Ouch –
times for Sunday weren’t flash at all!
100th out of 101 (actually 109 entries as there were 8 DNFs)
Swim + T1 16:42 (not bad considering my swim was about 13
mins!)
Bike + T2 33:23
Run 27:25
Overall 1:17:30
Placing 100
/ 101
Righty-o, it is now time for the post-event analysis!
What went well?
Transitions
– having all my gear laid out properly made it faster. I’m much better at this now.
Shoving my
bike in the car the night before, with bottles, shoes, helmet, socks and
sunnies in the bento box.
Bike shoes,
cleats and pedals made riding easier and faster. .
The
interactive checklist – a total life (and sanity) saver
The “no
bags in transition” rule which meant I could not take any extra stuff, as I had
to carry all my gear myself. I took only
the essentials.
Having time
to go dip in the water before the event – the water was nice and warm when I
got in to swim in the actual event.
I did
freestyle with my face in the water – awesome work! I am now comfortable
swimming in open water with my face in it!
I think my
new Blueseventy outdoor goggles helped with the open water swim too
Putting on
my timing chip and transition entry bracelet the night before
The new
bento box (TriBag) on my top bar was awesome, as I put a gel, protein bar, my
mobile and money in it.
The new saddlebag
(aero wedge) was big enough to fit two tubes, tyre levers, a patch kit, a gel,
a ventolin, band-aids, extra bike tools, instructions for puncture fixing, and
my car keys – and still had room for more.
Rock on!
Loved the
finisher’s towel – it was a nice surprise!
Having my “foot
water” bottle for rinsing sand and grass off my feet, and my triwoman
finisher’s towel for drying off. Nice,
small and efficient. The girl next to me
even wanted to use it (of course I said yes) – thought the water and towel were
great ideas. No buckets in my transition
area!
Turning my
race number belt around on the bike so the number wasn’t flapping around my
front when I was riding.
Bandaid-ing
my toes and wearing good moisture wicking socks on the bike and run stopped
more blisters.
Going to Cheltenham to muck about in the water afterwards, by
myself, was awesome!
What did not go so well?
Sleeping in
thanks to failing to double-check my alarm to make sure it was set to everyday,
not weekdays.
Not putting
gas in the car the day before, having to get off the motorway and gas up. Oops!
No support
crew to help with my gear or valuables
Swimming
with back pain – not good
Forgot to
have my symbicort before the event
The
transition official replacing my end cap with electrical tape, which flew off
on lap 2 of the bike and stuck itself in my wheel. Not cool.
No race
photos of my own…bugger!
Nobody
cheering me on and a lack of friendly faces at the finish line
Not having
time for breakfast (cereal, fruit, yogurt, toast, protein, coffee)
Not
hydrating adequately before the event
Back pain
from doing a new exercise three days before the event (dumb, dumb, DUMB!)
Not getting
food until well after the race (no support crew to hand me my picnic bag!)
Putting on
my timing chip the night before then going to the supermarket – everyone gave
me funny looks as they must have thought it was a home detention anklet!
What I need to do differently for future events
Double
check my alarm is set to everyday, not just weekdays only!
Gas up the
car the night before.
No foreign
exercises within a week of the event – so nothing I do not already do
regularly!
No strength
training within a week of the event – I do not need the tiny muscles tears!
Massage two
or three days before the event (in fact, every fortnight would be better)
Hydrate and
eat properly before the event
Get to the
event earlier than I did for the Contact (assisted by not sleeping in!)
Having my
symbicort first thing in the morning
Make sure I
get race photos and have a support person there
Would like
bike shoes with a triathlon heel pull (but that will happen one day when I get actual tri shoes, not road shoes)
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