Sometimes I like to Riverdance through Transition

Confused by the title? That’s what I said to my big sis, Kelli, the first time we raced together. I discovered that bike shoes make great dancing shoes with that clip, clip sound of course. Making my sister giggle is one of my favorite things about being in this sport together.

Another triathlon season is in the bank and I feel like I’ve learned a few things worth sharing in the past two years.

1.       Running is not the easiest of the three sports, despite the fact that you start running around when you’re still in diapers. Unless you had an elite runner teaching you proper form in your 1^st grade P.E. class there’s a good chance you’re doing something wrong. I started this season with the coachman comparing my run to a baby elephant, hippo, etc. Basically anything that has horrible running form and makes a lot of noise pounding the pavement. I’m still miles away from where I need to be, but at least I have a lot to focus on in the offseason.

2.       Training with power on a bike takes things to a new level. At first it’s depressing to realize that all your previous workouts were more like joy rides. You start pushing yourself to hit your numbers (and those of your teammates that coachman likes to dangle in front of you as motivation) and realize “wow, so this is cycling”. I used to dread the bike during a race thinking it was my weak spot. Now – thanks partly to the realization that I run like a baby hippo – I feel most confident during a race as I exit T1.

3.       Cliff bars may be the worst pre-workout snack ever. It only took one very painful workout to realize the chocolate-chip bar sits like a brick in your stomach. Thanks to the most painful six mile run off a bike, and a good cry on the curb half-way through, I know to never eat this  snack again.

4.       You can clear most McDonald’s drive thru windows with a bike on your roof rack. I know this because I like to end a race with a huge cheeseburger. I do recommend proceeding with caution and sticking your head out the window to double and triple check. Nothing more embarrassing than losing your bike to the golden arches.

5.       Sometimes you have to suck it up and just take a penalty. Smaller races don’t have elite waves. As a young athlete you often get stuck with your age group going off last in the swim. This means a battlefield for an open water swim and a game of frogger on the bike course. Sorry officials – you might not like this one – but I’d rather take a penalty or two for crossing the double yellow line than sit behind a slow poke on a mountain bike who doesn’t know what “on your left” means.

6.       Blisters don’t hurt until after the race. And then you look down and you’re bleeding right through those running shoes. This is the only reason I’ve ever visited a medical tent at a race and I count that as a WIN.

7.       Wet suit strippers are the best things ever. I refuse to wear my wet suit in a race unless I know there will be a group of complete strangers waiting for me outside of transition to rip that puppy off. I can’t do it by myself – it’s like adding a 4^th event. My heart rate goes into zone 4 trying to get it off.

8.       Never pay for a manicure the day before you change your back wheel out for those pretty race day Zipps. You will have grease everywhere. I prefer to pay someone to do this for me if Daddy isn’t it around. I also like the nice man from Roswell Bikes to bless my bike outside of transition before the race starts. Yes, I’ve come to think that he doesn’t even really look at it – but if something goes wrong, at least I can blame it on him.

9.       I love volunteers. But I don’t always trust that when they yell “water” at an aid station, its water and not Gatorade. All it takes is one time of pouring sticky red Gatorade down your head to always take a little peeky boo for yourself.

10.   Always remember your contact lenses. Because if you forget them for a group ride, that is the day it will start to downpour and you might see your life flash before your eyes.

What are your favorite race/training lessons?

If all else fails on race day, at least pose for the paparazzi.
Kelli has mastered this...she even smiles while riding.