Siri Lindley: The Hardest Race of my Career
Siri Lindley writes about a triathlon she did that featured punishing hills and hot, humid temperatures.
The hardest race I ever did was the Cornerbrook, Newfoundland World Cup triathlon.
It was a very hilly bike ride, followed by a very hilly run. The conditions were extremely HOT and humid, and the course was very, very tough.
I made sure to hydrate well before and during the race. Instead of just having water, which I normally did, I had a mix of electrolyte and water. During the bike portion of the race, I made sure to take a big swig of this every 10 minutes or so.
Once I got to the run, the heat was really intense. I got off the bike and exaggerated my cadence to start feeling good as quickly as possible. On the uphills, I found that smaller steps and a quicker cadence was much more efficient and effective, as it lowered my heart rate and I got to the tops of the hills quicker and with less effort.
On the downhills, I just thought about “letting go,” letting it flow and not putting on the brakes. With my focus on form and technique and taking in electrolytes along the way, it ended up being one of my best races ever.
For more on the Saucony 26 Strong program, which pairs up 13 coaches with 13 marathon rookies, visit 26Strong.com.