Completed my first triathlon!
cookma423
Posts: 62 Member
This last weekend, I completed the TriAmador Olympic Triathlon in Ione, CA. .93 mile swim, 24 mile bike, 6.2 mile run. It was awful! I can't wait to do another one! I know; that sounds like a total non-sequitur. But that's the truth.
Swim went easy; water was warm, but I used the wetsuit anyways for extra buoyancy. Fighting the suit sleeves slowed me down a little, but only by about 5 minutes.
Bike was... ok. My bike needs a tune-up; I'm not currently happy with how it's running. Felt slow, and I couldn't get into my top gear. Funny, because I had a shop tweak the rear derailleur on my way out of town. Gained about 1700 ft in 24 miles. Would have been a great ride if my bike had been feeling right.
Run... run sucked. Slowest 10k of my life! I was not expecting a trail run, but that's what I got. On tired legs, in my road shoes. 700 ft of gain over the 10k. Not fun! Hated every minute of the run!
But, I finished. Another life goal complete. And I'm already looking forward to doing another one. Just need to train a little harder and a little smarter for my next one. More brick and triple days. Training for longer distances than I'll need at my next tri. I hope to keep improving! It was so much fun!
Swim went easy; water was warm, but I used the wetsuit anyways for extra buoyancy. Fighting the suit sleeves slowed me down a little, but only by about 5 minutes.
Bike was... ok. My bike needs a tune-up; I'm not currently happy with how it's running. Felt slow, and I couldn't get into my top gear. Funny, because I had a shop tweak the rear derailleur on my way out of town. Gained about 1700 ft in 24 miles. Would have been a great ride if my bike had been feeling right.
Run... run sucked. Slowest 10k of my life! I was not expecting a trail run, but that's what I got. On tired legs, in my road shoes. 700 ft of gain over the 10k. Not fun! Hated every minute of the run!
But, I finished. Another life goal complete. And I'm already looking forward to doing another one. Just need to train a little harder and a little smarter for my next one. More brick and triple days. Training for longer distances than I'll need at my next tri. I hope to keep improving! It was so much fun!
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Replies
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Congratulations! and good on you for wanting to do it all again
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BrianSharpe wrote: »
Ha, I start cussing at myself for signing up at some point during the triathlon, wondering why I pay to that to myself...then I cross the finish line, and say, yes, I will do that again!1 -
Congratulations!0
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Thank you all! It was a lot of fun. Hope to step my game up next season, go a little further and a little faster!
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Well done0
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Congratulations!0
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BrianSharpe wrote: »
Ha, I start cussing at myself for signing up at some point during the triathlon, wondering why I pay to that to myself...then I cross the finish line, and say, yes, I will do that again!
Ha that is so me! Except I usually start cussing at myself the night before!
@cookma423 Congratulations! Sounds like there will be many more in your future!0 -
BrianSharpe wrote: »
Ha, I start cussing at myself for signing up at some point during the triathlon, wondering why I pay to that to myself...then I cross the finish line, and say, yes, I will do that again!
Ha that is so me! Except I usually start cussing at myself the night before!
That was definitely me for this one! I was camping out and couldn't sleep hardly at all until around 2am. Up 4 hours later and going. All worth it though. There will definitely be more in the future!0 -
That is so awesome! I would love to do one, I fear I am a bit old to be doing it especially since I need to train for the swimming!0
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@Joanna2012B I disagree; there were people of all ages at this one. If you want to do it, find a local pool and swim some laps. A sprint tri has a .5 mile swim; that's 18 laps in a pool. If you already bike and run, you can get that down pretty quick. I'd say if it's something you want to do, give it a try (pun not really but kinda-sorta intended). If you find it's something that you can't stand, you never have to do another1
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Joanna2012B wrote: »That is so awesome! I would love to do one, I fear I am a bit old to be doing it especially since I need to train for the swimming!
I ran my first race at 52, and my first duathlon at 53. This year at the National Capital event there was a 74 year old competing in the Sprint Duathlon.
I turned 60 this year & decided to get off my butt & into the pool and have signed up for an Olympic Distance Triathon next year. If you're this side of the sod you're not too old......
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I hope to keep my entire racing career (running, cycling, and tri) going until I'm that age and beyond! I've met so many good people through running and cycling that it has really turned into a passion; I get withdrawals if I go too long without a ride or run
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Oh that's awesome! Great job for powering through, especially the run that you hated!!!! When's your next race?0
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Thank you! Really. I'm not sure yet; there aren't really any more tri's around my area this year, so I'm probably SOL on that until next spring. There's a 5k in November that I'll probably do, but nothing too major. I think I'm kinda done with the racing for the season.
Kudos on the ST: Voyager reference, by the way0 -
Great work! I am doing my first Tri at the end of this month. Turned 50 this year, so seemed a good time to start!1
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How did you find transition? That's the bit that puts me off signing up for a tri, I'm worried I'm going to be dancing around in my wetsuit for 10 minutes looking like a plonker0
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tiny_clanger wrote: »How did you find transition? That's the bit that puts me off signing up for a tri, I'm worried I'm going to be dancing around in my wetsuit for 10 minutes looking like a plonker
Some races offer the luxury of wetsuit strippers to help you peel it off. The good thing is that triathlon wetsuits are nowhere near as stiff & bulky as scuba ones (new divers doing the neoprene dance can be hilarious - and it's only funny because we've all been there...). Practice makes perfect!
Or.......go somewhere warm where you don't need one!
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Joanna2012B wrote: »That is so awesome! I would love to do one, I fear I am a bit old to be doing it especially since I need to train for the swimming!
I'm in my (late) middle 40's and in July I did a sprint triathalon on the Saturday, after winning the place on a Monday, so very little training. My swimming was poor, I was the last one out of the water, and I walked the 'run' as I can't run do to physical problems, I came 3rd from last, BUT I DID IT, and I am SOOOO proud of myself, and I plan to train to compete in an ironman the year I hit 50 - if you really want to do it you will ...0 -
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BrianSharpe wrote: »
Ha, I start cussing at myself for signing up at some point during the triathlon, wondering why I pay to that to myself...then I cross the finish line, and say, yes, I will do that again!
Ha that is so me! Except I usually start cussing at myself the night before!
That was definitely me for this one! I was camping out and couldn't sleep hardly at all until around 2am. Up 4 hours later and going. All worth it though. There will definitely be more in the future!
I was like that on my first one, not sure if I got any quality sleep...I was so nervous.1 -
rugratz2015 wrote: »
I'm in my (late) middle 40's and in July I did a sprint triathalon on the Saturday, after winning the place on a Monday, so very little training. My swimming was poor, I was the last one out of the water, and I walked the 'run' as I can't run do to physical problems, I came 3rd from last, BUT I DID IT, and I am SOOOO proud of myself, and I plan to train to compete in an ironman the year I hit 50 - if you really want to do it you will ...
Even with walking the marathon at the end that's seriously ambitious! I recall one of the coaches at my tri club saying that if you had a decent swim & bike you could walk the marathon and still make the 17hr cutoff.
Pick one with a flat bike course & have fun (probably a good idea to get a 5150 & 70.3 under your belt too)
I'm signed up for a 5150 next June and that may be the extent of my ambition, but I said that about 10K races too.....
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@tiny_clanger the transition was easy. I rented a tri wetsuit from my local running store and it was easy to take off. I watched a friend of mine do a tri a few weeks ago, and one of the volunteers was nice enough to help the swimmers walking toward the transition area. Out of all the things I'd worry about regarding a triathlon, that one is pretty low on the list.
Same friend wants to do an Ironman in Germany in about 2 years. I'm thinking a half might be a nice goal for next summer sometime, as long as other life priorities don't get in the way. I need to find a training plan to follow. Any suggestions?0 -
Awesome job!0
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BrianSharpe wrote: »
Even with walking the marathon at the end that's seriously ambitious! I recall one of the coaches at my tri club saying that if you had a decent swim & bike you could walk the marathon and still make the 17hr cutoff.
Pick one with a flat bike course & have fun (probably a good idea to get a 5150 & 70.3 under your belt too)
I'm signed up for a 5150 next June and that may be the extent of my ambition, but I said that about 10K races too.....
I've a few years before I hit 50 so have the chance to work my way up through the various distances, will do another couple of sprints next year just to get comfortable. It's a goal to aim towards, but we'll do our best.
And in response to tiny_clanger - on my way from the swim to the bike one of the spectators kindly offered to unzip my wet suit, I'm sure you would find someone willing to help.0 -
Congratulations on the huge achievement.0
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Congrats on completing your first triathlon. There's nothing like the first one! Sounds like you've been bitten by the bug and that's great to hear. Triathlon can be very challenging, but that makes it very rewarding as well. Good luck in your training.
@Joanna2012B : You're WAY too young to worry about age as a factor. (I started at 54yrs old) Last season, 3 women I run with decided to move into triathlons. They are all in their 50's and NOT ONE of them knew how to swim last year. They learned to swim over the winter and worked on their cycling as well. This season they all completed a number of triathlons up to the Half Iron distance race. (1.2m Swim, 56m bike, 13.1m run) So I'd say its a perfect time for you to jump right in!
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Thanks @Djproulx @cookma423 @BrianSharpe @rugratz2015 ! I will work on my swimming. I am already adding mileage to my running and I have my cycling down for sure!! I am a little excited thinking of it!!2
Great job. Cheers to you!
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