On Sunday I completed my 7th Reston Sprint Triathlon-yep I have been at it that long! I first started “tri”ing in 2007 and took a few years off somewhere in there and came back to it 2 years ago. I have been training a little differently this year and I think I’ve finally learned a few things. Here’s a little re cap of how the Swim, Bike & Run went down.
10 years ago this was a small, local race with only 300 participants. Fast forward 10 years and, as the sport of triathlon exploded so did this race, now hosting almost 1000 athletes. Not too many women did tri races 10 years ago and now it seems that there are more women than men at many of the races. Gotta love that!
Swim-This 400 meter swim takes place in a 50m (Olympic size) pool that has swimmers seeded by time. The water was a little chillier this year (73 degrees) due to the cold, rainy May we had. I’ve been swimming pretty consistently this winter and I was feeling much more comfortable going into the swim despite the cold temps. That first second you submerge into the cold water, you can feel your heart rate sky rocket and your breathing accelerate. I knew this would happen and really focused on getting my breathing under control. By the 2 nd length I was feeling good. I had my best swim time on this course yet by about 30 seconds. Happy face!
Bike-I have been really training much more aggressively on my bike this season and it is paying off. Those crazy scary hill rides I have been doing have given me much more confidence on the down hills and I have learned how to use my gears more effectively. I know this is a hilly course (3 laps for a total of 12 miles) and I was ready for it this year. Despite the fact that my chain fell off on the 3rd loop, I was still able to improve my course time by about 2 minutes.
My 2 transition times were a little slow have no idea why (2:30 and 2:39) as I don’t remember anything that would have held me back.
Run-This run course is always a challenge for me and this year was no different. Actually, my run was horrendous from the get go. As soon as I started, I knew my legs did not have much left after that bike course. Just a few minutes into my run, the craziest thing happened. A guy was walking his dog right on the race path and as I ran by him, his huge dog jumped on me and almost knocked me over. It was really scary! On I went but I swear, I think I could have walked faster than I ran. I felt awful the whole time and had my worst run time ever. My final time was almost exactly the same as last year.
The most important take away I have from this race, is quite obvious really. It’s very hard to improve in 3 disciplines at the same time. I am proud to have made huge improvements in my swim and bike times this season so far. 2 out of 3 isn’t bad! I know that I need to work on doing some more “brick” workouts before my next race in 6 weeks. The transition from bike to run is my challenge right now and I will be working on my weaknesses.
Thanks for reading this long recap! Tell me-What have you learned from a recent race that you can work on?
linking up with Coaches Corner
I love reading your tri recaps. You’ve made so much progress. That’s a big leap on the swim! And the bike… I’d panic if my chain fell off! What was that dude thinking on the run path?! I swear, people just don’t think anymore. Oy.
Anyway, congratulations! Can’t wait for the next one!
I am not a dog person but it seems lately that I keep having encounters with them out on runs. People sometimes do not adhere to the leash laws. Yes I am happy with the progress I’ve made and onto the next one
That would have really shaken me up to have a dog jump on me during a race! It sounds like you made so much progress on the swim and bike. Tris sound so hard and I really cant imagine running after the other workouts. Sounds like you did great, congrats!
It was an odd occurrence for sure but I think my run still would have bombed. Something to work on for sure
Congrats on a great race! That’s so scary and random about the dog jumping on you! WTH? I hope the dog owner apologized.
And yes to the pool swim! That is the only kind of tri I could do.
It’s kind of an odd crazy thing with the dog for sure! The guy did not even seem to think he was in the way so weird. Yes pool swims are for me for sure
I’ve learned that so much of my ability is mental! I didn’t feel super prepared for my last race but I went into with an attitude to just have fun and not put pressure on myself and I did better than I expected!
I love it when that happens!
Oh my – the dog would have scare me as well! I wonder why the guy thought the best place to walk his dog would be on the path?! so weird!
I’ve never done a Tri but I can only imagine how your legs must feel after swimming and bike riding! Kudos to you for another triathlon finish!
The dog thing was so random! Yes it is hard to run after biking I just need to practice it more the next few weeks
You really immersed yourself in tri training and it’s paying off! Congrats on a strong race! That’s crazy to have a dog jump on you like that. Geez. I agree with you: making all three sports a focus is tough to say the least. You did great!
Thanks! I have made a lot of progress this year now if only I can figure out the bike to run part
Congrats on finishing the race! Huge accomplishment! Love the photos 🙂
Thanks so much!
Yay! Congratulations. Sounds like you had a great race. Good job. I for one, will never TRI a tri, but I admire triathletes like you
Thanks! You are such a strong runner that it would probably be a breeze for you
I hope my comment went through on your blog I often have trouble seeing it
Congratulations! What a huge accomplishment to progress in all three areas! So exciting! I also love how the demographics of the race have changed over 10 years!
Ok, that was me! My phone was acting crazy and posted my comment before I was ready! 🙂
Thanks so much! Yes the tri race scene has changed quite a bit!
I’m super impressed with the fact that you were able to improve in all three areas! That’s really cool! Great job and congrats! It’s interesting to hear about the change in demographics of this race over 10 years!
As I’m currently attempting to train for a tri that starts with a 1/4 mile ocean swim, and just had a pretty bad first attempt at an ocean swim, I realize that I really need to find more of these tri’s that are pool swim. This may be my first and last attempt at an open water tri, if I even end up going through with it!
The ocean swims kind of scare me and I would imagine with the current be a lot more challenging. You are one tough cookie though so I expect you will breeze through. I wonder if they have pool swims out there?
Great job improving on your swim and bike times! Crazy that a dog jumped on you during your run, not sure how I would have handled that!
It was oddly strange for sure!
Just reading this I’m tired. I love following you on Instagram and seeing all the fun things you are doing. That part with the running and the dog is crazy. People amaze me at times at how clueless they can be.
Glad you had more good times then bad times (running). Either way.. it’s pretty darn awesome in my book.
Thanks so much Mikki it is promising to have improvements
You did amazing no matter how you look at it! Huge congrats. And that dog…. I love dogs but seriously dude? Get away from the course
Thanks! It was a little crazy with the dog for sure
Looks like such a fun event! What gorgeous weather for it too!
It turned out to be a great weather day
I have learned (and re-learned) that you just have to go with what the day gives you. Whether your energy tanks, or the legs refuse to move, or the weather throws you a curve ball…just keep going and make the best of it. I would think the swim would be the toughest part of a tri…because it’s all up to YOU to stay afloat (no coasting down hill or taking walk breaks LOL)….and you have that mastered 😉
You are the best cheer leader!
Great job! I’m so in awe of all your triathlete mamas. I can’t believe your bike chain came off and you still improved in that time. Amazing! And seriously? Dog jumping on you during a race? Not cool.
It was a crazy time for sure!
Wow. Congrats on the swim and the bike – but ugh on the chain and WTF on the dog??!! I would have been so pissed. You are a better person than I am. I’m sure things will go better next time, but it sounds like things went pretty well!
Thanks I am proud of the progress I’ve made this year
Impressive work. Very inspiring. I’ve done a few 5k races but that is it. I’m not sure I have the determination to train for a triathlon.
You totally could it’s just time consuming
Congratulations! Sorry to hear that the run was a bit rough for you. Hopefully next race there will be no dog that will hold you back and your legs will feel like going quicker. I do not think I would mind the pool for the swim. I would think open waters would be chillier and harder due to the current and waves.
Yes open water swims are a little tougher for me because I get kind of freaked out not being able to see in the water
Congrats!
thanks so much Bethany
Improving in two areas is awesome!!! Congrats to you! I have never done a triathlon before, but there is a cool Mother’s Day one in my area that I considered the last couple years.
I think you should do it next year!
What is with chains falling off??? I had it happen to me, and a friend at the kids’ tri last weekend had it happen, too! Yuck!
And I’m so sorry about the dog. That’s really uncool. 🙁
However, it does sound like a lot of your training paid off! Way to go!
The chain thing has happened to me twice. I think maybe I am too aggressive on the shifting sometimes not really sure.
Wow, that’s an impressive amount of growth in 10 years for this event. And that sounds pretty scary about the dog jumping on you during the race 🙁 I’m glad you were ok!
Yes the dog thing was really odd and I am not really a dog person at all
Kudos to you for reflecting on this race as much as you have. Even when you do a race multiple times, there is still something that you can learn from the experience. Here’s to next year and your 8th go at this race!
Yes there is always something you can learn for sure
Great job. I am in awe of anyone who can master all three sports. You have and keep getting better.
You are too sweet thanks!
Congrats! It sounds like a great experience minus your run in the the dog. You’ve made a lot of progress – that’s awesome! I can’t even think about a tri until I figure out how to swim in open water, ha ha. My swimming is horrible.
Thanks I am happy with the progress I’ve made this year
Great job! You really have been putting in serious work on the bike, and now it is time to spread the love. but you can’t do it all at once, so don’t beat yourself up! That is like trying to improve speed AND distance in running simultaneously. Ain’t going to happen!
So true! I have spent more on the biking and swimming the last few months and now I need to focus back on the running.
I’m so inspired every time I read a try recap. Lessons always learned with every race.
Yes indeed and thanks
You’re a rockstar! Great job accomplishing that milestone
Thanks so much