My First Triathlon - 1/8 Ter Aar

The time has arrived that I competitively try to glue swimming, biking and running into one event....triathlon.

Preparations have gone well, and besides mtb race and 10km run, I also tried various duathlon combinations like run-mtb-run and swim-run.

After averaging some 10 hours of training a week since January, I was ready for my first triathlon.
Having looked at the event schedules, I picked Ter Aar 1/8th triathlon as it was close to home and as it offered a 1/8 version which meant swim 500m, cycle 20km, and finally run 5km. It was a great opportunity to get into the sport and learn a little more about transitions....and did I learn through some newbie mistakes I made.

I do have to confess that I was a bit nervous day before as well as in the morning of the race.
Most of the nervousness yesterday was due to weather forecast for the race morning. A few days back it started with being a very nice sunny and warm day, which changed day before race to a little colder (which was welcome), but also much windier and above all rainy....meaning roads would be wet and with my limited experience I was afraid and unsure of how to handle it.  Should I get some tires with profile, or stick with the slicks? After a few phone calls and Tweets, I decided to stay with slicks and use the advise of wise man to just be careful in the corners.

Night went decently good, and wake up call was an early one as Ksenija needed to travel on business to Frankfurt, but also due to the fact that I had to be at triathlon venue at 7:45....somewhat early for a 10:00 start.

In any case, car was packed and I was on my way to Ter Aar which is only 20 minutes from my house. I was alone (kids at Baka and Nonno)...so unfortunately no great photos this time.

After arriving it was time to inspect the venue. Swimming was done in a pool...and outside heated pool which was nice...but many will tell me that this is not a true triathlon where you should be swimming in open water. To some degree I agree, but still it was swim/bike/run = triathlon.

Transition area was all was nicely set up, and I was ready to race....its about time! GO!!!

Water in the swimming pool was quite nice. Before it all started I managed to get a few laps of warm up....and then it was time to give it all.

First leg of this triathlon was 20 laps in the pool, or 500m. Swimming pool and transition area map.
These went nicely and actually faster than I was expecting. I was in lane 4, with some other boys and I believe 1 girl. I got assigned into heat that started at 10am as I indicated a 12min expected time for the 500m....which at the time of enrollment was what what I was averaging.
During the swim there was some pushing but nothing serious, and I believe I was out of the pool in less than 9 minutes. At this time I don't have the official timing results, but my Garmin said 8:50.

As I got out of the pool I felt a little dizzy for a few seconds, but as I started running towards the transition zone it was all gone. Transition was smooth and went quick.

Second leg of this triathlon was 20km biking, 2 laps of 10km. Course map.
I was out of the transition zone, and started climbing on my bike....and here came my first mistake....not sure why but I got nervous by speaker saying my name, and where I was from....and I just made a fool out of myself by not being able to clip my shoes onto the pedals....first timer in triathlon....great nice P2 with nice Zipps....and I didn't manage to freaking clip on the pedals! Embarrassing! Not only that but I also almost fell!!! I think I easily lost some un-necessary10 seconds.
Bike portion went pretty good. I felt strong and averaged some 35.7 km/h over the 20km's in 32:19 with average HR of 161.
My new aero position was great, and compact!

Into T2 I made my second stupid mistake.....I got in, managed to change the shoes pretty quickly, and lastly it was the helm that I needed to take off....but no....no way! I could not get it off....not sure what was happening but it just wouldn't get off. After some time event NTB referee offered to help, but just as he started walking towards me I managed to get it off....this was another 15-20sec stupidly lost!

Third leg was running 5km....one loop.
I was out of T2 quickly. Legs felt heavy for the first km, but started to feel better soon after. My pace was quite good starting off with 4:26/km, then 4:28, etc. There was a long stretch of the run that was 100% into the wind, and that was not easy.
Towards the, virtually the last turn where an officially should have pointed that I needed to turn right to go to the finish....the official never said anything so I turned left after the athletes that were doing 1/4 tri, but luckily after some 50m I noticed the mistake and turned....so here comes the 3rd mistake...I ran 100m extra that was not necessary....so here another 15ish seconds extra....incredible.

In the end I believe I was the first 1/8 triathlon finisher...but I also started in the first of the 3 heats.....and there I was. First triathlon was done. On my Garmin I noted a grand total of 1:07:12, which is nicely below the 1:08 target...so yes I am very happy with the result....especially knowing that without the 3 mistakes I could have been below 1:07. Learn from mistakes is what a wise man on Tweeter said...and that is very right! I will make sure these do not repeat in te future.

Some ask on Twitter....did you have fun.....yes I did....but I have more fun training, and giving my 100% during the race. Only if it really hurts in the end I feel that I have given everything I had that day, and that is definitely the case for today as I am nicely tired.

Next race is the super sprint triathlon in Nijkerk, and then the 1/4 in Huizen....where a little different tactic will be needed.

It was a good event, and with this I would like to thank all volunteers and race organization for putting a very nice event together. Thank you!

Race details.....for the data lovers...

OFFICIAL RESULTS (click to see full list)
Total time     1:07:12
Swim               08:36 place 33
Bike                34:31 (including T1) place 12
Run                 24:05 (including T2) place 30
Overall 20th position out of 109 starters
In my age group 3rd place!!!!
In particular I am surprised with my after bike position.....HAPPY!!!!!

My Garmin 310XT measured time:
TOTAL time: 1:07:12

Swim 500m
...no Garmin details as I didn't set the watch to swim....so it came back with some funny data.

Bike 20km

Run 5km