Race Report: 2022 NYC Triathlon
23 Aug 2022 fitness
Summary
- What: NYC Triathlon
- When: Sunday, July 24, 2022
- Where: New York, NY
- Distance: Swim 0.93M, Bike 12.4M, Run 2.5M
- Strava activities: Swim, T1, Bike, T2, Run
- Finish time: 1:42:30
Discussion
Last month, I completed my third ever triathlon. It was originally supposed to be olympic distance but the bike and run portions were shortened due to a heat advistory (97° F). I was initially quite disappointed, especially given the cost of the event ($400), but I decided to just make the best of the situation, rather than try to defer until next year.
After a 40-minute delay due to issues with the swim exit, the race began with a dip in the Hudson River. I’ll be honest, it was gross. The water was warm, murky, and tasted like rotten laundry. It was also crowded; I accidentally dunked someone towards the beginning of the race. Sorry to whoever that was.
As always, I went out way too fast and never settled into a comfortable pace; my heart rate was ~170 bpm for roughly the entire swim - much higher than my usual ~140 bpm. At one point I swam too close to the shore and scratched my foot on a rock, which prompted a post-race tetanus shot. Fun stuff.
Anyways, once I was out of the water, the shortened bike and run portions of the race were a blur. It was nice to ride on car-free highways, though the roads themselves could use some work (read: bumpy). The run was nice and the park was scenic. The cold towel at the finish line was much appreciated.
All-in-all, I’m happy I did the race, though it’s one I’ll probably never do again. I’m also satisfied with my performance, especially the fact that I beat my rival from the last race. I love some friendly competition! Onwards to Lake George!
Lessons learned:
- Bring shoes for the walk from the transition area to the swim start
- It was definitely too hot for wetsuits, and I’m happy I spared mine the Hudson
- I was dizzy out of the swim again, need to take my time exiting the water
- I got lost in the transition area, need to practice transitions next time
- I forgot to stand on my transition mat again, defeating its entire purpose (lol)
- I decided not to use my new goggles - thank god, because they had a leak
