My first-ever triathlon race experience had been at the TRI-Factor Triathlon in 2016, where I had signed up for the Freshman distance. 

That one was a pretty memorable race, most notably because of a heavy thunderstorm which had resulted in the triathlon becoming an Aquathlon, due to the the bike leg was cancelled as a result of slippery roads.

Since that initial experience, it has led to me taking part in the TRI-Factor Triathlon each year. I did the TRI-Factor Sprint Distance with Astavita in 2017 and then I took on the same category again in 2018.

Foray into Sports

My first foray into sports was when I picked up running in 2012 to improve my fitness levels. Prior to that, I was never a sporty person and I did not do an ounce of exercise apart from the annual NAPFA test that had been mandatory during my school days.

But since my very first running race, which had been a 10km event in September 2012, I have progressed to half marathons and full marathons, and even took on my first ultra-marathon in 2014. This was a 50km trail race at The North Face Singapore that year, and it was followed by a 101km road ultra-marathon at Craze Ultra in 2015.

Delving into Triathlons

But I had wanted a new challenge, which was the main reason why I had delved into triathlons, deciding to give this a go.

Though I am not fast, I knew how to swim, cycle and run, so at that point in time, I thought to myself, how hard can this be?

How wrong I was.

Apparently I found out all of this the hard way back in 2016. Swimming in open water was completely different to swimming in a pool, and riding a road bike with its many gears, is definitely not the same as cycling on a department store bike.

For example, I remember the very first time when I did a training session in the open water; I got the shock of my life when I realised that I could not see the “blue line” at the bottom of the sea.

This is because usually when I swim in a pool, there is a blue line at the bottom to guide me and this also helps me to ensure that I am swimming in a straight line.

In fact, I could not see a single thing at all, when I dunked my head under the open water. This was something that I knew I had to get over if I had wanted to complete a triathlon.

2016 TRI-Factor Triathlon

But I had survived the training process, and when I had completed the “Aquathlon” in 2016, I felt accomplished at having finished my first multi-sports event, yet slightly shortchanged at the same time.

I finally managed to complete my first triathlon in the 2017 TRI-Factor event, taking on the Sprint distance that year, and then following that, I did the Singapore Triathlon 2017’s Sprint category as well as the MetaSprint Triathlon in 2018.

As well, I also did the TRI-Factor Triathlon’s Sprint category again that same year, in 2018, as this had been the very race where my TRI-Factor journey had all begun, after all.

Slow and Steady

As I gradually gained more experience in triathlon events in Singapore, I slowly began to feel more confident swimming in the open water.

Though I know that I may not be a fast swimmer, but the main thing is that I am able to complete the race.

After all, the Aesop’s Fable, The Tortoise and the Hare, says, being “Slow and Steady” always wins the race, right?

But I generally can make up for this subsequently as I am able to overtake some people on the bike and the run segments. So at least I am not the last one to finish, on the overall rankings!

Nonetheless, as I continue to progress and build my confidence in my short triathlon journey to date, I will never forget where or how it all began – at the TRI-Factor Triathlon event, in 2016.

Find out more about the TRI-Factor Series at https://www.trifactor.sg/#