Mariah here checking in to give you my recap at my most recent race. I’ve had time to ponder the race and what I did right and didn’t do right, and wanted to share a brief recap of my experience.
My experience at the Age Group National Championships in Cleveland, Ohio can be summed up in one phrase, lack of preparation. I did not go into the race with high expectations bur rather, ignorant ones. I assumed my prior athletic background would help me excel. Although it is true a running background offers an added bonus, preparation is the number one indicator of success. I prepared for the race, but my training did not include a comprehensive approach and assessment of all the possible variables that come into play on race day.
My weakest event – by far – was the swimming. To prepare, I swam twice a week at my local pool for three months. Occasionally, I would swim in the ocean. By the end of my training cycle, I could swim well over one mile without stopping. Despite what I thought was thorough preparation, I was in for a rude awakening on race day.
The race was located at Edgewater Park adjacent to Lake Erie. The lake is shallow, and even the most minor winds can cause choppy water. My age group was one of the last groups scheduled to start. By 9:30 am, the wind had picked up, creating even bigger waves. Within a few minutes of beginning the swim, I was ready to tap out.
The choppy water made it impossible for me to gain momentum because I was unaware of how to swim in such rough conditions. Water would splash into my mouth when I tried to breath, choking me. I eventually resorted to the backstroke so I could avoid swallowing water. The lifeguards were pulling in several triathletes because they too were unable to handle the harsh conditions. Conditions were even so bad an older male competitor tragically drowned on the course. Several times throughout the swim course I contemplated quitting. I mustered up all the courage and strength I had left and finished the swim.
By the time I transitioned to the bike, I was depleted and ten minutes behind the lead pack. The bike only brought on additional challenges. Halfway through the bike course I approached a sharp u-turn and was unable to make the turn, crashing into the sidewalk and scraping my leg. At the end of the bike, I realized my back tire was flattened which caused my pace to drop significantly. Although I finished the race, my time was well below my personal best.
My takeaway from the race is I should have prepared more by studying the course and all possible conditions months before the race so I could adjust my training. When training for the swim, I needed to account for strength of currents, wind strength, water temperature, time of day, and whether it is a lake or an ocean. Because the ocean is much deeper than a lake, the waves are less choppy. The waves in the ocean tend to be much more significant. As a result, I did not know I needed to alter my technique depending on the depth of the water. I should have practiced in a lake.
In addition, I would have been more prepared if I had taken more time to consider my weaknesses. My weakness is the swim. As an amateur swimmer, my training included two swim workouts per week. However, if I wanted to truly be competitive, I should have been swimming three or four times a week. Furthermore, I need to incorporate more strength training into my workouts. Triathlons are much different than marathons or other running competitions. Triathlons require a unique combination of power and endurance, utilizing many more muscle groups.
Finally, I need to prepare more by getting to know my bike! Your bike is like your horse. I should have known everything about how it works. This means I need to spend some time studying bike mechanics and repair. On race day, I should have spent more time making sure everything was functioning perfectly.
Ultimately, you will be in much better shape if you avoid the mistakes I made! I wish you luck in your future competitions and please leave your questions in the comment section below.
Until Next Time Be Whole & Be Fit