@rosarytriathlon

Gigi and her teammates smile big with their shiny medals!

This past weekend, Rosary’s triathlon team competed in the LA Tri at Bonelli. Each athlete had to prepare for three events: swimming, biking and running. How do these Royals prepare for such a demanding race? We had eight athletes participate in the race this weekend, one of which was junior Gigi Simmons. Keep reading to learn what it is like to be a triathlete on race day!

Q: How early do you wake up? What do you do in the morning to get ready?

A: On race day, I woke up at 5 a.m. because the gates to the race opened at 6:15. I set out all the things I need the night before, so in the morning I can try and sleep for as long as I can and then eat a light breakfast.

Q: Do you have a pre-race routine?

A: My pre-race routine would be to make sure that I pump up my tires for the bike ride and set up my transition area with all the things I need for the race like my goggles, swim cap, bike shoes, helmet, running shoes, applesauce and a towel. I also try and make a pre-race TikTok vlog with the team.

Q: What does the day look like when you get there with the team?

A: When everyone from the team arrives, we look for a spot to rack our bikes in the transition area and unpack all things we need for our race.  We start our race shortly after by the water, which is where we swim. After the swim, we bike and then we run. After we finish the race, we make sure to cheer on other people and stock up on the free snacks they give us.

Q: How did this race go for you?

A: This race was one of my favorites. The swim is a bit shorter, but there were many rocks that everyone was stepping on. The bike is also a bit shorter from what we are used to usually biking, but it was very hilly. The run was difficult because there were some big hills, but overall I had a good race.

Q: What did you do after the race?

A: After the race, I showered the musty lake water off me, went to Starbucks, got a pumpkin chai and then slept for the rest of the day because the race burnt me out.

Q: What was your favorite event: swimming, biking or running?

A: My favorite event would be the running because it’s the last thing we do in the triathlon race, so I know I am almost done with the race and that makes me more motivated to run faster.

It sounds like it was a tiring but fun day. Gigi placed first in her age group and seventh overall! We are so proud of each of the triathletes this weekend, and we wish them all great luck for the rest of the year!