Race Coverage

"...I Knew I Could Hold My Own."

Thursday, 19 June 2025 00:10

By Amy Preusser

2025 Buffalo Graniteman Recap - This was my third race of the year, and I was looking forward to having more competition in Buffalo. Some of the names on the olympic race preview were big, but I knew I could hold my own. Getting set up in transition, I was able to chat with some of the female athletes: I love hearing where they come from. A lot of us were moms, which is my favorite. I, myself, came tomulti-sport after becoming a mom, which makes it extra special to connect with others on race day!

My pool has been closed the last few weeks, and despite being a confident swimmer, I was nervous about the water temps. My plan was to stay calm and comfortable, and not worry about my pace. This strategy worked well for me! It was a little crowded & tough to get out of the initial chute onto the main swim course, but time flew by and we were back to shore before I knew it. The lake was calm, and the swim course was a good refresher to sighting and swimming in open water! It was also good practice in getting my wetsuit off - an area where I do not excel.

Going into the bike, I knew that the course was fast. I was excited for a fun ride, and ready to tackle some hills (which I don’t get to train on very often)! I came out of T1 really well, and was flying down the hills. Unfortunately, after a climb, my chain fell out of the front chainring. I am a self-taught bike mechanic, so I was able to handle it myself. In the minutes that I had my wheel off and was fixing this, I had at least a dozen athletes cycle past and ask if I needed help. I love the camaraderie of triathletes!! In total, the chain issue cost me 3-4 minutes, which was frustrating but I stayed calm. I pushed myself really hard through the next ~18 miles so I didn’t
lose any more time....

Coming onto the run course, my mentality was just that: “don’t lose any more time.” My first mile flew by, and I was really able to enjoy the lake views in Buffalo! Miles 3-4 were a little rough; but the volunteers on the course were encouraging. After the turnaround, I felt strong. I turned up my pace for the last stretch of the run. Coming back into Sturges Park, I could hear the spectators cheering and it made the burn of the final push so much more fun! I crossed the finish line, placed 4th overall in Women and 1st in my age group. After my finish, I was able to cheer for other athletes who were completing their races - it’s so inspiring to see everyone come across the line, knowing how hard they’ve worked to get there.

The atmosphere in Buffalo is hard to rival. I loved this race from start to finish. I cannot say enough good things about the staff, the pre-race information and course marking, as well as the volunteers throughout the race. The race in Buffalo is one worth returning for; whether you’re a seasoned athlete or new to triathlon. It was an excellent day to push your limits; I hope the first-time racers enjoyed themselves and come back for more!