The Sudbury Spring Sprint

On Sunday I did my very first triathlon.  It was the Sudbury Spring Sprint.  Originally I had planned to just do one in Webster, MA this summer followed by a triathlon in the fall.  However, quite a few people recommended against that one being my first one.  Don't get me wrong, it's an excellent from what I heard.  The thought was just that what can be tricky about triathlons are the transitions and since Sudbury is both early in the season and much shorter, it makes a good practice run, no pun intended, for triathlons later in the season. 

I have to say that after doing it, I highly recommend it as well.  First of all, everyone was really friendly.  People went out their way to help me set up and explain exactly how the course was going to work.  Yes, I had read multiple books on triathlons and I had even practiced the course a couple times, but it was different when there were timing pads that I needed to jump onto and a certain path to get from the pool to the bike racks and from the bike racks to the biking and running courses.  While it's not a big deal by any means, it's something that you just really had to experience. 

I also got  to practice the logistics of the transitions.  For example, it just may be possible that despite having laid my equipment out on my towel in the order in which I would need it,  I leaned over my biking shoes and grabbed my running shoes.  This hypothetical situation would have occurred if perhaps I was so nervous about fastening my bike helmet that I couldn't focus on anything else.  Needless to say, if this were to have happened, I would have much very relieved that the course was only 7 miles instead of 12 miles. 

Hmmm...maybe this would be a good time to describe the course.  The swimming is a pool swim and was 400 yards.  The biking was 7 miles (two 3.5 loops) on a fairly flat course and the running was 2.3 miles also on a flat course.  There were people from all over New England participating. 

So what's my criticism of this event?  I really had just one tiny little gripe with it.  If you're describing where the timing pad is after the swim portion  saying that it's "under the maple tree" is not helpful unless you live somewhere like Arizona were there's not an abundance of maple trees.  Personally I just followed the screams of everyone when I got out of the pool and ran to the bike rack.  That seemed to work much better! 

Comments

[Fairly Odd Mother]

Congratulations Alex! That is a huge accomplishment! I only see triathlons from the sidelines while I eat donuts.