On August 24th 2025, I toed the line at the BMF 47.5 Triathlon - my first ever triathlon race. The format was a 1.5 Km swim, 60 Km Bike and 15 km run, held at Vatadahosahalli Lake, about 90 Km from my home.

Goal

Since this was my very first triathlon, I didn't set any performance targets. My only goal was to experience the race environment, understand transitions, test my fuelling strategy, and enjoy the journey of completing my first triathlon.

Pre-Race

The night before, I packed everything neatly into two boxes - one for T1 (swim-to-bike) and one for T2 (bike-to-run).

• T1 Box: 4 Unived 180 Gels, 2 bananas, Monkey Bars in a plastic box
• T2 Box: 4 Unived 100 Gels, 2 bananas, Monkey Bars, water bottles

I loaded the car with all my gear and tried to sleep by 9 PM. In reality, I drifted off closer to 9:45 PM, which is my usual bedtime anyway.

Photo: T1 Bag

Race Morning

The alarm rang at 3 AM. After a quick stretch and warm-up, I had bread and omelette for breakfast, packed an extra meal, and left home at 4:10 AM.

A short stop at the Shell petrol pump around 5 AM served two purposes: refuelling the car and refuelling myself with my packed breakfast.

After a 90 Km drive, I reached the venue around 6:40 AM. By then, most triathletes had already setup their bikes and transition areas. I collected my bib, arranged my setup, and listened to the race briefing. The atmosphere was buzzing with nervous energy - it was finally time.

Swim - 1.5KM (43 Mins)

The Swim started at 7 AM sharp. The water was choppy, and like every triathlon start, it was crowded and physical. I even took a couple of kicks to the face - nothing unusual in open-water racing. 

Once I found my rhythm, I settled in and kept it steady, exiting the water in 43 Minutes.

Photo: In water

Photo: Finishing the Swim 

T1 (5 Mins): Ate about one and a half bananas, put on cleats and bib belt, and ran out with the bike.

Photo: T1

Bike - 60KM ( 2 Hrs 9 Mins)

The bike leg was a 20 km loop, completed three times. The roads weren't closed to traffic, but since it was a country side, there were only a few vehicles. Instead, we had something much better - kids and villagers cheering us along the way. That energy made each lap feel lighter.

I stuck to my nutrition plan of one Unived 180 gel every hour, along with water. Effort was mostly in Zone 2-3, resisting the urge to overpush. Finished the bike in 2 hours 10 mins.

Photo: Bike Ride

T2 (3 mins): Skipped the banana this time, grabbed four Unived 100 Gels, switched into Puma Deviate 3 shoes, and started the run.

Photo: T2

Run - 15KM (1 Hr 29 Mins)

By the time the run started, the sun was out and it got noticeably hot. I sipped electrolyte at every hydration point (every 5KM).

Despite the rising temperature, I managed to hold form and finish the run comfortably in 1Hour 31 Mins.

Photo: Run 

Finish Line

I crossed the line with a total time of 4 Hours 32 Mins:

• Swim: 43 mins
• Bike: 2 Hrs 9 Mins
• Run: 1 Hr 29 Mins
• Transitions: 7 Mins

For a first triathlon, I was satisfied - not just with the finish line, but with how I managed my packing and nutrition, staying controlled throughout.

Photo: With Medal

Lessons Learned:

• Transitions: Took about 7 Mins in total. There's plenty of room to save time with practice.
• Bike: Decent ride overall, but I know I can get stronger and faster here.
• Tri-Suit: First time wearing it for both bike and run. Felt slightly uncomfortable during the run, so I might need to try to size up or spend more training hours in it.
• Nutrition: The Unived 180 and 100 gels worked well for me - easy on the stomach and gave steady energy throughout the bike and run.

Final Thoughts:

Looking back, the BMF 47.5 at Vatadahosahalli Lake was the perfect introduction to triathlon. It gave me exactly what I wanted: an understanding of race-day flow, the chance to test my nutrition and pacing, and most importantly, the joy of being part of a community that celebrates endurance and grit.

Crossing that finish line, I felt more confident and motivated to take on bigger challenges - like my next goal, the Goa 70.3 Ironman.