I don't even want to talk about it. I had the shittiest swim of my life - more so than the Flag Day swim I did last year. The current was insanely strong pushing us downtown towards the swim exit. Perfect! Well, for this idiot it was not. I intentionally started further to the right knowing that I swim left and still I wound up next to the ropes and had to keep doing breastroke to reorient myself and get further to the right. Instead of a straight line, I swam a zig-zag.

In a situation where I should have done a sub-20 minute swim, I swam a 30:31! WTF?!?! I am so pissed about this - I did 22 last year and was way prepared this year. Sighting was an issue in that I knew all I had to do was go straight - HELLO! - but it seemed as if the exit was getting further away instead of closer. Jeff found me early on and I heard him cheering me on the whole way downtown and as I got out of the water.

Hmmm, start as far right as I possibly can. Learn how to swim in a straight-ish line.

The 1/2 mile jog along the blacktop of riverbank state park's pedestrian pathway is not the most pleasant experience. I did jog it the whole way though. I glanced at my watch and noticed that my swim was about 30 min and I was pissed.

I didn't really have wetsuit troubles - little extra pulling off the heels, but otherwise fine. Did some spritz's of sunblock cos my skin is still slightly red and tender from the burn 2 weeks ago at Tupper Lake, so I had to take precautions this time. Also used the inhaler.

Nothing.

I really, really thought that I would have improved my time this year, with a bike that is mine that actually fits me and aerobars that I know have made me faster, plus more diverse training in terms of hilly places outside of central and prospect parks. I wanted to push myself a bit more especially cos I know I can do this distance and then some.

No such luck.

There was some wind both directions but I don't think that it was detrimental to cause me to be so slow overall. I would watch people pass me that just pissed me off - why I don't have the power to either get up the hills or go faster is just killing me.

And not to mention the snot factor - what is wrong with me that in 90 degree sunshine, my nose is running like a faucet which makes it hard to actually breathe properly throughout the course? geez....

chop off my nose, for starters...ride lots more...conquer the hills even though these were not insane, they still cause me to go much slower than everyone else (ie less than 10mph).

The person's bike that was next to mine was basically on top of all my stuff so I had to move it. Thank you #699. I put my hat on and fixed my ponytail as I ran out. After I ran out, remembered that I didn't have my race belt on with my number, so I had to run back in to get it. Great! Good thing I was only about 4 rows from the exit. Also took a puff or two on the inhaler.

Remember my race belt before exiting T2.

Oh, well, to wrap up this fine, fine race day for me, I of course had issues breathing. I know not to push myself too hard on the run cos otherwise I will start wheezing, even with using the inhaler beforehand. So, I start out running small steps - I've done enough BRicks and enough tris at this point that I don't have terribly dead legs, but take it slow and easy at the start so I can get into a groove. My legs weren't really giving me problems. I couldn't get a full, deep breath. That was hindering my performance overall.

Stopped a couple times throughout and walked through each aid station. Took a sip and dumped the rest on my head under my hat. Somewhere btn mile 4 and 5 I had to stop and bend over with my head down to my knees and just relax. I kept telling myself to stop stressing over being slower than last year overall (I saw my watch) and just RELAX. So I got that deep full breath that I needed and pretty much ran the rest of the way. Passed a couple other slowpokes like me along the way.

Maybe carry the inhaler with me. I've never done it before, but never usually have these problems.

Unfortunately, nothing. walked back to transition and schlepped my bike and bag to the parking lot to get the car. Took a 2 hour nap when I got home. Had very little to eat - what is with me and my lack of appetite pre and post race??? had half a bagel and water immediately after the race and some of a "bakers breakfast cookie" on the ride home.


Who knows? Too much tapering between the Tupper Lake 1/2 and this tri?


While I think this is a great race, the post race area is WAY TOO CROWDED! They need to spread out more - it's Central Park - LOTS of room!!

Overall I personally had a lousy day. Everyone has their "off" days and this was mine. Every segment of the race something else was bothering me or giving me problems. For the swim it was the current pushing me to the left along with my zig zag swimming and then breathing issues throughout the entire race.

But at the end of the day, what everyone has since said to me is what I have to keep telling myself: I FINISHED.