I felt solid through most of the swim, and even felt fast a couple of times.

I had a little trouble with sighting, but nothing serious. My new goggles were a bit tight and I started to get a headache about halfway through. But my swim cap stayed on. I wore my fabric cap underneath the latex cap they gave us.

Train the swim? I really need to work on my stroke and my strength.

Eh... I had trouble getting my suit off, but not as bad as it has been in the past. I was a little wobbly but, again, not as bad as it has been in the past.

I need to lose weight so my wetsuit isn't quite so tight.

I was pushing hard and had to reel myself in a couple of times. I felt like I wanted to quit the entire time, so that makes me think I was pushing at race pace the whole way. I passed two women, which I'm happy about.

I managed to get over the railroad tracks twice without flatting my tire. I didn't eat at all while I was out there. I just didn't feel like I needed to. I did drink my entire 1+ liter of Karen-ade though. Sucked that Camelbak dry! Coasted back into T2 thirsty.

It was hot out there. And my pace started slipping as I went along. Only by about 30 seconds per 5 miles, but still. I started to wonder if I would actually PR, but I thought "Certainly I can run faster than I did last time, so that's still an over-all PR, even if I don't PR on the bike course."

I'm happy. I've been training the bike, and although I still have a long way to go, I think I raced well.

It was hot and I was tired, and I really did not want to run. I pushed myself to get out of T2 as quickly as I could, but I'm sure I could have been faster.

Not be so tired and hot?

OK, so within about 3 minutes on the run I went from "I'm going to PR on this race!" to "I hope I finish this race."

HOT isn't a strong enough word. Blazing Hot. Rediculously hot. Hellish. None of these come close.

I started out running my regular pace. And then dropped back some. And then some more. Within about 5 minutes, I was at a snail's pace and my HR was way above my LT (178+). I saw Eric coming back at about 3/4 mile and he was walking. I started walking to meet him and I felt a little better. I decided that I would do a 4 min run/1 min walk and see how that worked.

At the first aid station, I stood in the shade for about 2 minutes and poured water on my head. I drank about 5 glasses too. Then I started off again, holding the 4/1 thing to the next aid station. Well, there was the potty break at mile 1 1/2.

At the second aid station, I again stoon in the shade for about 2 minutes, then I poured ICE in my hat, in my bra, and in my shorts. I have to say, that is probably what saved me. When I started off again, my HR stayed below my LT, and I was able to get into Z2 on each of the walk breaks. Phew. I might actually finish this. I took a cup of ice to carry with me until I could return to this stop again. I shared some ice with Shellee along the way, but mostly sucked on the cold water or kept a cube under my tongue. I rattled and clattered like a cooler the whole time, from all the ice in my bra top.

When I looped around to the second aid station again, I did the same, and took a bottle of ice cold water to carry back with me. When I hit the first aid station again, that water was all gone -- poured over my head and neck, and sipped up.

I stood and rested at the last aid station again, and then just carted myself back in. It took forever, but at least I finished and didn't have to be taken out in an ambulance (3 people were).

Extremem heat training?

Walked down to the beach and immersed myself in the water.


the heat