Bang’s Lake triathlon was a team race scheduled with my local triathlon training team. It’s a small tri located in Wauconda, IL put on by Running Away Multisport. This tri was exactly 3 weeks post bike crash, August 8^th. I’d been confined to biking on the computrainer, with no swimming and no running since pulling my groin and fracturing my clavicle.

Race week I found out Bangs Lake Tri also offered a duathlon and aquabike division. With a lot of encouragement from team members, I opted to change my entry to the aquabike in an effort to save my groin from further injury.

As we lined up for the start I didn’t know what to expect from my swim and bike due to the lack of training.

The water was announced as 76 degrees; although once we got started in the lake it was clear this temperature was taken from well below 3 in. deep. Half way through the swim I was burning up in my wetsuit. This seems to be a trend this season due to warmer temperatures in the Midwest.  

It would have been helpful had I looked at the swim course prior to the start gun, it was a point to point swim with one 45 degree turn. It seemed to take forever to reach the turn. I found out later the turn was ¾ through the entire swim. After we made the turn waters became choppier. I felt OK swimming, happy to find I didn’t lose too much swim fitness. As I exited the water I heard cheers for being the first female. This put a smile on my face as I mounted my bike.

It felt great to be back on my bike outside; I rode through the course with no issues. Some brief races with male riders kept it interesting, but I never saw another female on the course. While riding back into transition, I heard the race director cheering for me. After crossing the dismount line it was a very uneventful finish…I just walked my bike back to my gear. I was able to hang in transition to cheer/torment teammates as they headed out on their run.

It was difficult for me to skip the run. Despite the fact it was a small race I still felt unfulfilled. I walked to the finish line to cheer on friends as they finished. 

In the long run it was the right decision not to aggravate my groin. Although I don’t think aquabike is my favorite sport. I’d like to get back to triathlons soon!

Posing with race directors