7 Things I learned at my first Triathlon

I completed my first triathlon this past weekend. It's pretty cool typing that and knowing that it is a fact right now. I will have to say for a first triathlon, The Rookie Tri was a really well put together triathlon. Thanks Jack and Adams and High Five Events for putting it on.  Looking back - here are a few things I needed to reflect on, and know I will do differently when there is a next time. If there is anyone out there considering or training for their first triathlon, maybe they can find my mistakes useful and not repeat them like I did.

1. OPEN WATER SWIM, OPEN WATER SWIM, OPEN WATER SWIM. Unless you are a competitive swimmer, swim often in lakes, swim really super fast and strong in the water, please read this. DO NOT underestimate the open water swim. I trained in the pool all day long and was pretty good doing a decent time per 100 meters. Doing 300 meters in a lake with no visibility, wind and waves are a completely different story. I was totally unprepared for the swim. Not only was it cold and I had no wetsuit, it was windy and there were waves. I couldn't even get in a freestyle rhythm because the waves were hindering me from breathing correctly. My swim quickly went from an attempted freestyle to dog paddling and doing the backstroke because I couldn't handle the waves. I also had to rest on a kayak for a bit because I had to catch my breath.  I do think the cold water and air affected my breathing. My chip time for the swim was 11:13. Let's just say that was the longest 11 minutes and 13 seconds of my life so far - even including laboring my children ha. I don't want to scare anyone but I did not get to do an open water swim or practice in that lake before the tri and I would definitely change that for next time. I would do multiple open water swims and practice with wind and waves because you never know what the weather is going to be like on the day of your triathlon. I still got through it but I know I would have done MUCH better having experienced swimming in open water. 

2. PRACTICE MORE ON TRANSITION. This being my first tri - I didn't actually try and 'practice' running to put my socks/shoes on while wet and getting everything ready for the bike, I was just doing the best I could but I wasn't really trying to do it the fastest. The more transition time you can practice on shaving off, the better your over all time will be. Since this was my first tri and not really a 'race' for me, my two goals were  to complete it and not come in dead last and I accomplished those two things. I see why people want to do these again because it's all about besting your own time. 

3. FIND YOUR FAVORITE SNACKS BEFORE THE TRIATHLON. During training I would take it easy, take breaks, not go hard core and sometimes stop on my bike and eat at the park I was riding  around or actually just have a quick uncrustable or granola bar. For some reason I thought for sure on my triathlon day I needed some gels so I get three different ones at the store and try my first one on the bike and it was beyond nasty. I can't litter during the race so I have this half eaten pack of GU vanilla/orange that I hated and I can't throw it away and I'm sure as heck not going to finish eating it so I just end up putting it in my bike bag once I get off my bike and transition to the run and held it in one hand half of the bike ride lol. Once you are comfortable with your favorite snacks you won't get distracted with a nasty tasting gel you can't handle. Powerbar actually just came out with a fruit pack I got to sample after the tri with their energy blend in it and it tasted good, so I will probably use that in the future. 

4. TRAIN ENOUGH FOR THE RUN. If I could do it over again, I would have run more. I was so focused and freaked out on the swim that I didn't run enough to be prepared for the two miles. I also would have done more "bricks" which are riding the bike a few times, then running so your muscles get used to the two different tasks. I ended up jogging/walking most of the run. I probably could have jogged the entire time but again I was beaten up mentally by the swim and after the swim I just wanted to finish. 

5. GET A WATCH.  I didn't want my first tri to be a race  or for me to be hard core about it so I didn't even have a watch. If I did have one I would have known it wasn't 20 minutes that I spent on the swim, more like 11. It felt like 20 minutes and without knowing a time frame I thought for sure I totally sucked in the swim. I was actually OK with around a 10 min swim so I wasn't that much off from my 'goal' since I ended up with 11 minutes 13 seconds in the water. I will def. get a fancy waterproof watch for next time so I can at least have an idea of my time. 

6. PRACTICE ON THE ACTUAL COURSE IF YOU CAN. I live in Austin now and most if not all of my future triathlons will be here in Austin. I know this is hard for people traveling from out of town to do triathlons to make this happen,but if you can practice on the actual course, do it.  I had the course map and I knew what the bike trail was going to be but I didn't practice on it. I was training on hills because I heard this course had hills, but they were different hills. This course was steep and fast and I was not fully prepared. The hills I ended up training on were gradual and I know if I would have practiced on this course, my bike time would have been much better. 

7. HAVE NO EXPECTATIONS, JUST HAVE FUN! I had two expectations - to finish the triathlon and to not come in dead last. I accomplished those two things but of course in the back of my head I had a time goal I wanted to reach and I didn't make that goal so I was a little disappointed there. I didn't train hardcore-I trained when I could. I didn't do anything special but stay consistent and show up to the triathlon and not quit, even though I thought about it during the swim. I had a great sense of accomplishment finishing the triathlon and I feel really good about that. 

I am a competitive person by nature so this was hard for me to just be OK with finishing and being toward the end of my age group which is maybe why I have a feeling I am going to be a triathlete that just wants to do better each time and beat my own record. I have played sports growing up and was always competitive, even with myself in solo sports like track. 

If anyone is halfway thinking about doing a triathlon and has that doubt that you don't have time or that you could never do it - you CAN do it! I work 48-50 hours a week, am a single mom with two kids ages almost 3 and 7. I still trained 6-7 hours per week when I didn't have my kids on the weekend and 4-5 hours per week when I did by utilizing swims at lunch, one night per week and an hour or two on the weekends at the local YMCA so they could play. I did a super sprint (300m swim/11 mile bike/2 mile run) which was perfect for my first triathlon and the time I was able to train for.  I trained for 3 months and my endurance was no problem during the triathlon, it was my mind and will that hindered me most. The biggest part for me was committing, and following through. Trust me, I wanted to quit the first few times in the pool because I could barely go two laps without feeling like my heart was going to explode. I am stronger now, have better endurance and I did something that at first I didn't think I could do. There was the weirdest mix of emotions crossing that finish line. I wanted to scream, yell, and cry all at the same time. It was worth it and I most definitely will do another one somewhere in my future. I can't just say I did it once and not try it again to try and beat my time, I just can't. 

If you have thought about a triathlon but aren't committing to train for one - what is holding you back? You CAN do it if you commit and put your mind to it!