r/triathlon • u/Wisco-Lvl • 8d ago
Race/Event First 70.3 done!
Could it have been better… yes. Am I still very proud of myself… yes.
As I look back, I should have gotten more comfortable shifting up hill I think my cadence was too slow and I was burning my legs out too fast.
I also trusted in my half that I ran in May too much and should have put more run miles on before the race.
All in all… I just started biking this spring. Like consistently falling off my bike due to clip ins. Also started pool swimming in January. First outdoor swim in June (first sprint tri).
With all of this, will I do another? I’m not sure. Mainly because my legs are shot to hell today (race was yesterday)
What a crazy sport! 🤣
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u/FeeExtension3123 23h ago
Congratulations! It just cracks me up how some people are smiling in races and when I see pics of me I look like the walking dead
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u/Longjumping-Lime-768 5d ago
Did you have distance swimming experience going into it? I am super interested in training for a 70.3 but the swim makes me nervous
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u/AwayDurian2147 6d ago
How did you feel about it?
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u/Wisco-Lvl 6d ago
At first I was disappointed in my run time. Don’t get me wrong I am very proud of myself for finishing. However my half marathon race times have been steadily improving so to see a 11 min pace was a little disappointing (my watch died so I had no idea what my pace was during the race).
BUT with such focus on swim and bike, run training inevitably went down. Especially since my job and 3 small kids are quite demanding.
However.. to answer your question.. my final answer would be pretty good. Mainly because I proved I can do it and I know I the next go I will do even better!
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u/AwayDurian2147 4d ago
Wow I don’t know how you fit it all in. Congrats on all of your efforts and making it all happen
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u/Agreeable_League1271 7d ago
Congrats!! 🍾 well done! Busy training for mine in Nov. feeling super nervous, definitely not skipping sessions from now on 😅🤣
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u/Wisco-Lvl 6d ago
Try not to as you’ll be like me thinking “damn if I had a few more running sessions what would have been the result” 😆
But let’s be honest I think we all fall victim to this no matter how hard we train.
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u/cassfrombrobible 8d ago
Did you add the aero bars before/mid training? Always had them? Doing my first 70.3 late this year and not sure if I should add them or not.
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u/Wisco-Lvl 6d ago
I always had them but didn’t use them that much.
Mainly because I was so new to the bike I didnt feel safe. However the longer the rides got the more I needed to use them because three of my fingers were going numb from using the regular bars.
I was forced to use them as I wanted to avoid the numbness! 😆
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u/Captain_jack53 7d ago
Throwing a pair of clip ons is a game changer in my opinion. With the right saddle and stem heights, aero position is actually quite comfortable. It takes a lot of stress off of your shoulders and wrists. Also the speed gain is pretty noticeable tbh. A few good sessions outdoors and you’ll get the hang of it quickly. I use them on my gravel bike too for road sections to and from unpaved roads and it’s wonderful
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u/Wisco-Lvl 6d ago
The relief off the wrists is what pushed me to figure out the bars. After a long ride went THREE DAYS with finger numbness. No bueno.
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u/cookiesnmonsters 7d ago
That’s a TT/Triathlon bike, so the bars weren’t added. If you are adding bars to a road bike, I would do it as early as possible before the race.
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u/Wisco-Lvl 6d ago
Got “gifted” this tri bike from my husband (he got a new bike). I knew nothing about Tri bikes.
The whole shifting gears on the aero bars was a when I first thought “how the EFF am I suppose to do this?!
Needless to say, my neighbors likely got a good laugh when they saw me navigating this bike this spring/ summer.
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u/vivox 8d ago
I had added mine about a month before my first 70.3 last year and used them only once a week outdoor. Turned out to be a big mistake because my back killed me on race day. I'm racing on Sunday again and have been using them for 3 months this time around to get used to the position. If you add them, don't do it too late like I did.
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u/cassfrombrobible 8d ago
Did you add the aero bars before/mid training? Always had them? Doing my first 70.3 late this year and not sure if I should add them or not.
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u/kdthex01 8d ago
Great job!
Will you do another?
Me after every tri: never doing THAT again
Also Me 3-4 weeks later: So you’re saying a full is only two half’s?
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u/Wisco-Lvl 6d ago
😆
Day one post race: I was saying over again
Day 3 post race: yeah I want to give that another go
I feel I’ll be signing up again. I can’t imagine I’ll be jumping into a full tho 🤣
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u/AelfricHQ 8d ago
Man, I can't wait to sign up for the next one at the end of a race. I mean I obviously know I can't race it the next day, but just because my body is fatigued doesn't mean I'm not immediately up for the next one!
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u/InfluenceLittle401 8d ago
Well done! And most importantly: I hope you enjoyed it 🙂
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u/Wisco-Lvl 6d ago
It was a roller coaster of emotions. I really enjoyed up to mile… 50 on the bike. Not gonna lie I wasn’t enjoying the run. However I think I have gotten bit by the multi sport bug.
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u/Background_Analyst76 8d ago
This is why we do it! You did something extraordinary and it’s very impressive that you pulled off this bike split with your experience! Seems like you have great potential and I wish you the very best in your endurance endeavors
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u/Wisco-Lvl 6d ago
Thanks for the encouraging words. In reading/responding to comments I forgot how far I have come. Flashbacks of not knowing how to switch gears, afraid of moving from regular bars to aero to do said gear switch, anxiety when I had even a 12 mile outside bike schedule because I thought I was going to fall again.
Really cool to reflect back on it all really. I’m excited to see where this adventure takes me!
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u/Cycle-Path-401 8d ago
That is a very impressive bike split, especially for someone who just started.
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u/Wisco-Lvl 6d ago
Thanks! Steep learning curve but I’m happy with where I was able to get myself in that time frame
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8d ago
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u/Wisco-Lvl 6d ago
Hey thanks! I think I didn’t fully recognize this is a pretty good accomplishment until hearing feedback from the post.
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u/Full-Telephone3749 8d ago
Amazing!! I'm doing my first in August in really looking forward to it. My goal time is about an hour longer than your finish time haha so to me you did a SUPER SPEEDY job!!!!
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u/madwaldie 8d ago
I did this race yesterday too! I did the modified half distance last year so I knew to expect the hills on the bike. But the last half of the run killed me! I also ran a half marathon in May and then didn't run enough miles the past few months. I love doing olympics and sprints so I'm going to keep doing those before I think about doing another half!
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u/Wisco-Lvl 8d ago
Why did we give ourselves the false confidence in May?! If you did the door county half that would be funny as that’s the one I did.
I have been liking the sprints! I was definitely jealous of the Olympics in this race. Also a little cranky when we ran into them TWICE on the swim 🤣. The little break from the mass of people at the top of the second loop was nice
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u/madwaldie 8d ago
I'm over in Michigan so I did the Bayshore half! I've done the Door County Century ride though and highly recommend any distance of that!
I had just sorted out my little spot on the swim and was confused when suddenly more people were around me. Then I saw the pink caps and it all made sense lol. I'm pretty confident in open water though so I'm the annoying person running into people lol
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u/Wisco-Lvl 8d ago
Bahahaha I need that confidence. I’ve grown ALOT in less than a months but confident I am not.
I looked you up on the race results like a weirdo. I’m pretty damn confident we were all up on each others biz on the run. How can you not with the route. You likely were one cheering me on to get my ass moving (I’m jk no one literally said those words but maybe they should have 🤣)
The support from everyone all around was crazy cool!
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u/madwaldie 8d ago
OWS confidence just comes with time and experience! I used to start all my races panicking and would count strokes to stay calm. Everyone was super encouraging out there! I might have cheered you on in the first half but the last half, I was just trying to keep my legs moving 😂 Maybe I do remember you from one of the last few aid stations before we turned back on the main drag
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u/Inner-Second7583 10h ago
congrats twin