First Sprint Tri - Race Report

**newbieinPA** · 09-01-2009, 03:13 PM

Hi all! I posted a few times and figured I'd include my RR too!

First tri, first ows, first everything! I trained for 7 weeks but missed the 2 weeks before race week due to a sprained ankle, so I was pretty nervous about being able to finish with my ankle.

It was a 1/3mile swim, 13 mile bike, and 3.5 mile run. I think the bike was more like 12.7 and the run was 3.4, but anyway - here's my story.

We went in waves of under 39 (me) and over 39. There were over 100 people in my wave and we waited in the water for someone to yell go. I tried to get to the right but there too many people - I just hung back instead. I was that person all the way in the back and probably 50+ yrds back when they yelled go. In retrospect, I should have been more aggressive - I spent the first two legs of my inverted triangle swim just trying to get around slower people. The third leg the current was pretty rough so I think I spent most of the time on that leg. Almost 21 minutes later, I exited the water about 2/3 of the way back. Not too bad for my first ows.

I felt pretty good as I got on my bike only it was raining and I've never biked either on wet roads or in the rain. I got over it pretty quickly and managed to average 17.3mph! It was a flat course but I was happy since I usually average 12-13mph on my rides. The only bad thing was that my feet fell asleep about 20 minutes in.

I never thought about getting off my bike and got confused as I neared the dismount part. There were volunteers with flags yelling and I ended up stopping several yards too soon. Then I was so tired, I couldn't unclip my right foot! The run started off badly as my feet were asleep and I couldn't tell if I was even rolling off my feet or if I was just stomping on them.

I just told myself to keep going no matter what. I slowed way down to catch my breath and eventually my feet woke up. I'm not a really fast runner but I feel most comfortable running (as opposed to biking or swimming), so I knew I could finish. I ended up running 10 minute miles which I'm fine with.

My overall time - 1:42! I finished 250/314 overall (including men and relay teams) and 7/14 in my age group. Ironically I'd have been bottom of the pack in any other age group, but that's okay. I figure, I'm small and pretty weak - only actively trained about 4.5 weeks for it so I'm pretty sure with some extra training time, I could do even better! I'm looking forward to my next race (which might be 9/19 depending on my silly ankle or next summer)!

Here are some pictures from my race:

**LaFemmeFlora** · 09-01-2009, 03:24 PM

Congratulations! You really look like you were having a great time...in spite of all the little things. And you will never foget the lessons you learned, so from this point forward you should only improve.

**tribogota** · 09-01-2009, 03:26 PM

If you can smile in the photo, well then you're doing GREAT! and your run looks comfortable and easy! Congrats.

**Wahine** · 09-01-2009, 04:20 PM

Good work!! Sounds like a good first race. Congratulations.

**Tri Girl** · 09-01-2009, 06:42 PM

Congrats on your first race, triathlete!!!!

You look great and it sounds like it was a great first experience. Congrats!!

**colby** · 09-01-2009, 10:12 PM

More racing smiles, woohoo!!

Congrats!

**spindizzy** · 09-02-2009, 04:47 AM

Congratulations! Your photos show a very strong athlete. I especially like the running one where both feet are in the air. thanks for the great RR.

**katluvr** · 09-02-2009, 05:03 AM

Great job and report!
I have butterflies already--mine is Sat.
WOW, swimming past slower folks...I can only dream there is someone slower than me!
You look great in your pics! Congrats...great finish time!

**Shiraz** · 09-02-2009, 03:27 PM

Wow! Sounds like you had a great time and you had A GREAT TIME! Welcome to the newbie club!!

**Iris616** · 09-02-2009, 05:04 PM

Congrats!! It looks and sounds like you had a great time. Enjoy the post race bliss!

**salsabike** · 09-02-2009, 07:36 PM

Sounds like it went great, even with the foot weirdness problem. You should be very pleased and proud! Congratulations. Great pictures, by the way.

**Alex** · 09-05-2009, 04:59 PM

Congratulations! I love how happy you look at the end!

Alex

**channlluv** · 09-05-2009, 05:33 PM

Wooohoooo! Congratulations! You look so happy in those photos. Well done!

How was your bike propped up in the transition area? Maybe it's the angle of the photo, but I don't see what it was standing on.

Roxy

**HillSlugger** · 09-06-2009, 06:27 AM

You pushed past the problems and finished strong. Congrats!

**tctrek** · 09-06-2009, 12:13 PM

Fantastic! You should be so proud to push through all the things that can impact your first tri. Very impressive first tri stats!!

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