settle down. I felt great!

T1 was good. I was a bit winded from the swim. The bike was great. There was one longish uphill but it was okay. It was three laps around the course.

The run was not too bad. I started getting a cramp in my calf so I walked a bit, but then was able to keep running.

It wasn't timed officially, but from start to finish it took me 41 minutes.

It was a really cool event. There were a lot of moms and young daughters doing it together. There were women of all levels shapes and sizes.

I'm definitely looking forward to the sprint distances next year.

Thanks for asking!

[colby]

Congrats, MCAP. Glad you had fun. 400 people is a great turnout, too.

[kermit]

CCCCCooooooooooolllllllllllllllll!

[spindizzy]

Glad you had fun and a good race. It will make you hungry for the next one. Nice job!