Three Things I Learned From My Race

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One thing I love about triathlon, is that there are always opportunities to learn.  Races in particular, especially races like the one I had yesterday, are great for learning. So what were the top three things that I learned yesterday.

I need to become a better swimmer, when breathing to the right.

The swim yesterday was very choppy.  I am most comfortable breathing to the left, and on the swim out to the furthest buoy, I was  breathing into the waves. At one point, I took a full mouthful of water, while breathing in.  This caused me to almost choke and I had to stop swimming, while I coughed and recovered. When I started swimming again, I chose to breathe to the right.  While this helped avoid the chop, I quickly lost my rhythm and as a result, got out of breath, which forced another brief stop.  
 

I need to get faster at changing my tube, when I get a flat.

According to my bike computer, I was stopped for just under eight minutes, while changing my tube during the race.  While not a complete disaster, I do think I should be able to complete a tube change in five minutes or less.  The thing I struggled with most, was getting my tire off the wheel rim.  I think this was mostly because, in my haste to get the tube changed, I was rushing and not thinking.  I didn’t take the time to push the tire bead off of the rim, all the way around the wheel. Changing a tube is definitely something I need to practice more often.

If bad things happen, your race is not over.

This lesson, is something I did well.  Even with a rough swim and a flat on the bike, I didn’t quit.  After my swim, I pushed hard on the bike.  After my flat, I continued to push hard on the bike and I ran really well.  I ended up 3rd in my age group and was only a minute, behind the guy who came second.  My motto on the Road ID band I wear is “Don’t Stop, Never Quit”.  Yesterday, I was able to do that.