Trizou Swim
Originally uploaded by kerner

Last weekend I went to Columbia, MO for my first triathlon of the summer (3rd triathlon ever). This race is billed as the largest pool swim tri in the Midwest – that is not a good thing, my friends.

I checked in and set up my stuff up in the transition area by 6:45am, as required by the schedule. Then everyone filtered into the indoor pool area to start the swim. We lined up by time, fastest to slowest, according to signs stuck on the walls. The race volunteers gradual let each section of swimmers out of the bleachers to go stand in line around the pool. I'm not a very fast swimmer, so I'd say I was about 2/3rds of the way back in the crowd. Because it was a pool swim, each person gets in the pool and starts the race about 5 secs. after the person before them. I did not get into the pool until 9:30am – that is a long time to sit around a pool in spandex with 800 of your closest friends!

Trizou Bike in front of Faurot Field
Originally uploaded by kerner

The swim went really well – I didn't break any speed records, but I managed to swim "slow & steady" as planned, and not freak out and screw up my breathing. Swimming is the most foreign to me of the three sports involved in triathlon, so I am happy to report I am starting to feel a lot more comfortable in the pool.

The bike… oh, the bike. I've actually managed to fit in quite a bit of riding this spring between all the rain storms. What I haven't done is practice riding fast. I could never seem to get going and there were some killer hills.

Trizou Transition Area
Originally uploaded by kerner

The transition area was very well organized, even with so many participants in the race. I was able to spot my bike from a good distance, thanks to my signature white plastic bucket that I use to carry my stuff to the race and doubles as a seat for me the change my shoes.

Trizou Run
Originally uploaded by kerner

Finally, the run… it was a fairly flat course, and it weaved in and around the area near my freshman dorm, so it was a bit of a trip down memory lane for me. That doesn't exactly explain my surprisingly fast time… but my only other explanation is that I always try to catch people in front of me when I'm running, and this race had the added element of everyone's age written on their right calf. I especially liked catching up to and beating out of shape 20-something guys. =)

All in all, it was a great race. I also got to visit some friends from high school that live in Columbia, eat the best pizza in the world (Shakepeare's!), and I got a cool t-shirt – yay!