On Sunday I remembered how much I loved doing Tri races and I also remembered how hard it is to run after biking.
Reston Sprint is a small local Tri Race in it’s 9th year. I did this same race 9 years ago (and 3 more years following) when there were only 300 people and most of them men. Things have really changed in the Tri world as women have really taken to the sport in the last 10 years. This year over 800 athletes were signed up with 50% women. There is something very low key and charming about a smaller race especially one that is so well “run”. The fact that this is a 50 meter pool swim makes it a great choice for beginners as well as experienced racers.
I don’t really know why I took a 4 year hiatus from Tri races. I started training for 10 mile and half races and I guess it was too much for me at the time to do both. It is always great when you have friends willing to sign up for races with you & my friends were such good sports. When I suggested the idea to them back in January neither of them even had a bike and they both borrowed bikes to train for the race. They both had been high school swimmers so I knew they would be just fine.
In the weeks prior to the race, we did a few mock transition run throughs so they would feel more comfortable with that aspect. At packet pick up Saturday, we checked the water temp and found it to be a balmy 79 degrees. No wetsuit needed!
We attended the course overview talk and checked out the bike racking area. We scoped out our assigned spot and found it to be right next to a tree and a porta John so very convenient and very easy to remember where it was.
Happy surprise to find I would be getting a special “5 star” race shirt for doing the race for the 5th year.
Flat mama was laid out and ready to go the night before. Obligatory bowl of pasta eaten. I can never sleep the night before a race and for some reason always think alarm won’t go off. Has your alarm ever not gone off? No! It’s just so silly.
Transition was quickly set up and we were ready to go.
I was a little disappointed in my swim time. I have been taking a Master Swim class for the last few months and I have seen lots of improvement in my times. I was feeling pretty confident about a pool swim but I started a little too fast and had a hard time finding my breathing rhythm. Somehow I also miscalculated when I ducked under one of the lane lines and my swim cap caught on the lane. How? I have no idea but I had to adjust it. I ended up about 30 seconds slower than I expected.
The bike was my best leg of the course. It is a hilly 3 loop course but since I have done it before I knew where the hills were and I was able to pick up some time on the 2nd and 3rd loops. I was happy to learn that I had my fastest bike time by a little over 2 minutes. Small victories!
The run course is a challenging 5k and I knew it would be the hardest leg for me. With the injuries I had this winter, I was not in the ideal running form I would have liked to have been. I always forget how hard it is to run off of the bike. My legs were certainly feeling like jello for the first half mile. My goal was to run with the new form I’ve been working on and prevent any further foot issues. I was really dying and when I got to the water stop I walked through it and walked for about 30 seconds.
My friends and I all finished within a few minutes of each other and we were all feeling pretty accomplished. So glad they were there with me. We ran into Kim at the finish who snapped this photo for us. Thanks!
Even with a not so stellar run, I ended up with a course PR of about 30 seconds. I’ll take it! My friends rocked their first tri and I “tri-ed” to warn them it was addictive and we are already looking to plan some more together.
Next up for me: Iron Girl in about 10 weeks. I will be working on doing some more bricks so I can feel a little stronger on the run.
Wonder if this ever gets easier? Do you worry your alarm clock won’t go off?
linking up 
This just makes me want to do a Tri even more! Congrats on getting back in the saddle! And how silly about your swim cap…
You would rock it! Those kind of weird things always happen to me 🙂
You inspire me! I was going to try a Dual this summer but now I have to make sure my foot recovers. I think there’s one in August … Love the 5 star shirt!
You will heal up super quickly just be patient. I know easier said than done. If you find an event let me know and I will try to join you.
I just did my first brick workout this season and omg I forgot how hard it is to run after biking!! I totally feel the same way about my alarm so I usually set two alarms and make my husband set one too (better safe than sorry!) I’m going to check out the MD area for an Aug race- none of the PA ones are fitting into my schedule- let me know if you have any recs!
ooh do you want to do Iron Girl with me? It’s in Columbia MD check it out. Yes the bricks are so hard I need to do more of those.
Congrats on your course PR! That is awesome! Tris seem really difficult to me and I give props to anyone that does them! Thanks so much for linking up <3
You would rock it!
ALWAYS fear my alarm won’t go off!!
I’ve done two tri’s and agree! so fun because you don’t get bored, always changing…but for that same reason so hard too!
They are hard but I like the challenge and it forces me to mix it up.
Ahhh this makes me what to get back into tris. I did trained for 8 months and did two in one summer in 2010 and loved it, but haven’t got back into it since. I have all this gear just waiting to be used again! Glad you had a good experience 🙂
Well then you must use it!!I was happy to get back to it too.
Congrats on your course PR! What a great accomplishment! Here’s a strong 10 weeks of training so that you can have a stellar performance at Iron Girl.
Thanks! I am excited for it.
I totally dream of doing a Triathlon one day. I have no clue when it will be but since I see so many people breaking the barriers of age, there is still time for me.
I cannot wait to read about the #IronGirl. Go girl!
Absolutely you have time! #DebPower 🙂
I’m glad the swim cap thing didn’t hold you back too much and you pushed on to a course PR! This sounds like a fun event, especially with friends. And I’m always afraid my alarm won’t go off.
Thanks and I am glad that I am not the only wacky one!
Congrats on a great race! I miss doing tris right now, but at least I fit it all in before kids! One day I’ll be back!
I have no doubt you will!!
Congratultions! Glad you and your friends had so much fun. Love the pics.
Thanks and we really did!
Hooray!! Congrats on the course PR! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – you’re a rockstar!
And you are a sweetie! Thanks it was lots of fun
Sounds like it was great, in spite of a few small snafus! I wish I was brave enough to try a tri.
I always set several alarms for race mornings. Mind you, I generally wake up at 3AM just to make sure I hear all the alarms that I set. You would think I would have some peace of mind LOL.
I know seriously what is wrong with us?!
congrats! and great job! Kudos for getting out there and now an Iron Girl! whew, that makes me tired and scared just thinking about those! 🙂 and yes for the record I always worry my alarm is not going to go off, call us predictable! Nice review!
thanks it was tons of fun and I never sleep the night before a race 🙂
Well done! A sprint tri is definitely on my bucket list! You make it look so fun!
It really is! Hope you give it a tri 🙂
Congrats Deb! Way to rock a PR! Wow I’d be all over a 50m swim about now. My upcoming tri is 800m and I’m wigging out the slightest bit. Yes, running of the bike haunts me too. I hope it gets easier.
My next swim is longer too-need to work on that. Look forward to reading about yours
I always worry that my alarm won’t go off. So then I don’t sleep very well…
Me too! what is wrong with us?!
Way to go!!!!!! I wish I could find a sprint tri in my area, it sounds like so much fun!
They are so much fun and new challenges are always fun for me. Hope you give it a tri
I can’t help but giggle and think of the Seinfeld episode where the racer comes in and they are worried about his alarm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Khys7LfwT8c They worry and than he thinks he made the wake up service at the hotel mad and takes him back to his place and long story short the alarm doesn’t go off.
Ha ha I don’t remember that one!
Congrats on getting back out there and the course PR! That’s awesome, especially if you’ve been out of tri-mode for awhile. Excited to follow your training journey for IronGirl.
Thanks! I forgot how much I loved it. I have a long way to go but I am glad to be back.
Great job on your Tri. There is so much more involved with those than just plain running. Goodluck training for your Iron Girl in this summer heat.
Never done a tri. Will do a marathon first, then think about something else. I ran quite hard this pas Satursday and when I went to the pool this morning I was really feeling it. My legs were really tired. I swam an hour but I felt the fatigue. Biking is not my thing… but never say never ! I would definitely be tempted to try a small race, but I am a bit afraid of speed and falling. Biking is like skiing, thrilling but a bit scary.
I am always afraid my alarm will not go off. It did happen to me once in my life, for one of my very first really important presentations at work. I still remember it, though it was almost 20 years ago !
ha yes I think the marathon is your race right now. But you never know!
Awesome job on your tri and way to go on the course PR!! I’m not quite ready for a tri yet but may sign up for a duathlon with a friend for this Fall!
That also sounds really fun!
Congrats, Deborah!! Now I wish I signed up for this haha 😛 You now have me excited for August.
I wish you had too! Next year
Congrats on the tri! Love that you had nice warm water for the swim.
It’s always so fun to do it with friends and you got a 30 second PR – woo hoo!!
Iron Girl sounds like a lot of fun!
Thanks I am glad to be back! Maybe next year you will join me.
Awesome job! Congrats on your PR!
And yes…I’m always convinced my alarm won’t go off – crazy right?! 🙂
Thanks and I know it never fails to go off any other day!
Running after biking is so hard! Congrats on your PR, that’s wonderful!
Thanks it is hard I no doubt need more practice
So awesome! Congrats on your PR!
Your pics are awesome– I wish I could get into the concept of tri but I am not a biker or a swimmer… so I stick to my running!! 🙂
Well….those 2 components are kind of key! LOl
You totally make me want to try a tri!! This would be the kind of race to attempt too. It would HAVE ot be a pool swim!!
A pool swim tri is a great one to start with. I get nervous in the lake swims.
I’ve always wanted to do a Tri… I think I would need to start off small… I’m not the best bike rider and am so nervous to be surrounded by so many other people! I am ALWAYS paranoid that my alarm won’t go off. Especially when I have a race. So I usually set 3… and have my mom call me. Hope you have a great day!
Wow 3 alarms! Ok I dont’ feel so crazy 🙂 I hope you do tri one sometime. There are lots of smaller ones around
I always worry my alarm won’t go off for an early wake up call. Congrats on the race!
Thanks! It was lots of fun
Big congrats, Deborah!! You are so ‘hard core’ 🙂 love reading about your races!!
Well I don’t know about that!! But thanks I tri 🙂
I always worry about my alarm not going off! Usually before a race I get no sleep because I’m tossing and turning thinking about how I have to get up early lol. If I end up doing a tri I want it to be one of the Iron Girl ones!
I toss and turn the whole night before as well. Come do Iron girl with me in Ausust!
Congrats!! I know you’ll kick butt at Iron Girl!
Thanks so much! I sure hope so
Congrats on your course PR! I, also, have a hard time sleeping the night before a big day because what if it’s the one time my alarm doesn’t go off?
I know seriously how crazy is that?!
I’ve always wanted to do a tri! I can’t wait until I can start running again. They have a bunch of tris by me 🙂
They are so much fun hope you have the chance to do one soon. Have a great weekend 🙂
This must have been a fnatastic race and how cool that so many women participate! Excited for you and your training for Iron Girl! Way to get back into Tri!
Thanks it was so much fun to do with friends and I am happy to be back a tri races. Forgot how much fun they are!
I love reading your race reviews. Just a few questions… What do you mean by working on bricks? and When you switch from one leg of the race to the next, what do you do with your stuff that you no longer need to carry? Great job on the PR!