What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. (Page 3): Triathlon Forum: Slowtwitch Forums

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What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon.

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snowbeard

Apr 7, 12 14:01

Post #51 of 111 (3440 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [tridana] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Reading all of these makes me so excited to do my first tri.

No, really! I need stories.

RoYe

Apr 7, 12 16:28

Post #52 of 111 (3360 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [tigerchik] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

tigerchik wrote:

I have told this story before but it's fun to repeat.

My first HIM, I didn't think about how I would get from my swimsuit into my cycling clothes. (I didn't know there are outfits made for the whole race, like a tri suit). I swam, got into T1, and suddenly realized there was no place to change - except the transition area, that is. So I stripped in T1.

LOL! I wont believe that one til you post pics!!
res, non verba

NickG

Apr 7, 12 17:42

Post #53 of 111 (3310 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [lightheir] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

lightheir wrote:

chrisbint wrote:

So ,I will start.

First triathlon today, very small affair. Came out of the swim into T1. Helmet on, shades on, race number on. Pushed bikeout of transition area and about to mount up and looked down and realised I had forgotten to re-attach my pedals, there were still in the car! Ran back to car, got pedals and tried again to a few cheers.

One for the checklist I think.

Good day though and had fun, even though I was a little red-faced.

Showed up to race day at a military base went thru security etc parked and realized after 25mins of failing to find the start line that race qas next week. I thought i was just early and thus had no traffic issues. Doh.

I did this as well. Worse part was I signed up for another triathlon the next week as well. So not only did I show up for a race on the wrong day, but I also paid for 2 races on the same day in very different locations. I'm sure to check my calendars twice now before signing up for races.
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elecengrman

Apr 8, 12 9:22

Post #54 of 111 (3176 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [veganerd] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

veganerd wrote:

the first time i was ever in contention for a podium spot, i came roarin around the corner into t2 in 6th place overall to wild cheers from my family and my buddys family and i was so pumped to fly through transition in record time and as i went ripping towards the run course i hear a ton of laughs and the announcer say "i dont think youre going to need that helmet on the run" DOH! i tossed it aside as i ran and did manage to make the podium.

when i was called up to get my medal he again made fun of me to the delight of the crowd.

good times!

Too bad you didn't wear your helmet up to the podium and make fun of yourself before anyone had the chance.
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Check out my sad excuse for a blog:
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pondering

Apr 8, 12 13:06

Post #55 of 111 (3097 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [chrisbint] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Another laugh for the weekend.

In an early tri, I carefully put on my helmet before taking my bike off the rack. Congratulating myself on a fast T1, I made a beeline for the mount line. Until a kind lady beside me said "I wouldn't want to bike 40k with a wetsuit on". Doh!

Beanster

Apr 8, 12 17:14

Post #56 of 111 (2995 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [RoYe] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

RoYe wrote:

timboricki wrote:

In my first OD tri 5 years ago. I was (and still am) a horrible swimmer.
There is a picture of me coming out of the water right behind a lady with 1 leg. I think she started a wave or 2 behind me. She had time to pass me, get out of the water and get on crutches before I could crawl up the ramp.
I sometime think that I might be a faster swimmer with one leg becuase my kick really does nothing for me.

My 1st two tri's, I finished dead last in the swim [passed a lot of people to finish MOP but still, last is awful]. My 3rd race I came out of the swim 2nd from last, I was SO HAPPY in T1 that I went to high 5 the guy I beat; only then did I realize the guy had only 1 hand!
DOOoooh

Winner!
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"I was watching the London Marathon and saw one runner dressed as a chicken and another runner dressed as an egg. I thought: 'This could be interesting'."

TriHanrahan

Apr 8, 12 17:46

Post #57 of 111 (2960 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [Beanster] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Doing the old Keahou half around 1998. Family with me, wife wants to go to a new Thai restaurant. Food tastes funny to me. Next morning stomachs feeling "funny". Start the swim, water is pretty rough that year, rain and such, totally die on the swim, barely get out of water, volunteers grab me, I puke a lot. They sit me down in transition. Bill Bell stops, tells tough swim, pats me on the back and gets on his bike. I think Bill was 76 at the time. At least I managed to get on the bike and finish.

Bmonty2504

Apr 9, 12 4:36

Post #58 of 111 (2826 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [chrisbint] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

My second triathlon, sprint distance, and first open water. I went out way to hard and was kicked around a good bit. I started breathing heavy and had a panic attack. I decided I was done. I swam towards the shore and got out. After I realized how crazy I was acting, I asked the race director to start with the last group just to complete the race. No problem, I received permission from the race director. As I was putting my wetsuit back on, my hand slipped from the sleeve and I punched myself in the eye. I gave myself a black eye. Needless to say, I sat down and really thought if triathlon was the right sport for me. I did the race, and completed it with black eye and all.

tijmen

Apr 9, 12 4:51

Post #59 of 111 (2814 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [Bmonty2504] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Not much embarrassing yet ;)

Putting my wetsuit on with the zipper on the front. but i realized it just in time to change it.

But I was more embarassed when I did a tri on my new tt bike Kestrel 4000 with zipp1080/disc fully decked out. Was doing a decent ride then in the last round had to slam the brakes for another competitor who entered the course. After that I couldn't get my pace up, really slowed down and my legs were feeling worse every second. Then I was passed by an older woman on a regular road bike. That was 'a bit' painfull..
When I got my bike out of the T2 after the race I noticed my rear brake rubbed my wheel...

AwesomePossum

Apr 13, 12 17:53

Post #60 of 111 (2579 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [tijmen] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

The usual:
Awkward T1 bike mount.
Ran with my helmet on in T2.

Anyways, has anyone ran out of t1 with their wetsuit still on... looks like that's what Javier Gomez did at Nautica South Beach tri. I guess when you're that fast you can do anything.

mike s

Apr 13, 12 18:39

Post #61 of 111 (2556 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [timboricki] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I got passed by a lady with one leg during the swim after the last turn bouy...she was on my feet for most of the swim..as she passed me to the right I saw her wetsuit looked funny...said to myself..self..whats wrong with her wetsuit..wait..she has it folded up..ONE LEG...i suck....then saw her profiled in Triathete...didnt feel so so bad

trailbait

Apr 13, 12 18:58

Post #62 of 111 (2533 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [cjathey] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

You are awesome! Great stories!

Erika
http://tribabe.com

jsr104

May 13, 12 10:52

Post #63 of 111 (2250 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [trailbait] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

First time I put on a wetsuit, the guys I rented it from told me to go into the bathroom and put it on...after struggling mightily, I came out very proud only to find it was on backwards. But wait, it gets worse - at my first 70.3 a week later, I again was struggling hard to roll it up and it just seemed impossible to put on. I looked down and noticed that I had put my leg in the arm hole. How I don't know...
Same race - I put a bright cloth on my bike to distinguish it from others in transition, and unknowingly, rode off for the bike portion with this shammy cloth draped over my handlebar. Needless to say, my race pictures (right outside t1) with a towel streaming behind me looked really good.

DanSzajta

May 13, 12 11:56

Post #64 of 111 (2200 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [jsr104] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I was teh race leader, in nothing but an american flag speedo, coming into transition to rack my bike and completely wiped out in front of my rack.

ZackCapets

May 13, 12 13:23

Post #65 of 111 (2132 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [AwesomePossum] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Was that a wetsuit or a speedsuit? I can't tell from the picture.

I've forgotten to take my speedsuit off several times. Those things are so unobtrusive that I've made it all the way out of T1 with it on at least once, and at the very least to the end of my bike rack on more than one occasion. When I made it out of T1 I pretty much just said "f*ck it, we'll do it live" and kept going but when I remembered it at the end of my transition rack I did stop to take it off and throw it back into my transition spot.

IMO it really doesn't hurt you on the bike as long as it's not too hot outside and you have one of the non-rubberized speedsuits. The textile material in suits like the Xterra velocity ++ is basically the same material that's in the new Kiwami Amphibian, so it's not like that stuff can't be worn on dry land...
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matwcb

May 13, 12 13:34

Post #66 of 111 (2113 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [chrisbint] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

So a few weeks I did my first Tri of the year.... a Super Sprint. I was a little late and pumped that the swim was still wet suit legal. I parked about half a mile from the packet check in and had my transition bag on my back like a backpack and then my wet suit in a plastic shopping bag. I decided I would ride my bike in and get a little warm up. I kept my wet suit in the plastic bag in my right hand while holding the base bar. Can you guess what happened next? Wait for it..... right as I passed a couple of lean mean looking triathletes (they're probably on ST) I noticed how close that plastic bag was getting to my front fork. And the wet suit got sucked up in my front tire and I completely flew over the top of my bike, landed on my head, had pretty annoying road rash, and deep bone bruises on top of my left foot, and my left palm.

I did PR the Sprint though.

The lean mean triathlete said he was very impressed how I flew through the air, so I got that going for me.....which is nice.

TriAya

May 13, 12 13:44

Post #67 of 111 (2099 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

The most embarrassing thing to happen to me in a triathlon ...

the very fact of my participation! :)

oooo

May 13, 12 14:29

Post #68 of 111 (2042 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [TriAya] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Turning up fat and useless to a pretty important race that I have won twice.......and Vince, even though I've lost 35lbs since then you are not allowed to post pics.....You either Jen..

----

smartyiak

May 13, 12 14:46

Post #69 of 111 (2028 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [TriAya] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

At the first Nanticoke Triathlon (2008), I came in 10th overall. I hung around for the BBQ. While I was munchin on a hamburger, I was announced as the winner of my age group. I finished 4th in my group, but since the three in front of me finished 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. they made me the "winner."

Note: I felt pretty sheepish walking to the annoucer...I still took the medal:)

calbear08

May 13, 12 18:06

Post #70 of 111 (1915 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [ZackC.] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

It was his speedsuit. I was hanging out in the area before the mount line waiting for my bf to come through; must've been pretty close to the photographer. Was giddy about seeing Javier up close and personal. Pretty pumped to spot him running in, just in front of McLarty. He came racing towards the exit with his bike and as he was passing in front of me he yelped incoherently, leaned his bike against the fencing and went tearing back to his rack to get rid of the suit as Dustin continued through. Needless to say I giggled just a little bit and felt a lot better about all the stupid things I've done lately. Easy for anyone to get swept up in the moment, pros included :)

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tridork

May 13, 12 18:25

Post #71 of 111 (1875 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [mike s] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

A co-worker and friend has just one leg. He swims OK and routinely competes in open water events here in New Zealand. At most races, one of his kids meets him at the waters edge and he uses him as a running crutch and he hops to the finish line.

At one race, the swim ended at a pontoon. The catchers dragged everyone out of the water. I swim faster than him so as I had a race number, I finished, found his wife in the crowd, carried his fake leg back down the finish chute to him as he exited the water. I got all sorts of strange looks carrying a fake leg down the ramp. Of course my buddy had difficulty sticking his wet leg into the socket. but got it good enough and lurched up the ramp to the cheering crowd!

TriDork

"Happiness is a myth. All you can hope for is to get laid once in a while, drunk once in a while and to eat chocolate every day"

N8

May 13, 12 19:57

Post #72 of 111 (1810 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [tridork] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

IMLou 2009:
Meant to leave my sunglasses in my T1 bag race morning, realized after the T1 to swim start death march I still had them on me. Stuffed them in my singlet pocket under my speed suit - not comfortable. Then, after a pretty horrible swim, got to T1, got everything on, stood up and realized I still had my speed suit up to my waste. The day didn't really improve from there.
Only redeeming feature of the trip was Jockey Silk's bourbon bar in the Galt House.

Nathan Berg
F.I.S.T. Certified Road Race and Tri/TT Bike Fitter
Albuquerque, NM
http://www.fit2wincycling.com

tridork

May 13, 12 21:39

Post #73 of 111 (1750 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [Shg101] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Shg101 wrote:

rjsurfer wrote:

You haven't lived till you start the run with you're bike helmet on !!

Or till you start the bike leg of a duathlon and try to mount with your running shoes still on.

OR raced a du in the winter, in a speedo, in THIS millenium. Eh Terenzo! ;-)

TriDork

"Happiness is a myth. All you can hope for is to get laid once in a while, drunk once in a while and to eat chocolate every day"

ryan.triguy

May 13, 12 23:45

Post #74 of 111 (1705 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [tridork] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Came out of T1 in lead pack went to jump on bike as usual and right foot slips right off my shoe. try to catch myself without falling and end up putting right foot into spokes of bike. As bike comes over slices my right big toe down to tendon. Although jacked on adrenaline pick up bike and continue with 2nd fastest bike split. got half mile into run before looking down to see why foot hurt so bad to see blood draining out side of shoe. finished top ten then got whisked off to ER where wife works to get 10 stitches in bottom of big toe. not before getting my post race pancakes and sausage though.

Philosoraptor

May 14, 12 1:28

Post #75 of 111 (1677 views)

Re: What is the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in a triathlon. [ryan.triguy] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

ryan.triguy wrote:

At the closing club race of last season, I saw this happen to a guy coming into T2. Oh boy did it look painful. It was so bad it busted the spoke on his wheel.

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