Race Report - My First Tri!

Well, here’s the full report on my first triathlon.
My training: Running 1-2 times per week (3-5 miles or 30-40 minute interval/hill workouts), Swimming once per week (30 minutes, never more than 1,200 yards), biking 10 miles once per week (I did the race course three times).
We had had fine weather in Binghamton for weeks but, of course, it rained all night the night before the race and did not let up by start time. I arrived at the appointed packet pick-up time (I was the first entrant to arrive) and Stacie (my friend and training partner) arrived shortly thereafter. We were both very nervous and giddy. We expressed our anxiety by agonizing over the decision of what to wear on the bike run segments. We’d both planned on shorts and tank tops but the cold and rainy weather gave us pause. It was really cold! And we’d have to run outside from the pooI soaking wet and practically naked. I decided to go with original sleeveless cycling top with a long sleeved jersey over it (which I could throw off during the bike-run transition). Finally, they called us into the pool area for the big pre-race meeting. I had given an ambitious time for the 400 yd swim (7 minutes) and so I was in the third (fastest) heat. Stacie was in the second heat (and I’m pretty sure she’s a faster swimmer than me). Another friend of ours was in the first heat. Julie, Neil and the boys showed up to cheer us on – which was fantastic. And the race began.
After getting intermittently more and less nervous watching the first two heats swim, it was finally my turn. I ended up in a super fast lane – and I was definitely the slowest one. Well, I didn’t have to worry about passing anyone! I had been re-training myself to do flip turns and I was all set to use this skill but I ended up not being able to. I don’t know what exactly it was about the pool but I was repeatedly experiencing an optical illusion in the deep end – I kept thinking the end of the pool was really far away and then all of a sudden I’d be right on it. So, I couldn’t make the appropriate distance judgments for flip turns. Aw, heck, I need the extra breath from the non flip-turn turns anyway (but it did slow me down). I didn’t feel like it was my best swim but I did manage to keep count of my laps (I know, I know it was only 8 but still . . .). My lane emptied out when I was starting my 8th lap. Julie, Neil and the boys were cheering their hearts out for me. Ultimately, I was the last person out of the pool, in the last heat. I wondered if I’d see any other competitors during the bike ride . . .
I got out of the pool and walked briskly to out to the parking lot. I was feeling a little disappointed about my swim performance but I was breathing heavy so I figured I must have exerted myself and, therefore, maybe did a decent time. As soon as I got to my transition space, I scrapped the idea of wearing a long sleeved shirt (I was hot!!). I wrestled my cycling tank on (which was not easy and involved some quiet cursing), the shorts, socks and shoes. I cursed again when I realized I hadn’t unclasped the strap on my helmet (challenging with shaky wet fingers), and that time it wasn’t so quiet. I got my helmet on and was ready to mount the bike when race officials directed me to walk/run the bike to the big sign that said “MOUNT” – and then mount, so I did. When I exited the parking lot, Julie, Neil and the boys were there. The swim was over, my goggles hadn’t broken, I was on the bike: I was feeling great!
Having done the course a few times, I knew what to expect so I wasn’t nervous. I was curious about how having done the swim was going to affect how I felt but it really didn’t. I was trying to push the pace. When I had left the parking lot, there were three bikes aside from mine (how that happened, I’m not sure) and during the first mile, a guy passed me. I was trying not to worry about coming in dead last. So, I did the bike route. I ended up passing two women (Yay, I’m not last!), and two men passed me. Those were the only other competitors I saw. I’m really glad I knew the route. I didn’t have to get off the bike and walk at the really, horrible, torturous hill but when I was getting close, I was afraid I might have to. As I pedaled away on the last but of the worst hill, telling myself “after this it’s easy. Just make it to that mailbox.”, I really had the sense that I was pushing my heart and lungs to their absolute limit. Interesting feeling (I was glad when it was over!). As the road became level, I knew that was the mile 7 marker and there were only 2 hills (of medium difficulty) left. And, almost immediately afterwards there was swift mile or so downhill (which I tried to take without fear but there were a lot of potholes so I did use the brakes a bit). The last mile of the course was a really fast downhill on a street with better pavement and I did fly down. At that point I was feeling invincible and I’m lucky I didn’t crash.
After that downhill, I was back on campus and then back in the parking lot. I coasted in and was commanded to dismount (at a big sign that said “DISMOUNT”). I ran the bike to my area. I saw Stacie’s bike lying on the ground so I threw mine on the ground too (no time to mess with the racks) and started to take off. A race official said “Don’t you want to take your helmet off?” Oh, um, yeah. Later Stacie told me she had done the same thing. I got my helmet off and started running.
I knew that this transition would be weird as there is a bit of overlap between running and biking muscles. I was telling my legs to run and they were running but I couldn’t really feel them and I felt a bit wobbly. I didn’t have the cement legs sensation, I just couldn’t exactly feel them. The swim and the bike ride were over! I felt elated . . . euphoric. I shouted “woo, woo” a few times to no one in particular (and, actually, no one was around me to hear). I ran passed Julie and Neil at one point in the first mile and Julie said “Look at you, you’re smiling!” I thought to myself, “Am I smiling?” My face was kind of frozen in that position. It was too much work to make it neutral so I just went with it. I’m glad it looked like a smile and not a hideous grimace. Just after I saw them, there was a little hill and I certainly felt my legs when I ran up (oh, those biking muscles) and I was suddenly impressed that my body could do this. I felt so solid. During this part of the race, I actually did see other participants as the run was an out-and-back. Everyone was very friendly (we all said “good job” and/or waved to each other). I saw Stacie coming back. I think by about 1.5 miles my legs were working normally again and I was feeling good. I saw the two guys that had passed me on the bike route and I decided I would pass them. So, I picked up my speed. They were about 100 yds ahead of me so it took a while but in the last 400 yds or so I passed one of them (it was a father-son team and the son kicked it in – I passed the dad). Julie, Neil, the boys and Stacie were at the finish line. I finished fast . It was over. I felt great, and sore.
After cooling down a bit, I began to feel cold again (wet bathing suit under biking clothes and all) so I got on my damp sweatshirt and long running pants. We waited around for the results to be announced. In the end they just announced the awards and, lo and behold, I got first in my age group (!!!!!). I was so shocked that I forgot to take note of my time. I’m waiting for the results to get posted to the race website. All in all, it was a great experience. I want to do it again. I recommend it to everyone!!
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So, here are my splits:

Swim - 7:40 (very slow, as I figured)
T1 - 2:25 (way too long - gotta work on this!)
Bike - 52:55 (2 minutes faster than fastest training ride - good but room for improvement)
T2 - 00:53 (I can't believe it took that long!)
Run - 25:08 (not bad, all things considered, but I can do better)
Total: 1:29:08