Things I learned at my first tri

1. I can do it!!!!
2. The people with the fanciest equipment are not necessarily the fastest. (If I keep saying this will I have less bike envy?)
3. It's better to sit down to put on your socks and shoes than to fall over because you've left your sense of balance in the water.
4. Hearing even one person cheer your name makes a huge difference (thanks Jeff!)
5. The hardest moment is the start of the run, just as you leave sight of the crowd. How I wanted to walk just a smidge there. (I didn't do it!)
6. This stuff is addictive.

I did a race report, but here are the quickie stats for my first tri - the Lake Mills Sprint:
Overall placing: 513/669
Division Placing: 12/37
Sex Placing: 154/256
Total Time: 1:36:52
Swim Time: 10:16
Transition 1 Time: 2:19
Bike Time: 55:13
Transition 2 time: 0:42
Run time: 28:25