The Most Prep for the Shortest Race Ever!

Last week was all about The Preparation. The Hy-Vee Triathlon puts on an amazing world class event each year, but it does take quite a chunk out of your life for a bit. Not with just the 4-6 months training, but the week leading up to it is quite full of things that you really need and have to do.

There are open water swim sessions at Raccoon River to attend. Sure, they aren't mandatory, but with the swimming often being the most dreaded part of the triathlon its good to get in a few times at your own pace (before you are in with hundreds of others).

Next there is the mandatory race meeting to attend the Friday before at Valley Southwoods. A video is shown from previous years and you listen to the ins/outs, rules and regulations. Basically its pretty much where your heart is in your throat and you kind of wonder what you have gotten yourself into.

This is also where its one of my favorite parts of the event; getting the schwag. Hy-Vee takes the cake with this with snazzy new bike jerseys, visors, hats, sunglasses...yummy protein bars. I really love protein bars, but don't buy them too often because they are like candy bars to some people. I really can't stop eating them.

Then the day before the race there is the cleaning of the bike, putting the race numbers on the bike, dropping off the bike at Raccoon River and finally the covering the bike with the family grill cover as the forecast calls for rain all night.

What about the rest of the prep? Figuring out how to put on those new tri tats , packing and repacking all of the gear (food, drink, wetsuit, swim cap, goggles, body glide, bike shoes, running shoes, sunglasses, hat, race belt, towel, hat, helmet) to try to get it into one bag ( it didn't happen).

Let's take all of this x 3 as Megan and Lucy were to participate in the kids triathlon on Saturday. Yes, it was all about The Preparation last week for what turned out to be only an Hour and 15 minutes of actual racing.

to be continued...