First Sprint-Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
3337
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1324 days
RV posted 39 weeks ago.
Congrats!
Ya that swim can throw you, but you got through it and will be ready for it next time, now that you know a bit of what to expect.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
611
Member
950 days
gfd posted 39 weeks ago.
Congratulations! Sounds like you learned a lot and had a good time. Not much fun drinking a hot sports drink. There are insulated bottles available that will keep your drink relatively cool.
622
Member
477 days
Iron Dan posted 39 weeks ago.
Congratulations!
Glad to hear you had a good time. Take your first race as a learning experience for your next race, which it sounds like you have done. Good luck with your future races.
301
Member
367 days
cjhoffmn posted 39 weeks ago.
Awesome job. Your first experience is very similar to mine - I had a similar freak out, at about the same spot in the race. Looks like you pulled it together well and had a great time, that's awesome.
To tri or not to tri - that's not a question at all!
1636
Member
1002 days
tri-ac posted 39 weeks ago.
I haven't yet seen anyone recommend swimming drills like polo swimming (head up for long periods), but I suspect that's a pretty good training for those swim starts (either for the aerobic/strength effort or for the ability to swim that way for a while to get through the washing machine)
congrats on that first race!!
Hey guys,
Finished my first tri yesterday and had a great time. Heres a wrap up.
Swim-600m-This was the part I was super nervous about. We started with everyone in the water and when the gun fired we took off in a wild mass of legs and arms, I thought that was actually fun at first. My goal was to swim the whole leg freestyle and take my time, but about 100m into the race I freaked out a bit. I think all people and choppy water got to me. I never freak out and this was the most scared I have ever been. I couldn't breath. So I just tried to relax and invented a new form of the side stroke and did that for the first half and spent the second half doing the side stroke and freestyle.
Last weekend I was supposed to do an open water swim to practice, but the event was canceled. I will be more prepared next time. Swim: 18:38.
T1-No problems, had to sit to pull socks on because I was a little wobbly.
Bike-20k-I have never road biked with other people and I think that pushed me to a fast time. Had no problems and really enjoyed the ride. Finished the bike 10 minutes faster than I had ever biked a 20k. Bike: 48:05 (time includes both transition times).
T2-Quick, no problems. The only problem was that it was a really hot, sunny day and my sports drink was so hot when I took a drink, need to cover with a towel or something next time.
Run-5k-Not too bad. Mix of road and trail. Legs felt like cement, I think that was from the fast bike leg. Had to walk a bit on the hills. Run: 32:08.
I learned a lot and will never forget it. Need to train more and will be more mentally prepared next time. Thanks for all your advice on this forum. Total time: 1:38:50.
For pictures and a more descriptive report check out my blog; www.holohan.blogspot.com
Chris Holohan
holohan.blogspot.com