I completed my first tri of 2006 (and my third race ever (first two were last year and first race in 2005 was this same race)).
The Great Lakes Triathlon is a sprint --1/2 mi swim, 18 mile bike, and a 4.5 mile run. The race is held at a YMCA Summer Camp, Camp Manitou-Lin (a great venue).
The swim is in a great inland lake --the water is kind of Carribean green/blue and generally clear. The water temp was 82 degrees, which was fine by me because I don't own or use a wetsuit.
Last year, when I did this race as my first tri, I did the swim in 18:59 --I was pleased with that because I thought I might drown since I had just started swimming in Feb. 2005.
This year, I finished in 14:51 --and the kicker was that I thought the swim went awful! I could not get into the "groove" with my breathing or my stroke. But, it went well.
Out of the water and T1 went well --1:55 --used a tyr tri suit and that cut down on some time over tri shorts and a tri top. Putting on socks for the bike and run added the most time.
Off on the bike and felt good. Nice course --out and back on country roads. Great course marking, lots of police and volunteers at intersections and not much traffic.
Did the 18 mi. bike in 58:21 --which was the same time as in 2005. I was a little disappointed at that because I had been working on hills and riding harder and longer. But I was still ok with the time.
T2 --no problems, nice and smooth 46 seconds and out on the run.
My run. The run course is good --1/2 a dozen hills, no real killers. Part of the course is in shade and the rest is in sun. At the start of the swim portion of the tri the sky was overcast. For the bike it turned to "partly" and stayed that way through most of the run.
My run went great for me. Time was not speedy but I was happy --ran the whole course, kept a good pace. Finished in 48:38 --I know, not great, but I was pleased with the performance.
Overall, I beat my time for this same race last year by 6 minutes and finished this year at 2:04. I wanted to finish under 2:00, but I'll have to leave that for as a goal for my next race.
SO, great course, well run, great party after, and I was happy with my performance.
Anyone out there considering a tri --to borrow a famous line, JUST DO IT! It is a great feeling to set your mind to a goal and then accomplish it. Plus, the health benefits are awesome!:)
Tribro and all posters, thanks for your tips, comments and all the posts. They help so much.
I completed my first tri of 2006 (and my third race ever (first two were last year and first race in 2005 was this same race)).
The Great Lakes Triathlon is a sprint --1/2 mi swim, 18 mile bike, and a 4.5 mile run. The race is held at a YMCA Summer Camp, Camp Manitou-Lin (a great venue).
The swim is in a great inland lake --the water is kind of Carribean green/blue and generally clear. The water temp was 82 degrees, which was fine by me because I don't own or use a wetsuit.
Last year, when I did this race as my first tri, I did the swim in 18:59 --I was pleased with that because I thought I might drown since I had just started swimming in Feb. 2005.
This year, I finished in 14:51 --and the kicker was that I thought the swim went awful! I could not get into the "groove" with my breathing or my stroke. But, it went well.
Out of the water and T1 went well --1:55 --used a tyr tri suit and that cut down on some time over tri shorts and a tri top. Putting on socks for the bike and run added the most time.
Off on the bike and felt good. Nice course --out and back on country roads. Great course marking, lots of police and volunteers at intersections and not much traffic.
Did the 18 mi. bike in 58:21 --which was the same time as in 2005. I was a little disappointed at that because I had been working on hills and riding harder and longer. But I was still ok with the time.
T2 --no problems, nice and smooth 46 seconds and out on the run.
My run. The run course is good --1/2 a dozen hills, no real killers. Part of the course is in shade and the rest is in sun. At the start of the swim portion of the tri the sky was overcast. For the bike it turned to "partly" and stayed that way through most of the run.
My run went great for me. Time was not speedy but I was happy --ran the whole course, kept a good pace. Finished in 48:38 --I know, not great, but I was pleased with the performance.
Overall, I beat my time for this same race last year by 6 minutes and finished this year at 2:04. I wanted to finish under 2:00, but I'll have to leave that for as a goal for my next race.
SO, great course, well run, great party after, and I was happy with my performance.
Anyone out there considering a tri --to borrow a famous line, JUST DO IT! It is a great feeling to set your mind to a goal and then accomplish it. Plus, the health benefits are awesome!:)
Tribro and all posters, thanks for your tips, comments and all the posts. They help so much.
Next yr. --bring on an Olympic!