Want to know how a cyclist would do in a tri with no run or swim training? I don't run or swim and I don't really know how to swim or float. But my cycling season is done and this race is really close to my house, so let's give it a shot.
Swim: total panic 100M in, almost quit, ended up swimming the 900m mostly on my back, with some breastroke and sidestroke thrown in. 20 minutes. Lost 7 minutes to the leaders. Drank lots of water and swallowed lots of air.
Bike: Had the fastest bike split in the race. 26 minutes. Overall winner's bike split was the second fastest but I still beat him by 30 seconds. Made up between 3-6 minutes+ on everyone else in the top 20. Burped out some of the air from the swim. Wondered if I should hold back something for the run. Shoe fell off my bike while I ran with it and I realized I have no idea what the heck I am doing.
Run: Couldn't find where to rack my bike, blew 25 seconds looking for my number. Put on shoes sockless and holy cow, running is hard, especially after biking hard for 25 minutes. After 1 mile my stomach calmed down (burped some more air I probably swallowed during the swim) and legs started to feel okay, but I could tell my feet were getting destroyed. At the 15 minute mark I could tell the skin on the balls of my feet had definitely been ripped off... Slowed way down, painful to finish. 20:04 run, which was good enough for top 20, but lost 2 minutes to the winner.
Won my age group and 15/300 overall is really good! Glad I didn't pull out during my first openwater swim ever, which was frantically terrifying. How do I avoid blistering during the run? Do I have to wear socks? Get some triathlon shoes? Dry my feet thoroughly? My feet were wet the entire bike as well. I suppose running before the race would probably also help?
Still debating whether I ever will try openwater swimming again. I'll probably just stick to duathlons.
Swim: total panic 100M in, almost quit, ended up swimming the 900m mostly on my back, with some breastroke and sidestroke thrown in. 20 minutes. Lost 7 minutes to the leaders. Drank lots of water and swallowed lots of air.
Bike: Had the fastest bike split in the race. 26 minutes. Overall winner's bike split was the second fastest but I still beat him by 30 seconds. Made up between 3-6 minutes+ on everyone else in the top 20. Burped out some of the air from the swim. Wondered if I should hold back something for the run. Shoe fell off my bike while I ran with it and I realized I have no idea what the heck I am doing.
Run: Couldn't find where to rack my bike, blew 25 seconds looking for my number. Put on shoes sockless and holy cow, running is hard, especially after biking hard for 25 minutes. After 1 mile my stomach calmed down (burped some more air I probably swallowed during the swim) and legs started to feel okay, but I could tell my feet were getting destroyed. At the 15 minute mark I could tell the skin on the balls of my feet had definitely been ripped off... Slowed way down, painful to finish. 20:04 run, which was good enough for top 20, but lost 2 minutes to the winner.
Won my age group and 15/300 overall is really good! Glad I didn't pull out during my first openwater swim ever, which was frantically terrifying. How do I avoid blistering during the run? Do I have to wear socks? Get some triathlon shoes? Dry my feet thoroughly? My feet were wet the entire bike as well. I suppose running before the race would probably also help?
Still debating whether I ever will try openwater swimming again. I'll probably just stick to duathlons.