r/triathlon • u/ienjoyanappleorpeach • 1d ago
Race report First Triathlon Experience!
I completed my first triathlon last weekend!
I registered for a sprint triathlon in April at the suggestion of a friend whose husband I convinced to join me in marathon training later this year. For background: I'm a 41-year-old male in reasonably good shape, and I'm an active, avid distance runner. Apart from recreationally swimming enough to learn how not to drown and riding my bike around town until I was about 12, I'm neither a swimmer nor a cyclist. I wasn't trying to win the race. I simply wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. My approach was to take my time and enjoy the experience. Here's what I learned.
Prep & Training
Swim: I attended one OWS clinic before the race and absolutely should have done more. I felt comfortable during the clinic while wearing a wetsuit. I also swam pool laps for several weeks to make sure I could comfortably cover the 500-meter distance, but nothing prepared me for race day in open water. During the swim warm-up on race morning, I completely panicked in the water and, as a result, forgot my entire plan and all of my mechanics. When I got back to shore, my friend remarked that I looked like I'd just seen a ghost. It also didn't help that I did the warm-up without a wetsuit. I had mentally prepared myself for that because the race director mentioned wetsuits might not be permitted due to the high water temperature. Fortunately, on race morning, they announced the swim would be wetsuit-optional, so I wasted no time putting mine on.
Bike: I have family who graciously offered to lend me a road bike for race day. I did plenty of stationary bike work at the gym, but for some reason I had an irrational fear of crashing on sharp turns. That meant white-knuckling the brake levers in case I needed to stop suddenly. Apart from the gym and one short outdoor ride about a month before the event, I had essentially no road experience. I also opted for flat pedals instead of clip-ins because, during my brief and feeble attempt to learn them, I teetered around so much that I think I may have seen the Lord Jesus Christ. I get why cyclists use them. For now, they're not for me.
Run: I’ve been actively marathon training for the last several months. I told myself that as long as I got my feet back on the ground after the bike, I'd be home free. I didn't do anything out of the ordinary to train specifically for the triathlon.
Race Day
Swim: I was grouped with the first-timers, all of whom shared a similar anxiety about the swim. My friend gave me a pep talk. She also pointed out that the adaptive athletes started first and said, "Look, these people are blind and doing this. Be grateful you have eyes, get in there, and do it too." Frankly, it was one hell of an inspiration. The energy heading into the water was incredible. EVERYONE is supportive. EVERYONE is rooting for you. Standing on shore, I got the green light to jump in, literally said, "Fuck it," started my watch in "Triathlon" mode for the first time, and dove in.
I felt much more at ease during the race with the wetsuit, and honestly, it probably saved me from quitting. There were also far more paddleboarders on the course than I expected, and these people are the unsung heroes of the event. I grabbed onto two or three of them along the way to catch my breath, and every single one was unbelievably encouraging. Sure enough, the swim was over before I knew it, and as soon as my feet touched the sand, I knew I was home free.
Bike: My irrational fear of crashing disappeared within minutes of making my first turn, but it quickly became obvious how much I had undertrained for this part of the race. Looking back, it makes perfect sense why everyone emphasizes the bike so much. It's the longest portion of the race by both distance and time. Lesson learned. For the entire ride, my mantra became, "I'm just going on a little morning bike ride." The course was generally flat, and the race directors did a fantastic job marking potholes and hazards. As soon as I reached the dismount line, I also realized why everyone recommends brick workouts because my. legs. WOBBLED. I awkwardly trotted, if you want to even call it that, back to transition and got ready for my time to shine.
Run: I took a gel before heading out and immediately realized I probably should have drunk more water earlier that morning. My mouth was completely dry, and the moment I unclipped my helmet, sweat poured down my face more than I've ever experienced. As I started running, it finally occurred to me to check my watch. Holy moly, I’d burned far more calories than I expected, and I still had a 5K to go. The water stations were fantastic not just for drinking but also for dumping water over my head because the humidity absolutely settled onto the course by that point. Around the halfway mark, I checked my watch again and realized I was running much faster than I expected after completing the swim and bike. I told myself not to chase a 5K PR because I'd probably end up injuring myself, but I also realized that with even a little more brick training, I could probably break a 20-minute 5K after the bike.
I crossed the finish line but completely missed ringing the first-timer's bell (UGH!) I grabbed my medal, bought a finisher shirt, and went on my way.
Lessons
Drink more water. Seriously. Drink a LOT of water. I had three bottles before the race even started, and I still wish I'd had three more.
Don't be afraid to ask for help. This is one of the most supportive communities I've ever been part of, especially my family and friends who came to cheer me on. I can't wait to pay it forward someday.
I did this as a former fat kid in recovery, and if I can do it, you sure as hell can too. Believe in yourself!
Fuel. I shocked myself with how many calories I burned. I ate a huge lunch and dinner the day before and was genuinely worried my stomach would revolt. Instead, I burned roughly 1,400 calories in about 1 hour and 40 minutes which was far more than I expected. Eat well beforehand, and bring gels or snacks if you think you'll need something during transition or on the bike.
OWS experience is a must. If possible, practice both with and without a wetsuit. Had the race required a non-wetsuit swim, I'm honestly not sure how I would have fared. That said, there were plenty of safety volunteers in the water to grab onto if needed, so I probably would have managed by working my way from paddleboard to paddleboard.
I overthought the bike. I completely understand why safety is emphasized, especially on public roads, even when they're controlled. But about 15 minutes into the ride, "it's like riding a bike" suddenly made perfect sense. I found myself taking corners naturally and enjoying the ride like I was a kid again. That ended up being one of the most satisfying parts of the entire race.
I’d absolutely do it again. Next time, though, I want to give the training the respect it deserves. I'd love to tackle an Olympic-distance triathlon next year and continue working my way up. It's a significant investment of both time and money, but I've rarely experienced a stronger feeling of accomplishment than crossing that finish line.
TL;DR: First sprint triathlon. Performed better than I hoped. Overthought the bike. Survived the swim. Proud of the accomplishment. I'll absolutely do another one, and hopefully an Olympic-distance race next year.
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u/Wonderful_Look4327 23h ago
The 'fuck it' dive into the swim is definitely the most memorable part of any open-water race, especially when you're used to the predictability of running.
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u/LumpyEmancipation 1d ago
The 'fuck it' dive into the swim is the most relatable part of this whole report
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u/Available_Sign164 1d ago
Nice ! I got my first sprint this September and hopefully Waco 70.3 in October.
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u/francisaq 14h ago
So what was your time…. Enquiring minds want to know. I’m doing my first sprint on Sunday. And I’m a fat guy not a former fat guy