First Triathlon is in the Books! 8/9/09

UNC Wellness Center Sprint Triathlon:

We spent the night in Chapel Hill. Got up at 4 a.m. (my usual time anyway). We each had a Larabar and a banana with natural peanut butter and a protein powder drink later on. Got to the race site by 5:30 a.m. to rack our bikes and set up our transition areas. Had plenty of time to get acclimated and see what everyone else was doing. Picked up our timing chips and got body marked with our numbers. Warm up for the swim was from 6:00 to 6:30 am but since my swim was not til 8:14:50 I decided to just warm up with stretches.

Lined up at the pool when it was time and tried to convince myself that it was just another swim at the YMCA. The swim went fast and furious with people in front of me, behind me, beside me.... was chaotic! Did the 250 yard swim in 5:50, which was fairly consistent with what I've been doing at the Y. Was a pinch slow because I got stuck behind a girl breast stroking. I can't complain about that because I also did a lap that was breast stroke; and gulped water once.

Run from the pool to the transition area to get on helmet, shoes, running belt, and grab bike. I do not have cycle shoes so had to put on running shoes with regular laces which I fumbled with. Transition 1 was 2:26. Jumped on bike and took off. Hills and inclines slowed me down way more than I expected. This is where I lost time and am most disappointed. Finished 9 miles in 42:39. Jumped off bike and into transition 2. Rack bike, drop helmet and run. Transition 2 was 1:11.

My legs did not feel too noodley from the bike and I picked up a pace. (Probably because I did not bike hard enough!) Next thing I know BF passed me! How the heck did he catch me when I had a 5 min head start? Was very hot by now and very hilly. MANY people were walking up the hills. But one of my rules was NO WALKING, so I soldiered on up the hills at a slow jog. Finished the 5K in 27:15 which is consistent with training.

Overall took 1:19:19; finished 121 of 193 women.

BF lost timing chip; but someone found it and turned it in. So we only know his swim time and total time, but nothing else. He finished in 1:11:58 and placed 151 of 215 men.

I'm ok with the swim and the run because I knew what to expect for those and my times were consistent with practice. I wish I had spent more time on bike training, but... it is what it is and it will be better next time.

Next race is in open water (lake) on September 12.

Then October 4 will be almost the same as this one in a pool. I'm anxious to do the one in October as kind of a redo of this one to see how much I can improve.

Was fun. Was a learning experience. It can only get better from here because... Stopping is NOT an option!