My First Triathlon: A Recap
Originally published July 2022
Last weekend I did my first triathlon, the Wauconda Sprint Tri. I went into this race thinking it would just be something fun to do with my family but it was so much more than that. I had an absolutely amazing time and can’t wait for the next one!
I’m going to break down how the race went and some things that I learned that I can take to my next triathlon.
Training for this event was pretty sporadic and I didn’t have a specific plan that I followed. Coming from a background of marathon running I knew that I had the stamina to complete the entire race and for my first one the only thing I really cared about was finishing. In the months that led up to the race I got on the bike 2-3 times a week and swam at least once a week. These training sessions were not specific just time on the bike and time in the water. That approach worked out well for getting me across the finish line and now as I look ahead I know how to make those workouts more intentional for a quicker race time. That being said for my first tri it went so well!
Transition Area
Going into the race I think I was more nervous about how to approach the transition than anything else. I asked anyone I knew questions about transition, I tried to find information online, but all I got was you’ll be fine and it’s where you keep your gear. So for the sake of anyone like me nervous about their first race I have some specifics for you. Mind you this was only my first so I don’t know if they are all like this.
You will have a designated space for just you and your gear. The transition area is where you will go before the race to set up and you come back there after the swim and the bike. You can leave lots of stuff here! This I had absolutely no clue about but you have the space (the security) and time to leave items. Worried about where to leave your car key? Transition area. Only doing the sprint I was ok with the gear I brought but as you do further distances it is likely more important to make sure you have everything you need.
Gear to bring:
Backpack to hold everything
Towel (dry your feet, I didn’t think of this and no one told me)
Nutrition
Bike & Running Shoes
Extra Water ( I saw some people using this to clean off sand which can really hurt if you are doing longer bikes and runs)
Extra clothes
Sunglasses
Socks
Bike! Helmet! Water!
Have all of your gear neatly laid out under your bike so that you can easily grab what you need for the next section of the race. There is also no need to rush through transition. For the sprint distance every second matters more but still it is more important to make sure you transition your gear correctly than to rush. I also thought it would be a zoo of people and difficult to navigate but thanks to how the waves are set up there are very few people in the transition area as the same time as you. It also wouldn’t hurt to have a plan for how you are going to approach your time in transition, it just makes it a smoother race. I definitely am going to feel better about the transition in the next race.
Swim (0.5 miles)
The swim is pretty typically the part of the race that most people are the most nervous for but it does not have to be. Up until 2 weeks before the race I thought the swim was only a quarter of a mile so when I found out it was a half a mile I was a bit freaked out. It went from oh I can muscle through that to wow that’s a real challenge. So what did I do, I got multiple practices swims in open water. The two most important things I found were practicing the distance and finding a breathing pattern that keeps you calm in the water.
My age group was one of the final waves of the morning and seeing how far the buoys looked kept my nerves climbing and before I knew it I was standing on the beach the next one to be sent in the water. I had heard from many people to be prepared to be kicked and swam over in the water but I did not have that experience. The waves were spread out nicely so that water did not feel crowded when I got in.
The first leg of the swim was a little rough I started feeling a little bit like I might not make the whole thing but then I had a switch and it got easier and easier to swim. I just needed to warm up. The second half was so easy. I just took it stroke by stroke, checked in with my breathing and before I knew it I was closing in on the final buoy. I really felt like I could have kept going which is a great way to feel!
Bike (12 miles)
I ran out of the water along a short stretch of road into the transition area and prepared to hop on for the bike section. I knew that the bike section would be more challenging than the route I usually rode because of hills but it was even more so than I expected. The route was beautiful along back roads and the scenery provided a really nice ride. I was absolutely being passed which likely due to my inexperience in tris and not training hills. My training was done on flat flat trails in Milwaukee so I really was not trained for the hilly course. That being said I had just a really enjoyable time.
As always announce yourself as you pass another biker. This is just plain courtesy and can save both of you from a potentially really bad accident. Move to the right as you pass so that other riders can pass you safely. Even as I ride and run along the trails by me for fun communication is crucial. If you are going 30 MPH passing someone let them know you are coming and if someone wants to pass you just let them pass. Be kind be a good athlete. The 12 miles took a bit longer than I had hoped but know I know what to do next time.
Run (3.1 Miles)
My sweet spot! I rolled into transition hopped off my bike and immediately calm came over me as I laced up my running shoes. One thing I didn’t expect as I started running was the fatigue I felt through my whole body and how weird it felt to start running. It took me about a quarter of a mile to shake out my biking legs and find my running ones. What I definitely took away from that initial transition was not to rush it but start slow to find your footing. In no time I was blowing by people that had easily passed me on the bike which really shows you how diverse a triathlon can be. Someone might be their strongest in the swim but not the run or strongest on the bike but not the swim. Everyone has the area that they feel more comfortable in. For me of course the run.
The run was a little bit hilly but I simply found my stride and kept up like an 8:45 pace really well. I was actually a little surprise I could hold that pace after already being tired but that just shows my marathon training is paying off.
Finish!
Crossed the line at about 1:40 to finish my first sprint triathlon! I was beaming and just had so much fun. I kept hearing that from all the athletes around me just how fun they had which is such a cool thing to hear at the end of a race. Within an hour I was already thinking about the next one.
Takeaways for the next one
Transition Area - Simply being better prepared and making sure I have everything I need and am set up for a successful race.
Swim - Get in more open water swimming and be more intentional about workouts. Plan a swimming schedule and stick to it. If I keep progressing in doing triathlons definitely will get a swimming coach and learn better techniques.
Bike - Get on hills! Plan at least one hilly workout a week. Train for power and incorporate more box jumps and plyo power work. Plan intentional workouts that will challenge me and push me harder.
Run - Keep doing what I’m doing!
