It is funny sitting here the day after my first Olympic triathlon experience. My legs might be a bit sore, but my mindset is completely different to when I sat and wrote this article on the eve of my first race. It almost seems silly how nervous I was now that I’ve completed the event. All of that came from the pressure I put on myself to perform well and my bowels certainly didn’t thank me for it! Fortunately, everything has returned to normal in that arena. Anyway that’s enough talk about my pre-race toileting habits. Let’s have a look at what my first Olympic triathlon experience was actually like.
Up With The Birds
No I don’t tend to follow the sleeping patterns of young women in Hertfordshire. I am of course referring to the fact that my alarm went off very early. 5:40 am to be precise, which I think is good going for a Sunday. I rose, showered and then made a breakfast that I thought was fit for champions.
I wanted to ensure I ate this hearty breakfast around 2.5 to three hours before my start time. I’m used to swimming pretty much fasted in the mornings and didn’t like the thought of all that food sitting there while I swam. I guess that comes from childhood when my mum always told me not to eat before swimming.
By half past six I had everything loaded in the car ( pre-checked the night before ) and I was heading north up the A1 to the race.
Arriving At HQ
Arriving at the ATW St Neots Triathlon was a very different experience compared to the day before, when I’d wisely decided to go and recon the route. The empty field I had strolled across was now full of cars and the whole place was a hive of activity.
It felt a little intimidating stepping out of the car, watching other competitors coming and going and seemingly having a much better idea of what they were doing compared to me. Most of them looked pro in my eyes with seemingly better kit and even their bodies looked quicker standing still. Yes I know. I really should focus on my own race and remember that a book can’t always be judged by its cover.
What I loved right from the off though was the buzz about the place. It seemed virtually every competitor had family and friends with them and everybody was there to enjoy it. My supporter was to be my dad. He doesn’t do mornings, so it would be some time before I’d see him.
In the meantime it was also good to get chatting to a guy parked next to me. He just so happened to be racing his first Olympic triathlon too. I think chatting away to each other helped ease our nerves somewhat, as we both joked about our hopes to survive the swim. Hopefully, six foot eels don’t live in Cambridgeshire waterways!
Setting Up
Goodness me can I faff! After signing in, collecting my race number and accidentally leaving my car key at registration, it was time to head into the transition area. Well after I went back to collect my keys.
I was expecting to be given a a space, but actually had the option to choose, which I did. I picked a spot right at the end of one of the racks, so I would be able to find my bike easily after the swim. It was also nearest to the exit for the start of the run. Rather handy I thought!
I then started unpacking my bag and arranged everything in a way that I thought would make each transition as quick and easy as possible. It felt like there was so much to think about and I just couldn’t help but think I’d forgotten something, a bit like Kevin’s mum on the plane in Home Alone. Unfortunately, it must have been a premonition. I’ll let you see if you can work out what’s missing in the photo below. Don’t worry if you can’t though. They’ll be more about this major cock up later!
When I started setting up transition, I felt like I had plenty of time to spare. The main commentator though ( a hilarious Australian bloke ) soon announced that we all needed to head down to the water’s edge in fifteen minutes. Panic time.
A quick race back to the car was needed to collect and put on part of my wet suit, I also needed to attach the timing chip to my left ankle and check the goggles for tightness. All was good on that front.
My First Olympic Triathlon Experience- The Swim
I would be completing the 1500 metre swim in The River Ouse on the outskirts of St Neots. Standing by the water’s edge was a nervous affair, with many more competitors than I expected.
The fact I’d never swum with such a large group of people seemed very hard to ignore.
To deal with the nerves I did what I always do and got chatting to another competitor close by. He was struggling to do up his wet suit and so I offered him a hand. I am sure he was thankful for this and kindly returned the favor. Maybe it’s just me but I find it a right faff trying to do up the suit on my own. Seasoned athletes make it look a right doddle of course!
After the briefing from the friendly Australian, we were asked to enter the water and make our way to the middle of the river. The sides were shallow and my feet sunk into the soft ooze on the bottom. Call me a lunatic, but I quite liked the feel of it. No need for a foot massage, Just head to The Ouse.
I spat as unthugishly as I could into my goggles and rinsed them just to ensure they didn’t mist up ( tried and tested ) before positioning myself at the back. I’d ease gently into this one, as I knew the front would just be a sea of frolicking arms and legs. I didn’t fancy much of that on my first outing.
The Swimming Experience
When the horn blew, it was time to splash and dash. I eased into the swim, just finding my rhythm and feel for the water. It felt great. I had space around me and the nerves fell away pretty quickly.
It didn’t take long until I found myself overtaking other swimmers and I tried to get into the slip stream of others. I’d heard how beneficial it can be from reading articles like this. Unfortunately, I got a foot in the face for my trouble, due to not seeing it until the last moment. It certainly wasn’t the other triathlete’s fault.
The 1500 metre swim involved two laps of an out and back course. It was easy to navigate, what with the buoys having to be kept on the left and all the other swimmers. If you are somebody who struggles to swim in a straight line when open water swimming, then rest assured that it’s much easier in a race.
With a couple of bits of weed hooked onto my feet, I soon found myself reaching the end of the swim in 30 minutes and forty three seconds. Slower than I know I can swim usually, but good enough to come out of the water mid pack. I’d survived and actually really enjoyed it. Time to climb out using the ladders and head into transition…..
Transition One- It All Goes Wrong……
And the slowest transition in the whole field went to……….me. Firstly, I struggled to get out of my wet suit. I just couldn’t get the velcro undone, which had been so simple during other open water swims before.
This was nothing though compared to what was to come. I got the suit off, put my helmet on and then went to find my blue cycling shoes. There they were. A lovely pair of blue shoes. My running shoes. The cycling shoes were nowhere to be seen.
Then it hit me. I’d left them in the car. I could even see them in my head sitting in the passenger foot well. What an idiot! It is a good job no children were around the transition area, because a few choice words were used.
Luckily my dad had arrived at that point and offered to go and get them. I handed him my keys and off he walked. I was very grateful he was there, but in that moment, I just longed for him to run. It was like he was out for an after dinner stroll. Hurry up man! I calmed myself down though and reminded myself that I was very fortunate to have him there at all. A marshal also spotted what was happening and ran off to help. What a star he was.
It seemed like an eternity before they returned and in the mean time all I could do was watch all the other swimmers I’d overtaken come and and head out on their bikes within a minute or two. In the end my transition time here was just shy of nine minutes. Thanks again dad for your rescue and of course the marshal too for helping and allowing me to continue. I have since read that help like this can get your disqualified in certain events. As I finally collected my bike and headed out near the back of the field, I could only have those words from the 90s group D:Ream in my head- things can only get better.
My First Olympic Triathlon Experience- The Bike
Time for redemption. This is my forte and the discipline where I know I can make the biggest time gains. Years of time trialling has made me pretty good at cycling against the clock in a solo effort. I’d need every bit of that experience to make up for the time I’d just shed due to the footwear incident.
Right from the off I found myself starting to catch other riders and this is something that continued around the entire 28.5 mile route. Nobody passed me. I was able ride in an aerodynamic position pretty much the entire time and ended up averaging just under twenty three miles per hour over the quiet rolling lanes. My race belt also performed brilliantly too, holding the number in place extremely well.
It was a wonderful course and had a bit of everything. A couple of steep climbs, some sweeping descents and some long fast sections to really get the bike up to speed. The road surface was also distinctly British. Speed humps, rutted sections and silky smooth tarmac were all on offer. Thankfully, bike-sized potholes weren’t evident. You need to head to Hertfordshire for them!
I must also add that I nailed my hydration and nutrition on this leg of the race. Over a litre of electrolyte drink was consumed to replace what had been lost in the swim and 2 gels and a flapjack were taken on too. It ended up being enough to fuel me for the run without the need for anything more.
In the end, I completed the 5th quickest bike split with a time of 1 hour 16 minutes and thirty five seconds out on course. Pleased with that. It was good coming into transition with not that many bikes already in.
Transition Two & The 10 KM Run
You’ll be pleased to hear I was able to complete the second transition in under two minutes and so was soon on my way. The brick training I’d completed had prepared me well for the jelly leg feeling you get when transitioning from the bike to the run. Click here to find out more about the benefits of brick runs if you’d like to know more.
Because of this, I got straight to it and was able to hold my target race pace of just under seven minutes a mile pretty well. I caught several more competitors and the legs felt good. Unfortunately the stomach didn’t. It wasn’t upset though. The issue was excess gas, which must have come from the drinking on the bike. By around mile two it was uncomfortable and I had to keep slowing to allow myself to burp. Not ideal. I of course ensured there were no female competitors around when I did this.
The best thing about the run was the distinct lack of hills and the many marshals and general public shouting words of encouragement along the way. The fact you completed four laps and got to drink water and pour it over yourself each time in the summer heat was a bonus too!
Gradually my pace slowed to just over seven minutes a mile, but this felt sustainable and I knew I would get to the finish strongly doing it.
In the last mile I was really able to lift the pace and practically sprinted the final couple of hundred metres to cross the finish line. My overall running time was 43 minutes and forty seconds, which I was very happy with.
Ice cold water, protein bars, fruit and even an alcohol free beer went down very well at the finish line together with a medal.
My Thoughts After Event
Boy did I learn a lot during my first Olympic triathlon experience. I discovered that I am more than fit enough to complete all the disciplines and be pretty competitive on the bike and running legs.
My overall time was 2 hours 41 minutes and 40 seconds, which placed me 13th overall out of the nearly 70 strong field. That time and placing doesn’t tell the entire story though when you factor in that terrible transition. Combined with my second transition, it added up to around ten and a half minutes. Looking at the results shows that virtually everybody ahead of me spent between one and a half and two a half minutes on them. Factor that in and I may have been in a battle for sixth or seventh place. Certainly very encouraging for my first outing and one that puts real fire in the belly to train hard for the next one.
Finally, I must add how much I enjoyed my first triathlon even with the ups and downs along the way. I’m still on a high now and can’t wait to do my next race. ATW did a wonderful job hosting the event and I’d highly recommend trying one if you can. Give it a ‘tri’. Even if it hurts, just remember what the Aussie commentator said. ” That hurt like heck and you’re probably saying never again, so see ya at the next one.” He reads the field and the faces well that’s for sure!