Hello, these are some notes about last Saturday's UT Triathlon in Eschende, the Netherlands
( http://www.uttriathlon.nl/ )
This was also my first Tri (1/8IM)

Usualy in May the weather is quite fine but we had a weather that was closer to Fall than Spring with rain, wind as well as some hail.

The organisation was very Dutch, that is to say well organised by quite relaxed people, this with the fact that it took place on the University's campus really makes one feel safe.
(This is important when one begins)

There were a wide range of hardware from some of the shinest bikes to regulars MTB, it was obvious that people were there to enjoy the event. As I wrote above, this was my first Tri ever thus my goals were to finish and, if possible, not to be the last one.

The swimming pool is an open one and it was quite cold outside.
As I swim like a frog I was the last one of my series out of the water in 11:48, I felt ok and relaxed in the water but forgot to count the laps so someone had to tell me "nog twee keer" (again 2 more laps), this is stupid.
As I am short sighted and had to do without my glasses I had to search a little bit for my bike and it took some time to wear my clothes and run with cycling shoes in the watery grass =>T1
was abysymal in 11:57

Usually it takes me some 44minutes to cover 20km on the bike, this time it took me 51:29 because I didn't wanted to take risks riding under the rain and I am not used to sharp turns.
One of the nice things, is that along the road people were standing and oblivious to the weather were cheering the participants. This is really a booster
T2 was OK at 03:02 and the run took me 24:40

Total time was 1:42:56

Now to the mistakes I made and the one I avoided in the hope this will be helpful to other beginners

Stupid things:
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Initialy I wanted to do the 1/4IM but my swim time when I registered was so bad that someone suggested I try the 1/8 IM instead. For a long time I knew that I should learn to swim but I did not wanted to admit it. Like many people I candidly thought that by putting enough laps in it my swim would magically improve As wrong as one can be.

I know I am short sighted and I am used to the Dutch weather, but I didn't dare to place something highly visible close to my bike in order to spot it. I also had to be cautious on the bike because I don't see a lot without glasses. Someone in the train shared the trick he used, as he is also short sighted and his eyes are too sensitive to wear contact lenses for an extended period of time he wears a throwable pair during the race.

Everyone says transitions are the 4th sport and I did not practice them thus T1 was a disaster and I managed T2 by sheer luck

Feeling all right and forgeting to count laps. Did this one both in the swimming pool and on the bike. On the swimming pool someone told me, but on the bike I stoped on gut feeling that it was time to exit to T2 It was pure luck that my feeling proved to be OK.

When T1 is abysymal one can spend some 30 seconds to wear the HRM in order to gather important data on the way the body reacts during the Triathlon, especialy when the speed and cadence sensors are already mounted on the bike. This would have had little impact on the total time and would have been very useful Next time I'll use plasters to fix the strap on the body and swim with it.

Training on the bike should take place whatever the weather because one does not know what the weather will be during the race

Not practicing sharp turns, the roads were the race will take place are not necessearily dry and long with nice wide turns

Avoided mistakes
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Racing with an empty stomach. Eating cereals in the train even if some people look at you like you were nut.

Trying to go beyond ones limits and being DNF Actually I was below

Contrarily to the 1/4IM ( http://impeesa.student.utwente.nl/aloha/utt/NL/uitslagen/KwartIndividueelMannen.pdf and http://impeesa.student.utwente.nl/aloha/utt/NL/uitslagen/KwartIndividueelVrouwen.pdf ) for the 1/8 IM a lot of people were in DNF/DNS or skipped the swim ( http://impeesa.student.utwente.nl/aloha/utt/NL/uitslagen/AchtsteMannen.pdf and http://impeesa.student.utwente.nl/aloha/utt/NL/uitslagen/AchtsteVrouwen.pdf ) and I do not understand why.

As one can see, this was a very nice and well organized Triathlon but beginners make a hell lot of mistakes

Surprisingly enough, I reached my goals and I must admit that I had way more fun than I expected. I am hooked

A+
Lionel