I participated in an all-women Triathlon/Duathlon this past weekend. Since I suck at swimming (the last time I did a tri, I swam backwards because I was on my back to get air!), I just did the run-bike-run.
Results: A miserable 12/16 in age group and 39/93 overall.
Here are my splits:
T1 00:10:47.0 (1.5 miles)
Bike 00:52:06.9 (11 miles)
T2 00:02:20.9
Run 00:23:02.8 (2.5 miles)
Finish 01:28:17.6
Here were my issues:
- – transition 1: knot in running shoes!!! Laces on biking shoes were too tight; hands were cold making it difficult to unknot and unloosen laces! Boo on me!
- – Bike: mountain bikes are heavy and are especially heavy when they won’t shift any lower than 4th gear on the 2nd chain ring when going up steep hills. This kinda tapped my legs out. It also convinced me that I have to replace my derailleurs (I put it off at the last tune-up)! On the upside, I managed to stay on my bike.
- Transition 2: Again with the shoes. I fumbled around with the switch back to running shoes. I’m too slow in transition!
So, if I were faster in transition and on my bike (had I hit my projected pace), I probably could have saved 10 minutes which would have placed me 8th in my age group and 22nd overall. I would have been happier with that, for sure….
I talked with the woman who placed second at the start line and at the end. She was really cool and very modest. Kudos to her for a great performance!!