First ever triathlon report (yes it's a triathlon but it has cycling in it! 
)
As above really, my second ever event, my first was only a duathlon back in October, so this was my first ever proper triathlon - albeit a sprint distance one. So that's 400m swim, 15m ride, and 5km run.
I was a bit apprehensive as I've got a half iron man in just over a month, and so it was probably best I have a stab at a triathlon beforehand to practice transitioning etc.....
Swim:
It was a pool swim, so 16 lengths of a really well heated pool. Which made it a shock coming out of into the 5C outside (with this damn northerly wind!). Swimming is by FAR my weakest discipline, but I've made a lot of progress over the winter. It didn't go too bad, but for the first time ever I must not have put my goggles on properly as some water leaked into the my right eye which irritated me, and I had to waste some time at the end of one length re-seating them. No idea how that happened. A very average time, 23rd fastest of the day.
Then came my first proper attempt at a flying mount! Fortunately infant of where all the crowd gathered, I didn't muck it up. But it did take quite a while to get one of my shoes on, as it was a fiddle when wet and slippery.
Ride: https://www.strava.com/activities/2342946409
My strongest leg by far. In any triathlon, this will always be the one I make up time for an average swim, and enjoy the most. The route did go through the town centre, and it did have 3 sets of traffic lights on route. I had a red light for 2 of them. We did get time back, but I'm sure we would have been faster if we could ride right through it.
I've done quite a few brick training sessions, but never at this intensity, so I was not sure how hard I could push on the bike to save enough for the sprint 5km. In the end I was happy with how I did, although I think I did bit too much in the week, and so wasn't quite at full strength. Never the less, I managed the 3rd quickest bike time of the day, and averaged almost 300W for the 40 minute or so ride. Because of my slow swim time entry (to decide where you start) it did mean I had a lot of traffic to pass on the ride, which meant battling with a couple of cars trying to do the same.
Luckily the dismount was much easier, although for some stupid reason I almost waited until after the mount line to get off, no idea why I thought that! Thanks to the marshall who shouted to remind me!!
Run: https://www.strava.com/activities/2342946371
The run was an
almost 5km route along the river. Some of it was road, but most was a walking path. I didn't get on with it too well as you were running in this tiny path thing, that of course everyone was trying to run in. Over taking meant running in the longer grass, and you weren't sure what the terrain was like. I found it hard to just get into a rhythm, albeit for only 5km ish.
I tried not to look at my watch too much, and just run at what I felt was comfortable for the distance. I managed just over 6:15 min/miles, which wasn't too bad for me! 3rd fastest run of the day.
To my amazement, I managed 4th overall out of 100 or so. Just over 1:30 off a podium! The guys above me were about a minute faster at swimming, so that's the area I need the most improvement.
A great event overall, and I learnt a lot. Probably the most helpful was that I know I can't obviously go at anywhere near that pace over a half iron man, and pacing with the next stage in mind will be tricky again.
Next event, the Stafford 70.3 on June 9th. All I can say, is I'm really NOT looking forward to the swim, but the rest.....we'll see.
) not as good as previous years but considering my time off I was happy with my effort and getting back on it. The main pain I noticed was in my back and right arm. Definitely need to get back doing core work alongside my normal training. Hopefully this should speed up my recovery to normality (coach reckoned 8 weeks to get back to where I was pre holiday)