Really, the mass start wasn't as bad as I thought it would be other than you don't actually get to start swimming when the 'gun' goes off. Have to wait till all the other athletes get in the water.

Happy that I was able to beat 51 people in my first Olympic.

My swim pace without the beach walk was 2.28/100 meters. :)

Next time I would probably run on the beach instead of walk; especially if I was actually racing and wanted to 'place'. Walking on the beach put me 5/8 on the swim instead of 2/8.

I took my usual 'safe' approach and swam a comfortable pace, partly because I didn't want my swim to fall apart by going too fast; and I wanted to pace myself evenly over S/B/R. Now I know what it feels like to do 1500 meters in a race environment. Pretty darn good.

OK. My swim time when I stepped onto beach was 38.21. Took me 2.55 seconds to mostly walk up hill to transition mat, but after I took my watch off, put it in my mouth, took off wetsuit to hips, put watch back on, took off goggles, earplugs and cap, I actually started to run. Time actually IN transition was 1.47.

As far as I'm concerned they should have timing mats on the swim exit. I do not consider running up the hill to transition 'swimming' so I will continue to add that time into T1 total.
I ran carefully out of T1, especially through the mud and very carefully on the pavement to the mount line.

At this location, probably nothing. I can't put my watch under my wetsuit. Too much pressure on the wrist.

Once I got out to Watson Road and climbed the first hill, right away I noticed how weak my legs were and was quite concerned. My legs are rarely weak. Wondering if I took TOO much rest this week.

Once my hip started acting up I did some stretching on the bike and played around with my position. Stayed out of aero bars as much as possible on the way out where I could have used the advantage going into the headwind but thought it wiser to save that for the return trip.

Have only really started using the aero bars, 2 weeks before Lakeside and I think my body is not used to that position, especially since I have been riding HARD in that position with a much lower cadence than usual - 78-80 compared to 95. Just guessing really.

I have been riding alot more forward on the seat with all the hill work the past 3-4 weeks, so pushed myself back to see if that helped. Something worked because by 25km my hip wasn't bothering me anymore.



Get my bike warm up in before the race start. I think perhaps not taper quite so much. With my pelvis problem at Lakeside 2 weeks ago and racing my first Oly, have been babying myself a bit.

Had several people at the dismount line shouting what a great dismount I had. Feet on shoes, off bike and running without stopping bike. I ran with bike to the mud, then started walking, trying to loosen legs and hips a bit in prep for run. I do normally run but there was mud and wet grass so took advantage of walking and stretching.

Took time to put socks on. Focused transition. Smooth but not fast.

In those conditions, nothing.

Run still continues to be my weakest event. But it is definitely coming. Legs actually felt good running off the bike, until I got to the first hill. Decided to walk through all the water stations rather than do a 10:1 combo. Pace per km: 7.06; 6.34; 6.47; 6.53; 6.29; 6.25, 7.10 (hill with gravel - walked up) 6.50; 7.04; 7.22. Last 2 km had hills and I might have walked up faster than I ran. BUT, I felt quite good, especially the last km.

I didn't bother drinking at the stations. Just dumped the water down my back; front and on my head.

Very pleasantly surprised how a 10km run felt after swimmng and biking. Amazing how quickly the time goes.

Had a gel diluted in small bottle of water to take out on the run and wouldn't bother with that again. Too hard to drink and it was coming back on me. Harry doesn't feel I/we need anything for a 10km run. Says people drink too much.

Nothing till we got home. Did some stretches. Bath coming.....


First Olympic so it was all new. Wasn't limited by this - chose to use it to LEARN how to race it.

My legs were weak on the bike and my hip was bothersome for the 1st half.

Note to self: out of 26 women in the 50-59 age group I placed 15/26. Very happy with that for my first olympic.


Was really happy to see so many water stations on the run. Draw prizes are done too soon.