A very strange start for me - I had difficulty breathing for some reason in the first 400 yards almost as though my throat were closing up in a panic situation yet I wasn't panicking. I rolled onto my back for a second and mentally did some quick trouble-shooting; everything seemed fine so I continued on. I got pinched off multiple times and had to pull up and go around people which definitely slowed me down. About 3/4 of the way out I finally started to get into a groove and after rounding the farthest buoy and heading back in I felt really good. I didn't feel super fatigued but didn't want to push it as I haven't really trained for this race in the three distances so I wanted to conserve energy.

The start to this race really bothered me with the feeling I couldn't breathe - not from being splashed or waves but something else; it was a strange feeling. I think I really need to work on starts - both in open water and pool to help me find my groove sooner, not at 500 or 600 yards in. I will definitely trouble shoot it this winter and maybe join a master's swim group to work on it. I also hadn't been in open water in almost a month (at my sprint tri) so that may have had something to do with it.

This had a very long run from the water to the transition area so it was tough to get a low time. The cap and goggles came off easily this time and though I had used Body Glide on my ankles - both under my suit and on the suit I had a tougher time getting it off my feet than in the sprint a month ago. I chose to wear socks again and of course they take a bit to get on with damp feet but I chose to wear them as I haven't done these distances without socks and didn't want this to be the first time and risk blisters.
I also did not jump on my bike.

Just go faster getting the wetsuit off and as experience continues I'll go sockless at some point.
I'll work on a quicker bike mount for next year.

A nice ride but plan for the hills in the last 5 miles or so - they ate me up and drained my legs. I could feel my right hamstring and left calf wanting to cramp. This was only my 3rd ride after having my bike professionally fit so I'm still working out the bugs (new seat, narrower handlebars, etc). I felt I had decent energy but still a little drained for the run. I only had 2 honey stingers and maybe 10 ounces of water.

Train more - the longest ride I had done to this point was only 28 miles. I had only signed up for this race less than 2 weeks prior. Work hills and I said it after the sprint and I'll say it here - work the hydration and food.

Under a minute so I was pretty happy. I was first in my age group for T2, 18th for females, and 69th overall! I did not jump off my bike again but I'll work on this for next year. I changed my laces out for the quick ties so I just have to pull on my sneakers - what a HUGE difference. I love the bike racks at this race - so quick and easy.

I forgot to unbuckle my helmet on the way in again. I also will work on jumping off my bike coming into transition.

The run was tough for me. My husband timed my first loop to be about 26 minutes and I was whipped on the second loop. I found my first mile to be about 10 minutes which means I must have been cooking (for me) for my last 2 miles of the first lap to get 26 minutes. I walked through the 3 water stops as I knew I didn't hydrate enough on the bike to get me through the run. I also knew that I hadn't trained as much running as I would have liked for this. The very last steep, steep hill i will admit I walked about the last 30 feet as my calf had been giving me problems and was cramping pretty good. I decided to listen to my body and give it a short rest. It certainly hurt my time but that's the way it goes sometimes. I did think the section where you have to cut through a narrow foot path through the woods was surprising for a triathlon. Some of the larger rocks were spray-painted white for visibility but the light was dappled coming down through the trees making them hard to see anyway. The other change of having to run down a grassy hill (lumpy) was interesting. I took it slowly as the footing wasn't good and at this point the legs aren't so strong - and you have to do his loop twice.

I will train better for the run piece. I've always been a runner but let it slide this summer as I have been getting used to riding a road bike for the first time ever and working on the swim. Hills.
I guess I shouldn't be unhappy with a 9:13 pace (though it's slower than my half Mary pace) - I actually thought I was going slower! LOL

I really didn't warm down much - just walked around. I felt good though afterwards. I ate watermelon, grapes, 2 chocolate milks, 2 oatmeal cookies, and 2 bites of a roast beef sandwich. (mistake). On the drive out I started to feel nauseous. I got back to my inlaws house and had to lie down for a while. I dozed off and on for 1 1/2 hours!! Felt better after.


I know I didn't sleep well the night before but that is probably expected.
Overall I need to train more and I know that. I signed up for this only 2 weeks prior after only having ever done one sprint tri. I wanted to get some baseline numbers to work on for next year so I thought, what the heck, let's give it a go! This race was not on my radar to do at all and I had never even ridden my bike more than 28 miles! I think I'm pretty happy with the end results - I figured I could do it in about 3 hours and I was 2 minutes under that so I guessed right for my ability at this point. I do know areas I can work on so that is great to have that knowledge and I look forward to working on things.


The swim waves were good - nice size waves, not huge. It's nice to able to rack your bike the night before and not have to deal with that part the next day. It's not a flat course. I enjoyed the bike portion - challenging but nice. I wasn't a fan of the run course change at the last minute but you roll with it. The hills on the run killed me (and I run hills often) but that just means I need to train better and race smarter and plan for it. The volunteers were good as they always are at every race and good police presence at intersections. The only issue I saw was when a car tried to turn left across the runners and a few of us cyclists as we came flying down the final hill to the flats before T2. The cyclist next to me braked and started yelling at the driver, I put my head down and pedaled harder after yelling for him to stop.