Trakai Triathlon 2024

  I recently participated in the Trakai Triathlon 2024, an event that drew 297 participants. The weather was hot, and the water temperature was a comfortable 23°C. While these conditions were manageable, the swimming segment proved to be quite challenging due to the crowded course. The Olympic distance triathlon, known for its 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike ride, and 10 km run, added to the intensity of the competition. Despite these challenges, I aimed to complete the race in under 2 hours and 30 minutes...

  The swim portion consisted of two 750-meter laps, each with four sharp turns. The tight course made it difficult to swim efficiently, as I had to constantly navigate through a dense crowd of other swimmers. This made the experience unpleasant and prevented me from using proper technique. In fact, I ended up swimming an extra 100 meters, totaling 1600 meters, as I tried to avoid collisions with other participants. A single-lap swim course would have significantly reduced the congestion and improved the overall experience...

  The swim portion was particularly tough due to heavy traffic in the water. My usual swimming pace is 1:55 per 100 meters, but this time, I struggled to maintain my usual speed. I finished the swim in 33:55, which was slower than I hoped, placing me 91st at that stage...

  I quickly moved through the first transition, entering T1 at 34:12 and starting the bike leg at 35:41. Despite the slow swim, I managed to improve my position slightly...

  

 The bike leg was where I made significant improvements. I bettered my previous race time on the bike by over 6 minutes, completing the 40 km race in 1 hour and 10 minutes, compared to 1:16 in the Trakai Triathlon 2023...

  I finished the biking segment at 1:45:50... My position fluctuated during the bike leg, but I managed to push hard and finish strong...

  After second transition, I started the run at 1:47:08, advancing to 87th position. The run was the final test, and I managed to keep a steady pace of 4:12 per kilometer...

  

 I completed the 10 km run, consisting of 4 laps, in a total time of 42 minutes and 03 seconds, and crossed the finish line at 2:29:12...

  My run performance allowed me to steadily climb the ranks, finishing in 60th place...

  Despite a challenging start in the swim due to heavy traffic and a crowded course, I managed to meet my goal of finishing under 2:30. The hot weather and crowded swim conditions were significant hurdles, but I was thrilled to improve my bike time significantly and maintain a strong pace during the run. This race was a fantastic experience and a testament to the importance of perseverance and setting clear goals. For future races, I hope organizers consider a single-lap swim course to reduce congestion and improve the swimming experience for all participants...