On November 15, 2009, I participated in my first ever indoor triathlon, the Tri-Umph Indoor Triathlon at The 5 Seasons Sports Club in Northbrook, IL.    I have been racing triathlons in the Chicago area for 8 years and just recently entertained the thought of using the “off season” as an indoor season.  I was not sure what to expect. 

 

Sure, it was nice NOT freezing  while waiting to get into the indoor pool.   What was really new for me was that the water was warm….too warm!  Never had THAT happen before.  The swim was based on time, not distance, so however far one swims in the allotted time is somehow put into one’s overall calculation.  Transition to the bike…walk into the locker room and CHANGE CLOTHES!  I had time to dry off with towels and do a quick hairbrush in the 10 minute transition….no trying to put dry socks on wet feet?  Great! 

 

Then on to the bike…indoor spinning bikes.  No wind, no hills, no one blocking, no yelling “on your left!”, no potholes.  Just set the gear above a certain point and crank those pedals as fast as possible to get the most distance in the time limit.  Wow, not so bad.  Since we started the race in waves, just as in outdoor tri’s, one has no idea of their own current placement in the field of athletes.  Another 5 minute transition where we swap out shoes with no pressure and move to the next room. 

 

Then comes the run….on a treadmill.  I’m on an unfamiliar machine next to an experienced indoor triathlete friend who tells me to hit start when given the “go” and press the speed up to 10.  I listen to her and we take off…sort of…my treadmill doesn’t start when the others do, then it finally kicks in about 5 seconds later.  I am so frazzled at my delayed run start that I get the speed up to 10 and don’t even think about how fast I’m going.  It feels fast, but my adrenaline was pumping from my technical difficulties, so I ignored my instincts until I think my lungs are going to explode, so I slow the machine down one notch to a 9.9 after about 7 minutes.  Still seems fast, but I continue on for about 5 more minutes at which point I look over at the “so-called friend”’s treadmill to see hers is set at 8.5 and she usually beats me.  I drop down one more notch to 9.8 and finish out the run time.  I feel pretty faint as I get off the treadmill when my friend giggles about the “10″ advice she gave me…turns out 10 is a 6 minute mile, yeah, she’s hilarious! 

 

After the race, a nice civilized shower and change of clothes, then hit the post race goodies and awards ceremony.  In spite of my “new to the indoor tri scene” clumsiness, I manage to take 1st place in the women’s division. 

 

Now, I’m not ready to give up the outdoor experience for the indoor, but when the snow and cold come to Chicago October through April, indoor triathlons can be fun.  One might say that indoor triathlons are the refined version of the sport of triathlon.