Post Triathlon (OCCC Sprint Tri) Thoughts…
Now that I’ve completed my second triathalon, the OCCC Super Sprint, I did better in some areas than my last tri, the Route 66 Sprint Tri, but in others I did worse. I know why though, which is good. I fell into the trap that I am sure that most newbie triathletes fall in; working too hard in one event to get your best time in it, and not thinking of the whole. Basically the sum of the whole did not come into my mind, I wanted to beat my PR in swimming (which I did) but was winded bad going into the bike, then had nothing left for the run!
Now that I have had a few days to sit and stew on it, and look at my times and compare them to my last tri, I need to work on…
Swim (500 meters), 13:25
I did much better in the swim this time, I am not sure if that is because it was pool, or not. I felt VERY confident in the water and my stroke felt awesome! Good and bad came of that, in the last 100 meters I went all out as fast as I could. I don’t think I was breathing enough and just exhausted myself.
- DO NOT go all out like that again, least not without more endurance training.
- Remember to start watch timer so if time keeping company has another computer problem you will at least know your time.
- Remember to take GU before race.
Transition #1, 2:31
Shaved :45 seconds off previous tri, tried a new technique, wear my bike shorts to swim in so I did not have to take time to put them on in the transition, it worked.
- Remember to wash feet off before putting socks and shoes on, more on this in run portion.
- Take less time putting on shirt; might look into buying a Tri-OKC top and pants that you wear for all events and this will help even more on time.
Bike (12 miles), 46:20
Time wise this was about the same as the last tri (which was 1 mile longer). Although I was winded from swim I felt pretty good the first half, the second half is when I faltered (uphill mostly into the wind).
- Need a new bike, my mountain bike (Specialized Hardrock, with street tires, not mountain bike tires) is not going to cut it if I want to get more competitive in tri’s
- Get bike shoes, this will help to push harder.
Transition #2, 0:50
Took off :07 seconds from last tri!
- Not a ton to work on here, just do that again!
Run (5k), 40:29
Here is where I died. I had ABSOLUTELY nothing left in me. My feet hurt (because I did not rinse my feet from the little rocks/sand that was in the transition area and they were rubbing raw) and I got a stomach cramp and side stiches.
Running is typically my worst event, but this was the worst I’ve ever done. I pulled away from the running training because, stupidly, I thought, “I’ve done a half marathon, I’m covered” WRONG. Still need to work on that, and get better about “bricking” (running right after riding a bike).
- Focus on run training and bricking.
- Work on endurance, specifically work on running after another workout to run while tired. I think my form is breaking down when I get tired which is making it even harder to run.
Overall
My time was better in this tri, but worked out to be about the same time as the first (since the bike was 1 mile shorter). I felt worse at the end of this race tho, I felt GREAT after the first one, this one I was tired and winded.
I did way better on somethings but ultimately worse on others, was that due to pushing too hard? was it just an off day? I don’t know, but I intend to work harder in training, work on the things above, and I could stand to lose a few pounds (which will help overall).
I don’t have another triathlon scheduled till August 2nd (I have a duathlon in July however, so that will help with running!)
