Tri / Triathlon / Triathlons - do they float your boat?

I did my first triathlon (sprint) on Monday. Despite a lack of training, recently being ill and diabolical weather I absolutely loved it. I came in the top 35% for my age group, which I thought was okay for my first attempt.

I learnt some useful lessons too:

• Don’t eat beetroot the night before.
  
• Take food to the start if there might be a wait (I had breakfast at 5:20... finally started swimming at 8:30)
  
• Don’t make bike adjustments when the swim has started.
  
• Put Vaseline under your ankle timing band or risk chafing.
  
• Don’t panic in the pool, it’s ok if someone overtakes.
  
• Pack a towel.
  
• Don’t try putting tights on when you’re wet or you'll fall over backwards.
  
• Find out where transition ends/the race starts.
  
• Practice bike mounts.
  
• Don’t faff about with garmins in transition.
  
• Don’t faff about with clothes so much, it’s not a fashion show!
  
• If the forecast is torrential rain, you probably don't need sunblock and sunglasses, so it's just more mess in transition.
  
• Don’t leave clothes all over transition, including your clean clothes for post-race, especially if it is raining and you have to cycle to meet a friend for brunch and nearly get refused entry to the restaurant for being so wet.
  
  

Really want to do another one now.