I am a tri athlete. OK, a sprint triathlon and a very slow one at that but I did finish and didn't finish last. Actually I placed 3rd in my age group
(OK there were only 3 of us). This was a sprint which included a .75km swim, 20K bike and 5k run. It was held in Clermont Florida which is the hilliest place in the state. We dont train on hills because we dont have any, unless it is a highway overpass.
I arrived early so I could get a good place to park. Besides, I wasn't sleeping much anyway. Set up in transition, pretty easy based on all I read and just scouting around. They did have assigned spots and I was at the end of a row - the outside end but it did make it easier for me. And face it, time was not an issue for this race.
The swim which set the tone for the rest of the day. I borrowed a sleeveless wetsuit because the water was 67 degrees. I dont go into water less than 80 on a normal basis. It was brutally cold to say the least. Started off from shore and had to swim out, across, and then back to the beach. Up to now my only real swimming experience was in a pool. Open water swimming is a little (a lot) different. Not sure if it was because it was so cold, the water was dark, the waves were a little rough, or I was just excited/panicked, but I just couldnt swim. I can easily cover the distance in a pool without any problems. I just couldnt get my head down to swim. I'd get water in my mouth, and cough. It was terrible. The realization that I had to go all that way with a side stroke was daunting.
When I got to the first buoy to turn I was dead. I was still only 1/3 of the way but I would have stopped if I could have. I actually grabbed the large buoy but it didnt hold me up so I continued on. I wasn't alone. In my wave I was actually 18 from the back. Shows how many newbie's there were. Anyway, I did calm down enough to swim a good part of the last 3rd.
As I was running up someone yelled to me - it was the wetsuit strippers! Yea! Just lay down and they take care of the rest. OK, not what you are thinking. These are people that help you take off your wetsuit. I didnt think a race this size would have them but it was cool. It was quite a ways to the transition and I did kind of take my time. Did I say I was beat? I took a few extra seconds to wipe my feet and to actually change my jersey as it was a bit chilly and I thought having a dry one on would help.
Off on the bike to an immediate steep uphill. Not long but 30ft after that was another short straight up hill. Nice way to get acclimated! It was a very nice course mainly around the lake. There were a couple of really tough uphill sections that killed me. Did I say I was tired? I even lost my water bottle and turned around to get it. I had just bought it the day before, I was not going to lose it! Overall a fun course although I did spend a considerable amount of time up out of the saddle in first or second gear. That was new to me.
Next transition was of course quicker. Put on some shoes and my number belt an off we go. It was a 5k out and back. The Olympic distance people had to do it twice. I had practiced a bit getting off the bike and running some short bricks and it seemed to have paid off because I could run from the start. I didn't have the yucky feeling in my legs. I ended up with negative splits in the run so that is good.
One of the nice things about this was that the Olympic distance folks started before us but they had a longer bike ride. Did the same course as us but had an extra road or 2 they had to go down. This mixed it up a bit. There was always someone on the road with you. I'd be grinding it out going up a hill and here comes a $7k bike with disk wheels flying by. Let's me know how fast you can go on a bike
. But even the run, since they started earlier than the Sprint group, most of us ended up running at the same time so you didn't feel alone at the back.
My only real disappointment was in the swim. I dont care that I am slow it was that I couldnt swim. Never expected that. It just threw me so far off that it took most of the swim course to recover. Then of course I used up my legs doing the side stroke. But my first one is done. Already have another in June, I am sure more on the way. After another sprint or 2 I will do an Olympic or 2 then looking for half Ironman next year. Then, who knows. I'd love to do a full, but will wait until after the half is in the book
Heck I could even swim .75k. Did I mention that I was tired?
Enjoy,
Duane
I loved your race report, though you have officially scared me about the swim! 
My event is in a lake, along the shore, so I am hoping it won't be too bad. 
Never worry about asking questions. most of us here are still fairly new and did not know a lot of this stuff not too long ago.
