A little insight into what it’s like to do your first triathlon
In 2013 I participated in my first ever triathlon event – The Lakeside Sprint Triathlon ran by MSC Triathlon Club in Ballyshannon.
For seven or eight years prior to this I hadn’t competed in any sporting event. I had just finished my studies and had no intention of getting back into any form of racing. I had swam to a national level in my youth but I thought I had put my competitive days long behind me. With three weeks training off I went up to Ballyhannon and finished second female overall. I can honestly say that it’s still probably the most difficult triathlon I have ever done!
I think what made it more difficult than other triathlons I’ve competed in was the element of the unknown. I didn’t really know what to expect. I had no idea what it was going to feel like to string all three disciplines together including transitions.
I particularly remember the run being by far the most difficult part, I honestly didn’t know if I was going to be able to finish it. It’s still the most difficult 5k I’ve done to this day. But I did finish it and I felt such a sense of accomplishment afterwards. I had caught the triathlon bug and now all I was wondering was when I could do it all over again!
Based on my experience, 3 key pieces of advice I would give anyone thinking about doing a triathlon or even an event for the first time would be as follows;
- Complete your first event locally if possible and encourage some of your friends and family to come along to support. This made my first outing a lot easier as the marshals out on the course were so encouraging and everyone was super supportive. It gives you a boost when you hear someone calling your name to push you on.
- YOU WILL GET NERVOUS!! I still get nervous to this day. It doesn’t matter if it’s a world championship race or a local sprint triathlon. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t get nervous. You just need to accept this and use the nerves to your advantage!
- You will not be the only person in the race to battle with yourself!! Every race I do, I question whether I want to start, and in the middle of it, question whether I want to finish, but let me tell you now, everyone does! You will question your sanity at some point too and wonder why on earth you’re doing this to yourself, but I guarantee you that when you finish, the sense of achievement will far outweigh anything you had to put up with before or during the event.
It’s never easy to try something new but I think it’s important to continuously challenge yourself! Triathlon is a sport that will challenge you, however, first timers BEWARE, it is highly addictive
By Laura Tighe
