Can a Triathlon Be Too Short?

I think it can, especially when you have to change shoes between the bike and run and everyone else just kicks off their bike and hits the road. This was a really short very relaxed triathlon designed more for experience then competition. A 200 meter swim, 3 mile bike ride, and a 1 mile run added up to a lesson on transitions and a medal for my friend Kate.

Let's start with the swim. At 200 meters you would think most could manage it with some rest at the ends. But as I was swimming along I looked to the sides and EVERYONE ELSE WAS RUNNING ON THE BOTTOM OF THE POOL! I was the only adult lady (there were only 7 of us) that swam the entire distance. Kate has been working on her swim but she too abandoned her stroke in favor of faster feet. I still exited the pool near the front of the pack but was way more winded then the others. Oh well, it was for fun, right?

The ride was tough. The wind was blowing about 20 mph by then and one mile of the course was on dirt road. It was washboard rough most of the way and hard to pick up speed. I was on my road bike and had to wear my clip-in shoes so I was able to make up some time on the ride, but it was way to short to really make a difference. I passed a few ladies but it was not a fun ride.

The next transition killed me. I had to change shoes while everyone else, and I mean everyone else since I was the only rider with clip-in shoes, just kicked out, dumped their bike and hit the road. Once again, my lack of stamina in the run did me in. No one passed me but I wasn't able to pick up any ground. And one of the riders I passed on the bike slipped ahead of me in the transition. It was not an impressive time for me but even if I had run well it wouldn't have moved me up to the medals.

Kate on the other hand did awesome! She swam/walked her way out of the pool and had a pretty good ride. She made up some ground on the front runner but just couldn't chase her down in the run. She finished second in her first Mini Sprint Triathlon! She is just learning how to swim correctly and appreciated the irony of receiving a "swimming" medal as the event was put on by the local swim team.

What I learned was that with my slow run, I need a decent length swim/bike to make up any time I'm going to lose on the run. And having to change shoes in a really short race wastes too much time. I had a great time with the ladies and actually know all 7 that participated. Kate was thrilled and proudly put her triathlon sticker on her car. I need to get me one of those!

Next up, the Holcomb Mini Sprint Triathlon - 200 meter swim (no walking allowed!), 9 mile ride, 2.5 mile run. Turtle Power!