by Katherine A. Roccasecca and Tami Ritchie
We are excited about our triathlon swim bundles because they provide options for both athletes new to triathlon and all levels of athletes.
Many triathletes come from a biking or running background, with limited swim experience and no swim gear lying around. Our bundles include all the necessary tools to train for the swimming leg of a triathlon. This guide will help you choose the right bundle for you get the most out of those tools.
by Pro Triathlete Tami Ritchie
Ironman Wisconsin
2.4 mile Swim, 112 mile Bike, 26.2 mile Run
Madison, Wisconsin
September 7, 2014
Ironman Wisconsin started out well. Conditions were about as good as they can be on a Midwest September day. No rain in the forecast, and temps were warm enough but not too hot.
For me, the swim went well. I found my swim groove again just in time for this race. I started on the outside of the pack of pros nearer to the beach, until I could settle in and then move closer to other swimmers and really start racing. A bunch of people sprinted off the start line, but I just kept to the outside, doing my thing. By about 500 yards, I had passed half of them. It took me until the first turn at 1000 yards to drop all the swimmers I would drop, and I caught a pack of men at 1300 yards. Then I simply stuck with that pack till the finish.
by Pro Triathlete Tami Ritchie
Pigman Long
1.2 mile Swim, 56 mile Bike, 13.1 mile Run
Pleasant Creek State Park, Palo, Iowa
August 17, 2014
Unlike Chisago, this race felt bad. The swim was oddly better, but then the bike felt bad, and the run was downright torturous. I couldn’t hit any paces or watts. When I did it was taking way too much effort. The race felt bad and it was bad.
The only good thing I can say about it is that the piss-poorness of it was probably a reflection of the high quality Ironman training done the two weeks prior (and a busy work schedule), so I think the training and fitness were there.
Without being able to take any rest time going into the race, I paid the price here… It will hopefully pay out dividends come Ironman Wisconsin.
Full results from the Pigman Long and Olympic Triathlons are online at JMS Racing Services.
by Pro Triathlete Tami Ritchie
Chisago Lakes Triathlon
1.2 mile Swim, 56 mile Bike, 13.1 mile Run
Chisago City, Minnesota
July 27, 2014
Chisago Lakes Triathlon was a "big" little local race up in Minnesota. I did the half distance in the elite wave. (They also offer a sprint.) It was a windy day, but the rain held out except for brief moments on the run.
The swim was in Lake Chisago—pretty, but very weedy in spots once you get swimming. My swim was quite poor, but thankfully I was still the first female out.
by Pro Triathlete Tami Ritchie
Ironman 70.3 Muncie was a train-through race for me. The week before, I had worked nights and I was just very busy in the weeks leading into the race. Though I didn’t go into it thinking I would break any records, I was still hoping to better my time from Kansas since the bike course is flatter.
by Pro Triathlete Tami Ritchie
Ironman 70.3 Kansas came and went like crazy! It felt like I didn’t have much time to think about the race. Perhaps this was a good thing—less time to worry and fret over details and things that aren’t going quite right.
