Ryka Iron Girl Columbia Triathlon

[HillSlugger]

1000m lake swim, 17.5 mile bike, 3.4 mile run.

This was my second triathlon and my A race for the season. My goals were:

Swim: under 30 minutes
Bike: under 1:10:00 / 15+mph
Run: under 40 minutes / under 12 minutes per mile
Total time under 2:30:00

Went to bed around 10pm; slept somewhat fitfully until 4am. Breakfast of cereal, banana, and yogurt smoothie. Left the house just before 5 and got to the park about 20 minutes later. I had to rack the bike there yesterday so that was one less thing to deal with this morning. After body marking I was checked into the transition area and was relieved to find my bike safely waiting for me where I had left it. Being racked at the end, on the aisle, was great because I was able to set up my area just to the outside where I wasn't competing for space with anyone.

Swim: I was in wave 2, starting off at 7am. The lake was colder than I remembered it from the "dress rehearsal" two weeks ago and the bottom a bit squishier. We waited a few minutes in the water before being let loose. It was quite a while before people got spread out and there was enough room to do more than breast stroke and side stroke. Since I've had basically no practice at sighting I would swim 20 or so strokes of free style and then come up and figure out where I was; mixed in a lot of side stroke and a little bit of breast stroke. Lots of bumping and getting swum into the whole way; I even got kicked in the arm and now have a toenail shaped cut there. On my way out of the water I had a little problem with walking straight, but no light headedness; across the mat at about 28 minutes. Yeah!

T1: Even with my primo end spot I ended up "lost in transition" looking for my area down the wrong aisle. Finally got to the right place and got down to business. Total time around 5 minutes.

Bike: I'd done this route 6 times before so I knew exactly what it was going to throw at me. The only thing I didn't know was what the biking would feel like after swimming. Of course, my legs were tired so I spun in a lower gear than usually for a while before I was able to drop the hammer and start letting it fly. Still, I didn't want to push it too hard, hoping to leave my legs in better shape for the run. I was surprised to hit the turnaround a minute faster than my last training ride; I knew I was probably going too hard and started doing more coasting on the descents. By the last few miles my thighs were screaming and I couldn't wait to get off the bike! Across the mat in about 1:08:00 / about 15.4mph. Yes!

T2: Knew exactly where my area was this time Still, took me over 3 minutes to get into the run.

Run: I started this on autopilot. I'm glad my body seemed to know what needed to be done because my mind hadn't yet caught up. First water station, the cups of water are full of ice cubes. What the heck are you supposed to do with that?!? Got through the first mile in just under 10 minutes and then started into the hilliest section. I gave in and started some walking. Hit mile two in about 21 minutes. Walked most of the last hill and then tried to bring it home all running. My thighs started cramping just above the knee with about 1/2 a mile to go (same thing happened at my first tri last month) and I did one last walk to unknot them. Finally, up the last rise, around the last turn, into the home stretch. So cool to hear my name announced! Across the mat in about 38 minutes! Whew!

Total time about 2:22:00! I am an Iron Girl!

Which way to the massage tables?

It was awesome and I still can't fully believe that I did it.