So a Triathlon. What is it?  Basically you are swimming, then biking then running.  The length will vary depending on the type of event you are doing.  There are sprint, Olympic, 1/2 ironman and ironman distances.  For the first attempt, I went with the shortest of the group, the Sprint.  this is a .5 (1/2 mile) swim, 12.4 mile bike, and a 3.1 (5k) mile run.

Training:

After some issues with the knee during the winter months (IT band issue from my 1/2 marathon training last year), around April I began running again.  It was around this time that A friend of mine and myself decided that running was just that, and it was time that we tried to challenge ourselves and try something that is really going to push ourselves further. So we decided on a Triathlon. we decided that the Island Lake one would be well suited for it’s location and the course overall. it was 3 months or so out and we know that we could start to get in the right shape for it by then.

So I began running, really slow and short distances for a long while.  I was not going to re-injure my knee (IT band) and be sidelined again for any extended period of time. It was hard mentally all winter not being able to do any training that required plyometrics, running, etc.  So I went slow and steady putting in 2 – 3 days a week up until the race.  I never actually ran further than 4.01 miles on any given training day this year.  Yes, a bit over cautious but I’ve not had any reason to go any further yet this season. I noticed a considerable change in my pace from day 1 till race day. My training runs became stronger and stronger and I was pacing much faster than I had at all last year.  so was really proud and happy that I was able to do that.

The bike.  this is my weakest area.  I currently own a mountain bike and it was my training partner of choice.  I would go for rides between 10 – 25 miles 2 – 3 nights a week. trying to keep up a decent average.  My training course was relatively flat, which did put me at a disadvantage to the actual course since it was rolling hills, but I knew that going in.  I could have and will in the future take the initiative to get more hill training in.  As well as work on getting a real road bike for the next race. Already saving for it now. 

Swimming.  It’s been nearly 20 years since I have spent any significant amount of time in the pool for training.  I’ve very rarely hit any body of water unless it was like 82 degrees or higher. I’ve become a bit of a wuss when it comes to the cold water. I will say that for the very limited amount of swimming I got in, mostly 1 night a week, and missed several weeks all together I was able to swim very comfortably.  I will chalk this up to having an amazing coach back in high school Mr. Harding.  I can safely say that If I had not had that experience then I’d of never of finish or even considered doing a triathlon. Thanks to coach!

Included with all of these, I was also following a program from my P90x workouts. 3 days a week I was doing the weights, as well as mixing in cardio/Plyo/Stretching/Yoga from Insanity, Insanity Asylum, P90x, P90x One on One programs.  was an awesome 90 day super hybrid program that really did the job mixing things up.

Race:

The nerves were running pretty high. But it was nice having the family there to support me and buddy Sam who was also doing the event.   Arrived pretty early to get the transition area situated and the usual morning rituals (aka bio breaks) out of the way.  This was my first time setting up the transition area so I looked around at the various ways the others had done it and there is quite a bit of variations. So I think I have an idea for tne next one how I will proceed. My concern for this race was the rain potential.  I didn’t want my shoes/socks to be wet out the gate after the swim, so I left them in the bag to stay dry. 

So we get the cue from the race leaders that t-minus 10 minutes and need to get to the swim area.  National anthem plays and I’m looking around just absorbing some of the overall atmosphere that is going on. All these people here to push themselves, to challenge themselves, looking to see if they can persevere. Loved it.

So my biggest fear, and from all my reading is the swim.  Mainly the start.  I was nervous about the mass ‘salmon’ heading up stream effect. Luckily that wasn’t an issue. There was a nice dispersion of swimmers at the start that I actually was able to stay very calm.  So the countdown began, 10, 9 8….  the horn blows and boom I get going.   It took me about 19  minutes to do the swim.  I will say that I did some left to right swimming since I had to keep looking up to see the direction I was going.  I think that is one of the hardest parts about open swimming so far is keeping straight.  I didn’t’ always have someone to follow.  The stroke was smooth, I felt really good actually through the entire swim, taking minimal breaks to do course corrections.  Transition time.

Transition #1 to bike was long for me.  Definitely room for improvement on that one.  Get in, sit down and just felt disorganized and was trying to rush things which in the end slowed me down.  Took I think 2 minutes 40 seconds in transition.  I got my socks and shoes on pretty quick (when I get a real bike I’ll maybe do the shoes attached already thing). Anyways, I worked through things, got on the bike and made it out of transition.  Ate me a banana really quick because I k new that I needed to get something into the stomach. by this point it was now 2 hours since I ate my breakfast (my traditional breakfast before races – 2 pieces of toast w/ natural Peanut butter, banana). 

I’m heading out on the bike.  my lovely 10+ year old mountain bike.  It has done it’s job up till now to get me somewhat in shape to ride the course.   I head out with Sam and from the start I could tell this was going to be a rough ride.  I couldn’t find any momentum out there to pick up the pace.  I felt bad, because Sam was trying to be cool and stick w/ me. but I was holding him back.  I’ve rides this course a few times previously and based on my time and average speed, this was the slowest I’d ever done it.  Not sure why or what happened, but this is the greatest area for improvement for me going forward.  the worst part was getting passed by folks on bikes that clearly were even older than  mine and folks that were not anywhere near the shape I was in.  I really couldn’t figure it out.  Live and learn.  Had fun anyways.  time to transition into the run.

Transition #2 went much quicker.  ran the bike in and got to my stall.  luckily I did remember where that was at (thanks to Mr. Risner for mentioning that the day before after his first tri). The only real steps I had to do was get the bike on the Stall, get the helmet off and go.  Which went very quickly.  Met Sam 1/2 way down my isle and I got approached by a young lady who was looking to borrow a helmet.  she had forgotten hers, and by rules , she’d of been DQ’d if she didn’t have it. So I was nice and lent her mine.  Next time, I  might want to ask if she is doing the sprint or Olympic distance.  Ended up waiting an hour longer after for her to get back.  Not that I wouldn’t do it again, I think it is good sportsmanship to assist others when you can.  So transition here was like 45 seconds.

The run.  Out the gate, was a short trail run up to a small hill then onto pavement that winded through the park.  My legs were like rubber at this point.  felt like I was carrying 20lb weights on each ankle.  But luckily after the first 1/2 mile we settled into the pace we felt comfortable on.  I had come into the event with some general idea of what I wanted to accomplish in each discipline.  One of the funnier moments was when we were heading back towards the finish and this young kid, had to be late teens, had passed us up. And I blurted out “If I were your age I’d be chasing you down young pup”.   We were having some fun, enjoying the run.  we near the finish after a couple winding turns and a downhill  into the finish area.  can see the finish line, we make a b-line to it and complete the first triathlon of many more to come I hope.

Impressions and going forward:

I was really happy with the way things went. I was nervous but excited all week leading up to it, but in the end enjoyed every moment of it. I took in the atmosphere, learned, laughed and had fun. I was within my expectations for the training  I was able to do leading up to it.  There is always room for improvement and I look forward to the next event. 

speaking of the future, we have already decided we are going to do a 1/2 ironman next year. We haven’t yet decided which event, but leaning towards the Benton Harbor, MI one.  I’ve found a new love with triathlon’s.  It’s a big commitment but the rewards are there!   Game plan is to do a sprint early spring, then an Olympic distance month later then in August, 2012 a 1/2 ironman.  I look forward to the challenge, the training and the fun that is ahead to reach this goal.   Will post some training plans down the road here.  It’s going to take the next year to really get where I’d like so will really be setting the bar high in training.

Best part is that I made decision to push myself and challenge myself.  I committed to the training necessary to finish strong. And I was successful in completing my first ever Triathlon.  Who’s going take a challenge and get outside their comfort zone? I hope you will. I look forward to sharing my next adventures with everyone. Love to hear about yours.

I’ve got some video clips from the event below as well as a video of my thoughts afterwards as well. Enjoy. Can Be found on YouTube with my other videos also.

Decide.Commit.Succeed.