BTN Dash Aquathlon

Before the Race

My first multi-sport race. The format — run, swim, run — suited me better than a full triathlon because it removed the bike leg I had barely trained. I set a target of sub-30 minutes total, which turned out to be ambitious.

Race Day

Leg 1: 2.5km Run — 10:41 (4:16/km)

Started controlled. The field spread quickly and I found my pace within the first 400 meters. Finished the first run feeling like I had something left, which was the plan.

T1 — 1:26

Transition from run to swim. Slower than it should have been. Goggles, cap, mental switch from land to water.

Leg 2: 500m Swim — 10:03 (2:00/100m)

Pool swim, not open water. Held 2:00/100m pace, which matched my training times. The transition from running to swimming was the hardest part — heart rate was elevated and the first 100m felt chaotic until my stroke settled.

T2 — 1:58

Swim to run. Wet feet, heavy legs. Took longer than T1.

Leg 3: 2.5km Run — 12:36 (5:02/km)

The second run was 2 minutes slower than the first. Expected, but still frustrating. Legs felt heavy from the swim and the pace reflected it. Held on for the finish.

Result: 36:44 — Rank 10/188

Top 10 out of 188 participants. Missed my sub-30 target by nearly 7 minutes, but the ranking showed that the target was unrealistic for this format. The learning: set race targets based on race-specific training, not on standalone discipline times.

What I Took Away

Multi-sport racing adds a dimension that single-sport races do not test: the ability to perform under accumulated fatigue from a different movement pattern. Swimming after running and running after swimming are both harder than either sport alone. Transitions are a skill, not a break.