Post by jillmc on Aug 5, 2010 22:10:58 GMT
Eric said could I write a few words from a female perspective about the triathlons I've done this year, so here goes.
I joined Kingswood Tri Club in January after a young male friend persuaded me that I could do a sprint tri. I thought, "In for a penny, in for a pound!" so booked up 8 sprint triathlons through the summer, 5 of which I have now completed. I could hardly swim front crawl at all when I started, but persistence and James' encouragement have resulted in gradual improvement and I can now do the 400m front crawl, albeit not very fast!
Tewkesbury was the first sprint tri that I did in May. I was a bit nervous but the event was well run and the nerves eveaporated once I got in the water. My swim was slow as I relied on breast stroke but the cycling and run were ok. If anyone is thinking of doing Tewkesbury next year, it is a fast, flat cycle ride of about 24km. The only drawback is that the car park and the pool and transition areas are about half a mile apart.
I then did Westonbirt. It was another good event but I faffed around in the first transition and lost a few minutes there. Nerves I think!
Springfield was next, at the end of June. I was a bit scared on the cycle ride which had a very fast descent down Box Hill 3 times and then a gruelling climb back on another road each time. It was a tiring cycle ride but fun too. Legs were a bit jellified for the run!
I did the Bristol sprint. Had a very early start time owing to my slow swim-7:45 am. The cycle ride started on a really steep and seemingly endless hill out of Tockington towards the A38, but after that it was really flat. The run was round a field of cabbages a couple of times, dodging piles of horse manure! It was good fun, but, as Philippa said, most of us didn't see each other as there were a lot of entrants spread throughout the day. I did enjoy this one but my time was a bit slow even for me.
Picked up though at the Cheltenham super sprint in July. I'd finally cracked front crawl and used it without any breast stroke and took a couple of minutes off my swim time. Eureka! The cycle ride was off-road round a park adjoining the pool so no long run to the bike. It was my first time on my new mountain bike. I managed the gears but my chain came off. After my initial panic, I manged to put it back on and completed the cycle ride in fairly good time. The run was really short, just over 2km and I was pleased with my time of 11 minutes. I'd thoroughly recommend this triathlon. It was very well run and the 33m pool was great!
I still have Portishead, Malmesbury and the Somer AC sprints to come. My main aim is to improve my overall time, but especially my swimming. Next year, if I'm brave enough, I'll try a couple of open water events.
Really glad I jpined Kingswood Tri Club. I don't think I would have had the motivation on my own. Maybe next year I won't be the slowest swimmer in the group!Eric said could I write a few words from a female perspective about the triathlons I've done this year, so here goes.
I joined Kingswood Tri Club in January after a young male friend persuaded me that I could do a sprint tri. I thought, "In for a penny, in for a pound!" so booked up 8 sprint triathlons through the summer, 5 of which I have now completed. I could hardly swim front crawl at all when I started, but persistence and James' encouragement have resulted in gradual improvement and I can now do the 400m front crawl, albeit not very fast!
Tewkesbury was the first sprint tri that I did in May. I was a bit nervous but the event was well run and the nerves eveaporated once I got in the water. My swim was slow as I relied on breast stroke but the cycling and run were ok. If anyone is thinking of doing Tewkesbury next year, it is a fast, flat cycle ride of about 24km. The only drawback is that the car park and the pool and transition areas are about half a mile apart.
I then did Westonbirt. It was another good event but I faffed around in the first transition and lost a few minutes there. Nerves I think!
Springfield was next, at the end of June. I was a bit scared on the cycle ride which had a very fast descent down Box Hill 3 times and then a gruelling climb back on another road each time. It was a tiring cycle ride but fun too. Legs were a bit jellified for the run!
I did the Bristol sprint. Had a very early start time owing to my slow swim-7:45 am. The cycle ride started on a really steep and seemingly endless hill out of Tockington towards the A38, but after that it was really flat. The run was round a field of cabbages a couple of times, dodging piles of horse manure! It was good fun, but, as Philippa said, most of us didn't see each other as there were a lot of entrants spread throughout the day. I did enjoy this one but my time was a bit slow even for me.
Picked up though at the Cheltenham super sprint in July. I'd finally cracked front crawl and used it without any breast stroke and took a couple of minutes off my swim time. Eureka! The cycle ride was off-road round a park adjoining the pool so no long run to the bike. It was my first time on my new mountain bike. I managed the gears but my chain came off. After my initial panic, I manged to put it back on and completed the cycle ride in fairly good time. The run was really short, just over 2km and I was pleased with my time of 11 minutes. I'd thoroughly recommend this triathlon. It was very well run and the 33m pool was great!
I still have Portishead, Malmesbury and the Somer AC sprints to come. My main aim is to improve my overall time, but especially my swimming. Next year, if I'm brave enough, I'll try a couple of open water events.
Really glad I jpined Kingswood Tri Club. I don't think I would have had the motivation on my own. Maybe next year I won't be the slowest swimmer in the group!
Jill
I joined Kingswood Tri Club in January after a young male friend persuaded me that I could do a sprint tri. I thought, "In for a penny, in for a pound!" so booked up 8 sprint triathlons through the summer, 5 of which I have now completed. I could hardly swim front crawl at all when I started, but persistence and James' encouragement have resulted in gradual improvement and I can now do the 400m front crawl, albeit not very fast!
Tewkesbury was the first sprint tri that I did in May. I was a bit nervous but the event was well run and the nerves eveaporated once I got in the water. My swim was slow as I relied on breast stroke but the cycling and run were ok. If anyone is thinking of doing Tewkesbury next year, it is a fast, flat cycle ride of about 24km. The only drawback is that the car park and the pool and transition areas are about half a mile apart.
I then did Westonbirt. It was another good event but I faffed around in the first transition and lost a few minutes there. Nerves I think!
Springfield was next, at the end of June. I was a bit scared on the cycle ride which had a very fast descent down Box Hill 3 times and then a gruelling climb back on another road each time. It was a tiring cycle ride but fun too. Legs were a bit jellified for the run!
I did the Bristol sprint. Had a very early start time owing to my slow swim-7:45 am. The cycle ride started on a really steep and seemingly endless hill out of Tockington towards the A38, but after that it was really flat. The run was round a field of cabbages a couple of times, dodging piles of horse manure! It was good fun, but, as Philippa said, most of us didn't see each other as there were a lot of entrants spread throughout the day. I did enjoy this one but my time was a bit slow even for me.
Picked up though at the Cheltenham super sprint in July. I'd finally cracked front crawl and used it without any breast stroke and took a couple of minutes off my swim time. Eureka! The cycle ride was off-road round a park adjoining the pool so no long run to the bike. It was my first time on my new mountain bike. I managed the gears but my chain came off. After my initial panic, I manged to put it back on and completed the cycle ride in fairly good time. The run was really short, just over 2km and I was pleased with my time of 11 minutes. I'd thoroughly recommend this triathlon. It was very well run and the 33m pool was great!
I still have Portishead, Malmesbury and the Somer AC sprints to come. My main aim is to improve my overall time, but especially my swimming. Next year, if I'm brave enough, I'll try a couple of open water events.
Really glad I jpined Kingswood Tri Club. I don't think I would have had the motivation on my own. Maybe next year I won't be the slowest swimmer in the group!Eric said could I write a few words from a female perspective about the triathlons I've done this year, so here goes.
I joined Kingswood Tri Club in January after a young male friend persuaded me that I could do a sprint tri. I thought, "In for a penny, in for a pound!" so booked up 8 sprint triathlons through the summer, 5 of which I have now completed. I could hardly swim front crawl at all when I started, but persistence and James' encouragement have resulted in gradual improvement and I can now do the 400m front crawl, albeit not very fast!
Tewkesbury was the first sprint tri that I did in May. I was a bit nervous but the event was well run and the nerves eveaporated once I got in the water. My swim was slow as I relied on breast stroke but the cycling and run were ok. If anyone is thinking of doing Tewkesbury next year, it is a fast, flat cycle ride of about 24km. The only drawback is that the car park and the pool and transition areas are about half a mile apart.
I then did Westonbirt. It was another good event but I faffed around in the first transition and lost a few minutes there. Nerves I think!
Springfield was next, at the end of June. I was a bit scared on the cycle ride which had a very fast descent down Box Hill 3 times and then a gruelling climb back on another road each time. It was a tiring cycle ride but fun too. Legs were a bit jellified for the run!
I did the Bristol sprint. Had a very early start time owing to my slow swim-7:45 am. The cycle ride started on a really steep and seemingly endless hill out of Tockington towards the A38, but after that it was really flat. The run was round a field of cabbages a couple of times, dodging piles of horse manure! It was good fun, but, as Philippa said, most of us didn't see each other as there were a lot of entrants spread throughout the day. I did enjoy this one but my time was a bit slow even for me.
Picked up though at the Cheltenham super sprint in July. I'd finally cracked front crawl and used it without any breast stroke and took a couple of minutes off my swim time. Eureka! The cycle ride was off-road round a park adjoining the pool so no long run to the bike. It was my first time on my new mountain bike. I managed the gears but my chain came off. After my initial panic, I manged to put it back on and completed the cycle ride in fairly good time. The run was really short, just over 2km and I was pleased with my time of 11 minutes. I'd thoroughly recommend this triathlon. It was very well run and the 33m pool was great!
I still have Portishead, Malmesbury and the Somer AC sprints to come. My main aim is to improve my overall time, but especially my swimming. Next year, if I'm brave enough, I'll try a couple of open water events.
Really glad I jpined Kingswood Tri Club. I don't think I would have had the motivation on my own. Maybe next year I won't be the slowest swimmer in the group!
Jill
