The morning started with Coaches Glen and Julie explaining all the triathlon bicycle rules, ...and there are many. The most important rule is that a triathlon is a no-draft race, which means that it is always a single-file race unless you are passing someone else. The draft zone is pretty big, about 5 bikes lengths, so once you are closer than that to someone you are considered to be in their draft zone, and you have to get out of it as fast as possible by either passing, or hanging back. Glen decided that the best way for us to practice following this rule was to ride up behind us on the course and yell "you need to go get so-and-so....you can't let him beat you, come on, show him what it takes". Anyone with a single competitive bone in their body couldn't refuse this challenge, so most of us followed our human natures and put the pedal to the metal in order to pass the teammate in front of us (little did we realize that once we did, Glen would be shouting at that teammate to pass us right back..."you cant let her do that!"). So, we did a bunch of 'leap-frogging' back and forth in order to practice passing and appropriate draft zone distances. It was another sunny day, and I loved being out on my new bike! The course had a few hills, but was mostly flat. There was a good deal of wind, so I was using my gears quite a bit to stay at the appropriate cadence. I have a feeling I am going to be sore tomorrow though!
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