» Post Race Interview with Michelle Guidroz

Amateur Endurance: Is this your first triathlon?
Michelle Guidroz: This would be by 2nd official triathlon.  My first was the Women’s sprint Tri in Mission Bay last October.

AE: How was your race today? What was the best part? What was the worst? Will you do it again next year?
MG: The race was awesome today!  I felt great both physically and mentally, which was cool because I really had no idea how I was going to feel.  I think the biggest surprise was how ok I felt in the water.  Having literally just learning how to swim last August, I’m not exactly the greatest swimmer yet.  So second to crossing the finish line, realizing that may have been the best part of the race. The worst part? Riding my bike into the headwind… sidewind… felt like everything but a tailwind, haha.  I’m not sure if I’ll do the race again next year, just depends on what the rest of my race/training schedule looks like

AE: Do you train with a group?
MG: I have done a handful of workouts with TCSD.  I also workout some with the ladies of GoTribal, an inspiring global group of women mentors and mentees who are stoked about triathlon.  Because of my work schedule, I do alot of training by myself too.

AE: If so, did you do anything specific to prepare for this race?
MG: Specific training for the race?….You know, I did not follow a specific training plan. Should I admit I didn’t do a single brick workout…and I may have only done one open water swim since my triathlon last October?  I’m already training for the Rock-n-Roll marathon, so I figured I was running enough, and I just tried to get to the pool twice a week and get on my bike and/or a spin class twice a week.  I think I started doing that semi-consistently since mid-January.

AE: What advice can you give to first-timers considering this race for next year?
The bike turns are really sharp! Slow down, no slow down more!  The swim looks worse from the shore than it really is, just take it one buoy at a time, it flys by Get in the water and warm up a bit…get used to the water….before your start.  I didn’t do that before my first race last year because I was too nervous, it made a world of difference today, I felt way more comfortable when I ran in!

Everyone has different goals.  My goal for my first Olympic distance race was just to have fun, and finish without drinking too much bay water, falling off my bike, or walking when I was supposed to be running.  Goal accomplished.  Now I’ll work on being faster

AE: What is your next race and what, if anything, did you learn from this race to apply to your next?
MG: Next race…that I’m signed up for? Other than Rock-n-Roll marathon, I did happen to sign up for Ironman Utah 2010 just last week I am contemplating Wildflower and San Diego International for this season. What lessons will I apply to the future… everything went so smoothly today that I really didn’t learn any ‘hard lessons’.  I learned how much fun Triathlon is for me and I can’t wait to have more fun!

Thanks Michelle!