Hermosa Day at the Beach Triathlon

It was my first open water triathlon in the ocean. Great day; waves not too bad and the 14 distance is easily do-​able for almost any participant. The bike track is short and without much slope. The run is along the beach walk so there is great ocean views and plenty of people there to interact with. If you want to do an ocean triathlon, this is a great starter.

I was so extremely nervous about my first triathlon! Well, as nervous as somebody who can’t really bike and skipped the information session for first time triathletes in lieu of hanging out with friends who were visiting can be. I went on Unilocal to find any tips or strategies for this particular race, but alas, I am on my own 10 hours before race time.
Before the race:
+ Register early! Individual costs $ 90 and relay costs $ 130 six months before the race and the prices make their way up to $ 115 Individual/​$ 185 relay. The relay teams consist of three people passing off the ankle timer to have each person compete in their strongest leg.
+ Swim clinic: An hour long session on all the info you need to compete in your first triathlon. Free, but a $ 12 USAT one-​day membership fee is required for non-​annual members.
+ Information sessions are available the day before the race for newbies. Triathlon 101 Clinic (30 minutes): «Learn more about the tools of the trade — a race day check list and the top 10 things that a triathlete should never leave home without» and Transition Clinic (30 minutes) «How to have a fun, safe and efficient T1 and T2 triathlon transition.»
+ Emails/​Website: The website is super informative (race course with street names) and the customer service line was very prompt (1 day) in returning my inquiry. Emails weren’t needless, which was good because all three emails sent out were important, but I had to actually call to see if I was registered because I didn’t get a confirmation email when I first registered.
+ Packet pick up: You can pick up the day before race day and attend the info session or you can pick up before race time. You and only you can pick up your packet. I would pick up on race day next time.
+ Parking: Street parking is free until 10am, or you can pay to park in the lots which are described to you in the emails.
+ Don’t forget a towel! Make sure your bike tires are pumped. Yellow tag goes on your wrist and time chip goes on your ankle.
Race day:
+ Set up: Your yellow tag allows you to get into the transition zone to set up your bike. Your left arm (bib number) and left leg (age) need to be marked. The front end is the best place to set up because everybody elses’ bikes aren’t all up in your space. Set out towel, running shoes and socks, and helmet. I wore my tri-​suit under my wetsuit with my bib already pinned on it. Bananas and waters are served before the race.
+ Swim: Swims are set in waves and the provided caps are mandatory. So my cap color, the light pink, was wave 7, after all the men have gone. You are allowed to get in the water and do a few laps before your actual wave time. Should have been an easy swim but for some reason I kept hyperventilating if my head went under water. My body didn’t think it was that cold, but my brain sure thought it was.
+ T1: Run from the water through the sand to the transition zone, towel off your feet and get into biking gear. Roll your bike out to the street past a white line before you can mount. Stay on right unless passing on left.
— Bike: The bike course goes up Pier Ave, but the hill wasn’t actually that bad. The course itself loops three times, and you will know when to turn down Pier Ave again when you’ve seen the BIG «3 laps» sign 3 times. The roads can get narrow on Ardmore so it will be hard to pass, and your bike number could possibly fall off so make sure you secure it somewhere you aren’t hitting with your thighs. The cheerleading volunteers were dancing and singing to lift our spirits. My results tells me I took nearly an hour to bike 9 miles, fifth from last from the looks of the split times. When passing on left, yell «Left!» but I passed exactly zero people so I was on the right the whole time. Biking sucks!
+ T2: Dismount by white line and roll your bike back to your row and re-​rack. Take off helmet and start running!
+ Run: Easy flat course that is made harder because your thighs are all beat up from biking. Water at mile 1 and a guy stands behind four orange cones at 1.5 miles and tells you to turn back. There are doggies to watch and normal people to pass by — not everybody on the course is racing.
After the race:
+ Expo: There were 2 vendors, one for wetsuits and the other to promote another triathlon, a Longo team tent and tents giving out water, bananas, oranges, OREOS and shot blocs.
+ Awards: At 9:45am, but I ain’t winning no awards with that bike time so I left.
+ Leaving transition zone: The volunteers will check your yellow tag with your bike number to make sure nobody else is leaving with your bike. My bike is old and lame, but I’m sure the ones with the tri bikes sure appreciate it!
+ Email: You get an email with your time and a link to see your splits and how you stack up.
Overall this course is built for triathlon newbies who have no idea what they’re doing because I and multiple others followed along pretty well. Will do again!