2016 Rookie Tri Event Guide

8/18/2019 2016 Rookie Tri Event Guide

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Tri with

Confidence

with our step

by step guide

what went wrong

with Jack’s first tri?-

everything! page 17

Rookies:

Navigate like

a Veteran

with Course

Maps page 18

Photo byTom Marek

Event Guide May 1st, 2016

+ WAVE START TIMES

SPECTATOR INFO

TRI CHECK LIST

& MORE!

TEXAS TRI SERIES: FULL SEASON OF FUN CONCLUDING WITH A PARTY! PAGE 10

AROUND TOWN:Events Calendar page 11

11

page 14

USAT Rules You

Don’t want to beCaught breaKing

page 12


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5 Welcome Letter6 Event Schedule

6 Wave Starts

7 How to Wear Timing Chip

7 Our Sponsors

8 Parking & Spectator Info

3 | The Rookie Tri

C O N T E N T S

Weather Contingency PlanIn the event of foul weather, the start time of this event may bedelayed up to 1 hour. Should the weather conditions be unsafe forthe swim, this event will be changed to a duathlon with distancesof a 11.2 mile bike, and 2 mile run. The start will be a time trialstart in the same order as swim waves. If the weather makes it

too dangerous for cycling, this event will become a 2 mile run.

9 Awards & Amenities

10 Calendar of Events12 The Rules

14 Triathlon Advice17 My First Tri

18-19 Course Maps


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Coachingindividual custom programs

small group training

race-specific

Personal Fitness Trainingone-on-one or small groups

gym or home locations

erin truslow

[email protected]

bigpistachio.com

We are

awesome...

We do stuff

together.

Big Pistachio

CoachErinT Insta


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5 | The Rookie Tri

W E L C O M E T O

T H E R O O K I E T R I

Dear Friends:

Welcome to the 2016 RookieTriathlon! We’re excited to haveyou join us for the 13th edition of

this event - the kicko to the TexasTri Series!

In addition to the 300 meter swim,11 mile bike and 2 mile run atWalter E Long Park, you’ll receivesome other fun perks this year:a sweet baseball style t-shirt, apersonalized bib number, anawesome nisher’s medal and re-

usable water bottle, ever popularbeer garden, tasty tacos, give-aways, free nish line video andathlete tracking.

This year Rookies will have theirown starting groups (aka waves)and their own bib color - RED. Sobe sure and cheer them on as they

cruise by! And speaking of cheering- your friends, fans and family cantrack where you are on the coursethis year whether they’re at thevenue or around the world! To readmore on this popular feature, visitpage 9.

From all of us at High Five Events,thank you for registering and we

truly hope you have a fun-lled day!

The Rookie Tri Sta

Announcer: Logan DelawareAthlete Services: Joey TrimyerBike Course: Tim Stansbury, Lance

Pyburn, and Mike WatsonBike Mechanic: Revolution Bike RepairDirector of Marketing: Stacy KeeseDirector of Operations: Dan CarrollDirector of Sales: Jack MurrayHead of Transition: Nick SeidelRace Manager: John ChungRun Course: Emily Stevens and DannySpoontsSecurity: Danny HinkleSite and Supply Manager: Ray PorterSponsorship & Marketing: Tina ThomasSta Wellness: Cindy Keese & KathyMurraySwim Course: Brad Miller & Ben PhillipsTiming: Raul Najera, Meghan NajeraVolunteer Coordinator: Jonathan Cruz

For more info, please visit:

www.TheRookieTri.comComments & suggestions:[email protected]

@TheRookieTri

/TheRookieTri

@TheRookieTri

Share your Rookie Tri experience with

us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

Don’t forget to use hashtag #RookieTri.

Get Social With Us!


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6 | The Rookie Tri

E V E N T S C H E D U L E

Bike Check In / Check OutBike Check In will only occur on themorning of the event. To enter thetransition area each athlete musthave all of the following:

(1) Race number axed to theirbike and helmet

(2) Athlete wristband on theirwrist.

(3) Be body marked. Body Mark-ing will take place at the swim en-trance to transition.

Wave Starts Please wear the swim cap provided in your race packet.

Transition Area InformationTransition racks will be ordered byswim wave. Participants may rackanywhere on the racks assigned to theirwave. Bikes will not be allowed out

of transition until the nal cyclisthas completed the bike course. It isexpected that this will be around 10AM. Participants will be allowed backinto transition after they nish, butbikes may not be removed from theracks. Please be courteous to yourfellow participants while in transitionduring the race.

FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

12 PM - 7 PM Packet Pickup & Late Registration at Bicycle World Austin

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2016

10 AM - 5 PM Packet Pickup & Late Registration at Bicycle World Austin

at 300 S. Lamar Suite L Austin, Texas 787041:00 PM Transition Clinic and Q&A

SUNDAY, MAY 1, 2016

6:00 AM Transition Area Open

6 - 7:00 AM Out of Town Packet Pickup at Walter E. Long Park

7:15 AM Yoga Warm-Up with CorePower Yoga

7:30 AM Transition Area Closed

7:30 AM Decker Lake Rd and Hogs Eye Rd Closed7:40 AM Mandatory Pre-race Meeting

8:00 AM Rookie Triathlon Start

10:30 AM Awards Presentation

VETERANS8:00 AM Open Wave Light - Purple8:04 AM Men 29 & Under - Red8:08 AM Men 30-39 Light - Blue8:12 AM Men 40-49 - Navy8:16 AM Men 50+ - Green8:20 AM Women 29 & - Under Red8:24 AM Women 30-39 - Light Blue

8:28 AM Women 40-49 - Navy8:32 AM Women 50+ - Green

ROOKIES8:36 AM M 29 & Under- White8:40 AM M 30-39 - Yellow8:44 AM M 40-49 - Pink8:48 AM M 50 & Over - Light Purple8:52 AM W 29 & Under - White8:56 AM W 30-39 - Yellow9:00 AM W 40-49 - Pink

9:04 AM W 50 & Over -Light Purple9:08 AM Aquabike & Relay - Red

The swim start for The Rookie will feature a mass start for the Open Wave and atime trial start for age-group waves, including Aquabike. The Time Trial Start will beconducted with 2 people entering the water approximately every 2 seconds.


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Thank You to Our Awesome Sponsors!

Official Partners

Want your time?

wear your chip Correctly!

7 | The Rookie Tri


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8 | The Rookie Tri

P A R K I N G

& S P

E C T A T O R I N

F O

Spectators are welcome to roam the venue and cheeron their friends and family members. There arevery few places that spectators will not be allowed,

the transition area being one of them. Please do notchallenge volunteers or jump fences. The volunteersare there to help ensure the safety of the athletes.Spectators are welcome to help themselves to water,however we encourage you to bring your own drinksand snacks for yourself and your family. Ocial racefood and drink is for the athletes and volunteers only.

Parking is available at Walter E. Long Park for everyone arriving before 7:30 AM.Decker Lake Rd will close at 7:30 AM, and there is no parking available onsite forany vehicles arriving after 7:30 AM. There is rst come rst serve parking alongBlue Blu Rd. (south of the park) if you arrive late. Spots are very limited.

Spectators

Before 7:30 AM:- From FM 3177, head east on Decker

Lake Rd. Veer left onto Hog Eye Rd.

and left into the park.- From FM 969, head north on Blue Bluff Rd. Turn left onto JM

Holloway Ln.

After 7:30 AM:- All traffic must enter the park from the

south on JM Holloway Ln. Take FM 969

and head north onto Blue Bluff Rd., andthen left on JM Holloway Ln.

Decker Lake Rd. and Hog Eye Rd. will be closed from 7:30 AM to 1 PM


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Amenities in your race packet

AWARDSEveryone who crosses the line willreceive an awesome nisher’s medal!Separate awards will be presented tothe top 3 male and female nishers ineach age group, starting at 19 & Underand going to 75+ in 5 year increments.There are seperate awards for Rookies &Veterans.

THE PARTYThe nish line party is open to allparticipants and spectators. Participantswill receive free drinks and food includingtacos from Third Base, fresh fruit, chips,cookies and pretzels. Our 21 and upparticipants can visit the beer gardenand enjoy the bloody mary bar and FREEBEER from New Belgium!

Plus, make sure to stick around andget ready to catch some swag when wetoss out great door prizes at the awardsceremony.

Latex Swim CapPlease wear the capprovided; it corre-sponds to your swimwave and serves aspart of the eventsafety plan.

Timing Chip & StrapThe chip is attachedto velcro ankle strap &secured to your ankleat all times during thetri. A volunteer willremove it after youcross the line.

Wristband Gets youinto transition & isused to get food& beer at the afterparty. Yellow is forthose over 21 Red isfor under 21.

x x x xx x x xx x x xx x x xx x x xx x x xx x x xx x x x

x x x xx x x xx x x xx x x xx x x xx x x xx x x xx x x x

Reusable Bag

Place Helmet Number on

front of helmet.>>>>>>>

Bib NumberWear this on the front ofyour running shirt.

Safety Pins(not included inbag) May be usedto secure your racenumber onto yourshirt. They can bepicked up at packetpickup.

Bib & Bike Numbers The large number included in your participant bag is worn after theswim and can be used with a race belt or pinned onto the front of your shirt. The stickersheet contains stickers for your bike frame and helmet.

Each participant will receive a baseball style shirt, reusable bag, timing chip & strap, bib num-ber, helmet number, bike number, and swim cap. At the nish line, each participant will bepresented with a nisher medal and souvenir bike bottle.

Baseball-Style Tee Shirt

A WA R D S &A ME NI T I E S

It is a goal for each event that we leave the ven-ue in a better condition than when we arrived.High Five Events have put in place the following

programs to keep the venues we use clean:

• Bottled water has been replaced with reusablebike bottles and easy water lling stations.• Recycling receptacles are located next to eachtrash receptacle.• A waste crew is on duty for the full duration of theevent to ensure the maximum amount of recycling.• The entire course is cleaned of trash after theevent, even if the trash was there before the event.• Registration for participants and volunteers is100% online.

• Post event food and beverage options reducewaste and maximize recycling.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

Get Live Athlete UpdatesYou can receive updates from athletes as they cross points on the course and have thoseupdates sent to Facebook, Twitter or mobile phones.

How Does It Work?Set up or sign in to your ChronoTrack Live Account.Search for Athletes for whom you would like to receiveupdates. Select how you would like to receive those updates.

Get updates at: bitly.com/rookie16l ive

Attach Bike Numberto back of seatwith twist-ties >>>>> 1 2 3


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10 | The Rookie Tri

Jack’s Generic Tri, August 7thDo you want to recapture that simple, thrilling feelingbrought on by participating in a great triathlon? Then

Jack's Generic Tri is for you! Inspired by a time whentriathlons were not planned around sponsorship,location or prestige but the joy of racing that you, the

everyday triathlete, feel when participating in a safe,well-organized and, most of all, fun event. This year it willhost a Sprint Tri, Intermediate Tri, Aquabike, and Relays.

www.JacksGenericTri.com

T E X A S T R I S E R I E S E V E N

T S

TriRock Austin, Sept 5thSwim in Lady Bird Lake with thousands of peoplecheering you on, bike on the most historic street inTexas, Congress Ave, with views of the state capitol, and

run through Austin’s most beloved parks. Live music atthe nish line with great food and beer to make for afun after-party! Come join one of America’s most activecities in an event you’ll never forget.

Trirock.Competitor.com/Austin

Kerrville Triathlon Festival, Sept 24-25thIn the heart of the Texas Hill Country, Kerrville is a truetriathlon destination. Each course features a swim

in the scenic Guadalupe river, a looped bike coursethrough downtown Kerrville and the surrounding TexasHill Country, and run along the shaded banks of theGuadalupe on the paved river trail. Choose from sprint,quarter and half distance events during the two-dayfestival. Voted Best Long Disstance Tri in Texas!

www.KerrvilleTri.com

Life Time Tri Cap Tex May 30From views of Lady Bird Lakes charming landscapeto the Texas State Capital, Life Time Tri CapTex haswelcomed elite and amateur triathletes to the heart ofAustin on Memorial Day for more than two decades.Includes historic parts of town including Congress Ave

and Lady Bird Lake. This year receive a commorativecowboy hat with registration!www.CapTexTri.com

The Texas Tri SeriesComplete all of these events through participation and/

or volunteering to become a Texas Tri Series Finisher!Rookie Tri, CapTex Tri, Jack’s Generic, Tri Rock Austin,and Kerrville Triathlon Festival. Finishers receive nishershirt, hat, swag, and an invite to the party of the year!Finisher party includes awards ceremony, food, drinks,and good time!

www.TexasTriSeries.com


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C A L A NDE R OF E V E NT S

3M Half Marathon, January 22, 2017The 3M Half Marathon will celebrate its 23rd yearrunning Downhill to Downtown. There will be goodtimes and a good time!

Runners have been PRing at this Austin favorite foryears. Starting in north Austin and nishing in front

of the Texas State Capitol, runners will enjoy a 306’net elevation drop. One of the largest stand-alonehalf marathons in Texas takes you through theUniversity of Texas campus.

Come run Downhill to Downtown, push yourself toPR, and enjoy a fantastic nish line festival!

www3MHalfMarathon.com

Austin Marathon and Half, Feb 22, 2017The Austin Marathon and Half Marathon presentedby NXP will celebrate its 26th year running in Austin.

The premier running event in the City of Austinannually attracts runners from all 50 states and 20+countries around the world. With a downtown nishand proximty to many top hotels and restaurants,the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon is theperfect running weekend destination.

Come run the roads of The Live Music Capital of theWorld where there’s live music on course. Whetheryou run 26.2 or 13.1, the nish line festival will beone to remember!

www.YourAustinMarathon.com

Marathon Relay, September 18The Marathon Relay is a 6 person team roadrunning event. Each team member completes a4.37 mile loop for a cumulative distance of exactly26.2 miles, a full marathon!

With the start and the nish both taking place

at the beautiful Auditorium Shores in downtownAustin, TX, each runner is in the center of theaction before and after running their relay leg. Thefestival also includes live music, entertainment,sponsor booths, food and drink. It is a totallyfantastic team tailgate experience!

There are 14 dierent divisions to choose from.No matter what your division, we guarantee a funtime!

www.MarathonRelay.com


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12 | The Rookie Tri

1. Helmets: Only helmets approved by theUS Consumer Product Safety Commission(CPSC) may be used in USAT sanctionedevents. Helmets must be worn at all timeswhile on your bike. This means before,

during, and after the event.Penalty: Disqualication

2. Chin Straps: Chin straps must bebuckled at all times when on a bicycle. DONOT unbuckle your chin strap unless youare o your bicycle.Penalty: Disqualication on the course;Variable time penalty in transition areaonly.

3. Outside Assistance: No assistance otherthan that oered by race and medicalocials may be used. Triathlons andduathlons are individual tests of tness.Penalty: Variable time penalty

4. Headphones: Headphones,headsets, walkmans, iPods,mp3 players, or personalaudio devices, etc. are not tobe carried or worn at any timeduring the race.

Penalty: Variable time penalty5. Race numbers: All athletes arerequired to wear race numbersat all times during the bike andrun. Numbers must face the frontand be clearly visible at all times. Numbersmay not be cut or folded or altered in anyway. DO NOT transfer your number to anyother athlete or take a number from anathlete that is not competing.Penalty: Variable time penalty for missing

or altered number. Disqualication andone year suspension from membership inUSAT for transferring a number withoutrace director permission.

6.Transition Area: All equipment mustbe placed in the properly designated andindividually assigned bike corral. The wheelof the bicycle must be down on the side ofthe assigned space. All participants mustreturn their bicycles to an upright positionin their designated bicycle corral. No person

shall interfere with another participant’sequipment or impede the progress ofanother participant. All bar ends must besolidly plugged. No participant shall bring

ANY glass containers into the transitionarea.Penalty: Variable time penalty

7. Drafting: Keep at least three bike lengths

of clear space between you and the cyclistin front. If you move into the zone, you mustpass within 15 seconds. Position--keepto the right hand side of the lane of travelunless passing. Blocking--riding on the leftside of the lane without passing anyone andinterfering with other cyclists attempting topass. Overtaken--once passed, you mustimmediately exit the draft zone from therear, before attempting to pass again.Penalty: Variable time penalty

8. Course: All competitors are requiredto follow the prescribed course and tostay within all coned lanes. Cutting the

course is an obvious violation andgoing outside the course is a safety

issue. Cyclists shall not crossa solid yellow center line forANY reason. Cyclists mustobey all applicable trac laws

at all times. Penalty: Referee’sdiscretion

9. Unsportsmanlike-Like Conduct:Foul, harsh, argumentative orabusive language or otherunsportsmanlike conduct

directed at race ocials, USATriathlon ocials, volunteers, spectatorsor fellow athletes is forbidden. Penalty:Disqualication

10. Abandonment: All personal equipmentand belongings taken out onto the course

must stay on the athlete the entire time. Nogarbage, clothing, etc. shall be thrown onthe course.Penalty: Variable time penalty

11. Wetsuits: Each age group participantshall be permitted to wear a wetsuitwithout penalty up to and including a waterof 78 degrees Fahrenheit. When the watertemperature is greater than 78 degreesbut less than 84 degrees Fahrenheit, agegroup participants may wear a wetsuit at

their own discretion, provided, howeverparticipantsshall not be eligible for prizesor awards. Above 84 degrees, wetsuits areprohibited.

+COMMONLY VIOLATED RULES & PENALTIES


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ATLAS RIDEJune 4, 2016

25, 50, 70 mile optionsBBQ, wine, & beer @ pillar bluff vineyards

atlasride.org

fight cancer with texas 4000 riders


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G E N E R A L A D V I C E

Here is a logical progression that you may want to gothrough the night before and morning of The Rookie:

1) Arrive Early and get ready to havea lot of fun! Plan to be in transition1hr before race start. Mental stresscan make your rst tri morning seemhectic. Take a minute to take it all inand realize that you are winning justby showing up!

2) Set up a mock transition area thenight before at home. Put everythingout as you plan to race morning. Prac-tice putting on your shoes and hel-met, and then switching to runningshoes and running hat. Check o the

equipment checklist on page 16 of theEvent Guide.

3) Attach all the numbers to properequipment including bike, helmet,and race belt. Proper placement canbe seen on page 9 of this guide. Thenumber must be worn for the entiretyof the run and you must nish therace with the number on the front ofyour body.

4) Leave your house in the morningwearing what you are going to race in,INCLUDING your timing chip on yourankle. Didn’t have a timing chip in yourpacket or realized you left it at home-don’t worry you can pick up a replace-ment one on race morning.

5) Make sure that all your numbersare matching: timing chip, bike, hel-

met, race belt, and body marking. Thisis for your safety. Your USAT race agegoes on the back of your right calf andis based on the year you were bornnot the exact date- so anyone born in1976 is 40.

6) After body marking, head straightinto transition and claim a nice spotsince you are there extra early. Bekind to your other athletes and keep

your transition area small and directlyunderneath where your bike is.

7) There should be enough roomfor at least 6 bikes per rack. You can“rack” your bike by either hooking theseat over the railing or by hookingthe handlebars over the railing. If youhave not inated your tires already

take your bike to the mechanics tentor use your own pump.

Now that you know where and howyour bike is going to be - set up yourarea. It is nice to have a small towel toput down. Since you practiced the nightbefore this should be a piece of cake!

1) Remember to make sure thatyour bike and running shoes areopen with loose laces for easy on/o. Put your sunglasses in your hel-met so that you grab them before

putting on the helmet and don’t ac-cidentally try and leave transitionwithout either. If you want water onthe bike course make sure and havea water bottle lled on your bike.

2) As you leave transition count howmany bike racks away from the en-trance you are. When it is all lledwith bikes it can sometimes belike nding a needle in a haystack.

3) Before you leave transition makesure to take your goggles and your swimcap with you. You will not be able toreenter once transtion closes at 7:30.

3) Use the bathroom early if you can. Thelines will get longer nearer to race start.

4) Familiarize yourself with the ow ofthe race site. Visit swim start and nish

and make sure understand how to getfrom swim exit to transition. Do a warmup walk/ run of the run nish. Get anidea of a landmark that lets you knowyou are near the nish line. This willbe a great boost and make you morecomfortable when you are in the homestretch. (Continued on next page)

14 | The Rookie Tri


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15 | The Rookie Tri

GE NE R A L A

DV I C E

5) After the swim you will enter transi-tion at one end and leave at the other.This process is reversed for the sec-ond transition when you return fromthe bike. That is, the bike starts andnishes at the same side and the rungoes out where the swim came in.

6) If you do nothing else to familiarizewith the race set up, get to the swimstart early!! There will be an announce-ment of when the water is open forwarm-up swim. Take advantage of thisopportunity to get a feel for the water.If this is your rst open water race takean extra moment to get comfortable

with not being able to see the bottom;don’t worry no one else can either.

7) If you don’t like swimming in thegroup or are not a strong swimmerplace yourself on the outside edgeand towards the back of the swimgroup. Placing yourself ahead of fast-er swimmers will only mean that theywill have to swim around you, which

can be stressful when you are tryingto focus on other things like sight-ing. Not sure? Talk to others with thesame swim cap color and ask, youwill meet new friends and will havean idea of where to be in the pack.

8) What should you do if you have amoment of panic in the water? Tryswitching the style of swimming.Maybe doggy paddle or breast strokeuntil you have your bearings again. Ifyou feel that you cannot continue therace there are lifeguards in kayaksthat can pull you from the water. Youdo not need a wetsuit to race. We willtake the water temp on race morn-ing and announce if wetsuits are le-gal. Check USAT rules for more info.


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1. Goggles: Make sure you haveused them recently and that

the eye seals have not perishedand leak water. Check that thestrap and nose piece aren’tbrittle and are securely attached.Make sure the lenses aren’tscratched. If your goggles haveany of these issues, considerreplacing them and bringing themas back-ups to your new ones.

2. Wetsuit: Check for potential tearsand frayed seams. Look for holes

and cuts; these can be patched andglued to prevent water entering thesuit. Wetsuits aren’t required, sodon’t worry if you don’t have one.

3. Bike: Make sure that the bikeframe has no cracks, the wheels arenot bent, and that all componentsare in working condition includingbrakes and shifters. If you donot know how to check for these

things, don’t worry - just callahead to your local bike store andask them to safety check it. Thiscan also be a great opportunityto learn how to check the bikeyourself. On race morning, makesure tires are inated properly.

4. Helmet: The plastic shell needsto be rmly axed to the foamand the strap should not befrayed. There should be no cracks

or dents as these will likely notpass inspection when checkinginto transition. It should t snuglyaround your head. The generalrule for the chin strap is withintwo ngers spaces from the chin.

16 | The Rookie Tri

Have a system that you can use at all triathlons. It is recom-mended that you start with the equipment that you will use frstand work through to the equipment that you will use last.

E Q U I P M E N T C H E C K

5. Cycling Shoes & Pedals: Make sure thatthe cleat is rmly attached to the bottom ofthe shoe. Replace cleat if it is worn down andmay inhibit safe clipping in. Check and makesure pedals are rmly attached to the crank.

6: Running Shoes: Look to see that they arenot worn out of alignment or that the midsoleis crushed. Cut down or replace any long orfrayed shoe laces. If using elastic laces makesure that have not lost elasticity and thatany plastic is still in good working condition.


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17 | The Rookie Tri

My First Triby Jack Murray, Owner of High Five Events

There have been numerous instances wherepeople are seeking advice on participatingin their rst triathlon. When I have theopportunity to help someone in this situation,I share with them the story of my rst tri in

hopes of helping them feel more comfortableabout their endeavor.

It was the summer of 1994. The event wasthe Victoria Splash & Dash in Victoria, Texas.I had trained for a few weeks and was sure Iwas in peak condition for an easy victory. I was,after all, fresh o a 1600 meter run victoryand bronze in the 3200 at the Texas StateChampionship Relays. How hard could a littletri be? I thought I knew all there was to knowabout swimming, biking, and running. Turns

out - I knew nothing!

The morning started with me loading my bikeinto the trunk of my mom's car and driving withher and my sister to the event one hour away.I arrived around 6 AM for an 8 AM start. Thiswas before on-line registration, so I registeredfor the event that morning and picked up mypacket. As people started to arrive, I noticedthe dierences between my rusty old mountainbike and some of their $2000 race machines.My condence, however, was not crushed; I

was still sure I could win. After racking my bike,I headed over to the pool area where everyonewas warming up. As I got closer, I noticedeveryone was wearing tight swimsuits andgoggles. I was sure, however, that my baggyUmbro "soccer shorts" and lack of goggles wasthe best way to go. My plan was simple - go asfast as I could for as long as I could.

They were letting swimmers go every 5 secondsand we had to snake up and down the pool fora total of 300 meters. I patiently waited in line

until 5,4,3,2,1 go, I was o. I swam as fast as Icould to the other side and then back again. 50meters down 250 to go.

By 150 my arms started to hurt and my eyeswere stinging from the chlorine. By 200 I waskicking o the bottom every few strokes andswimming with my eyes closed, by 250 I was

just trying to get out of the water alive, andwithout my shorts falling o. After the swim, Iwas sure I was still in good position to hold myown on the bike.

I grab my bike out of transition and head outon to the 12 mile course. As I start to ride Irealize I am not catching anyone. The rusty,old mountain bike that I borrowed from myhigh school track coach was not the stallion Ithought it was.

Riding around the block a few times fortraining was probably not the riding that allthese people were doing. The fact that mybike could not shift was more trouble thanI thought it would be. And looking back, mysaddle was also about 5 to 7 inches to low.Towards the end of the ride I was beingpassed by a 10 year old girl and her mom;it was then that I started to feel my bigvictory slipping away. Still I was determinedto blaze through transition and light up therun.

Transition to the run was probably my mostmemorable moment. As I speed to thetransition area, volunteers are yelling at meto dismount my bike. As I go to lift my feeto the pedals, I forget that they are hookedin by cages. The combination of speed andmy feet getting caught was enough to sendme crashing like a bowling ball into a bike

rack with about 6 bikes on it. The volunteersquickly help me up and as I throw my bike inthe grass next to a picnic table (the rack wasdown), I remember thinking how much funI was having. The whole day was somethingI had never experienced before.

It took about a mile into the run before Igot my legs out of bike riding mode. I hadno idea how riding a bike would eect legson the run. As I rounded the nal stretchI saw all these happy people cheering for

me, eating, drinking, and just having a goodtime. I talked to people for about an hour.I met a guy my age that had been doingtriathlons for years. I met some membersof the Corpus Christi tri club and was invitedto their next meeting. I signed up for theirmonthly newsletter. In short - I was hooked.It was nothing I thought it would be. It wasfun and I discovered a whole dierent typeof people that did not exist in my 5000person hometown.

Through the years of collegiate running,duathlons, sprint tri's, half Ironman events,Ironman events, and working in the shop,my rst tri memory will forever help mekeep our sport in perspective. It is notabout where you nish, what type of bikeyou have, what you do for a living, whereyou are from or where you are going. Itis about having fun and that is it. You canhave many goals in our sport without

MY F I R S T T R

I A T HL ON


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C O

U R S E M A P S

SWIM

FINISH

SWIM

START

SWIM COURSE

RUN

START RUNFINISH

1 M

RUN COURSE


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19 | The Rookie Tri

BIKE

STARTBIKE

FINISH10 M

2 M

4 M

6 M

8 M

F M 3 1 7 7

L i n d e l l R d .

B l u

e B l u ff

R d

.

B l o o r R d .

F M 9 7 3D e c k e r L a k e R d .

BIKE COURSE

C O UR S E MA

P S


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Documents

2016 Rookie Tri Event Guide