Finally got around to do a triathlon for the first time, it was a half Ironman. In retrospect maybe I should have done some shorter ones before this one, but since I did my first marathon 2 weeks ago I felt I was on a roll. The event was held at Stavern, south-west of Oslo in Norway. Sky was blue and the water warm.
Oslofjordtriathlon klubb were the people in charge and I’d like to thank Bent, Jørgen and all the others in Oslofjord for a fantastic event. Especially the nice sunny weather which my skin seemed to disagree with (me being a redhead with very fair skin. I look like a boiled lobster)
Swim : I was a bit anxious about the swim, since I had only owned a wetsuit for one week and tried it once in openwater. That and the fact that I learned to crawl in jan/feb this year. The course was a loop to be done 3 times, being a weak swimmer I let the semi-fish people go ahead and do their thing while I tried not to swallow to much saltwater and keep an eye out for jellyfish…thankfully the jellies were at a depth of 1 meter or further down, but they felt a lot closer. I finished the swim in 40 minutes which I was well pleased about.
Bike : Took my time in T1, to make sure that I greased my skin with enough sunblock. As I picked up my bike, the pedal fell off. Being a newbie, I thought “Hmm thats strange”. One of the spectators told me I could just screw it back on, I thanked him kindly and was on my merry way. The plan was to do the bike leg in 3h. The leg was a 18k to be done 5 times, and was flat/rolling. And I started out way to hard, which came back to haunt me towards the end. Seing that I had never biked 90k in my entire life it was intresting, I brought with me two bars and two gels, picked up one banana and drank almost 3 litres ( about 1.5 water, 1.5 energy). I believe that I didn’t drink enough, considering the sun, and how hot it was and that I sweat like a race horse…I should have drunk more and maybe had some salt-pills. Half-way though the 4 round I felt that I was running empty and I was starting to cramp a bit. Finished the bike leg in 3:05, so I was happy. So far two new personal records : 1.9km open water swim, and a 90km bike ride.
Run : Entered T2 with a jam sandwich, which cause of the sun, had turned it into toast but it sure did taste good. Threw of my bike pants, changed shoes and off I went…300 meters later I was cramping in both my quads and hamstrings. The first thing that struck me was “Hmm this might take some time”. The run was a 5.25k to be done 4 times. With a waterstation every 2.5k. The course was 50-50 on asphalt and forest-footpaths, pretty much flat but with some hills. The run took alot longer than expected, my goal was 2hours for the run. But with having to stop and stretch / walk, it took me 2:36 with a little bit of pain.
Total time 6:30:43, exactly 30 minutes behind what I was hoping for. But considering that this was my first ever tri, and that I really have been neglecting riding my bike (started riding outside for the first time in march, ever) I am well pleased with myself. I did however learn alot from this, that in that kind of heat I need alot of fluids (minerals). I didn’t bring any bars/gels with me on the run, and I did feel empty. Maybe for the next time I’ll get some sort of race belt or something similar.
Only one thing to do now…find another race and train. (maybe gain 3 kilos so I can race as a Clydesdale)
Again I would like to give a big hand to Oslofjord. (I know a couple of them drop in here from time to time.)
Marius