WOOO boy. It was COLD. Much colder than I had anticipated. It had been really warm the year before. My overriding theme for the day is, "Don't base it on last year". I stod there on the shore crying about my tire to Pat.

So as our wave was beginning, the big negatives started. I was up front, quickly chickened out and went to the back once I saw the brutalizing the guys were taking at the first buoy. Note to self: Take buoy wide. Shot went off and there was no going back, I was doing a half iron!

The first 200m were ROUGH. It was very very windy, and the chop was unlike anything I had experienced. It really screwed with my stroke. The water was so so cold though, and I was sans-wetsuit(again, EEJIT!). Took me a while to fall into it, but once I got moving (about 500m in) I was grand. It was actually the perfect temp for swimming. I started passing people, and then I started passing the waves of men ahead of me!

1 lap down, lets go again! I was navigating well, but the chop on the far side of the rectangle was bad, just plain bad. The wind was absolutely unrelenting. This was to be the theme of the day. Finally got around the last buoy and was trying to find the triangle ender. Took a second to find it, and then put my head down and went. Got out of the water clean and had an OK run up to the bike. Again- cold, wet, and windy.



-Pee! I tried to pee like 6 times but it just didn't happen. I was so frustrated. I swallowed so much water as well, I knew it was going to bite me on the bike.

-Quit being a tight a$$ and buy a dam wetsuit!

I decided to go sockless for the bike because that's how I'd been training. But I did opt for gloves on this one-glad I did. Had a HARD FREAKING TIME getting my helmet buckled. I really hate how it closes. I was really glad I brought my sunglasses- it ended up being really really sunny. I was one of a very few people riding a road bike. Again, EEJIT.

-Quit being a tight a$$ and buy a new helmet.
-Quit being a tight a$$ and buy new shoes.
-Quit being a tight a$$ and buy a new bike.

Oh dear god. This was absolute torture and crap. The wind was un-ending and just brutal. There was only one part where it wasn't blowing DIRECTLY into your face. Wide open country roads as well. There was a right hand turn for the half people to make our loops equal 56...and on that spur, HFP managed to find the only hills in the area...oh great.

The one high point of this ride was hearing "HEY TRACEY!" behind me, as Stupidnickname came zooming past me, looking far beter than I at this point.

After my first loop, I really didn't want to keep going. I was getting passed by EVERYONE, and I screwed up on the turn and ended up going off-road for a few seconds. Ouch. And I I just felt really dejected and like a crap triathlete.

Then I came to the turn around, got a water bottle, had a gel, and I felt better. Second loop started out great. Middle was OK, but when I got onto the spur, I just got miserable. The wind was at my back on the way out, but as soon as you hit the turn around, it just was miserable the whole way back to transition.

Lap 3 was torture. I was sobbing at the turn around on the spur, talking nonsense, just generally going crazy because I could NOT go any faster. It was really frustrating to not have aero bars as well. I felt like my body was one huge parachute.

I was convinced I was going to turn in my chip once I got into transition. At this point, I did NOT want to continue. My estimate of 6:30.00 was waaaayyy out the window, and I still had to run a half marathon. My shoulders hurt, my neck hurt, my arms and hands hurt, from the sheer effort of keeping my bike on the road.

Oh, and I had to pee like no one has ever peed before.

Get a better bike.
Wear sunscreen.
Ride more.
Go to the bathroom in the water.

I got off the bike and Pat was waiting for me. He saw I was crying. At this point and time, pretty much everyone else was allready out on the run. I went to rack my bike- and someone had put their bike on my spot!! right over my stuff! I had to rack my bike on the sprint racks, and try to change my stuff around this jerk's bike. I was so unhappy. I talked with Pat about if I should drop or not.


I put my socks on (very very happy about that!) and my shoes. Retied my bandana, took a deep breath, and off I went. I have never been so happy to run in my life. I don't want to ride my bike for a very long time. and I got to hit the porta john on the way out.

Question my sanity faster.

Actually felt pretty dam good to run. I was still taking tiny steps, but I felt OK. At the turn around, I had a banana and an oreo and a chocolate chip cookie, and it was like CHRISTMAS. Awesome. I also sampled heavily from the Apple cinnamon hammer gel, since my hammer flask had come open and leaked my emergency stash of raspberry hammer gel all over my bum. Yeap, I was miserable and covered in energy gel. This can only get better.

I picked up an ultra distance runner named Jim. He was awesome support, a great pacer, and I was really greatful for his company. Lost him about mile 7 or so. Turned around, headed out for 10k number 2. I was hurting at this point. I started taking walking breaks between every so many cones. My hips were hurting. I started to chaffe under my arm, and it felt like my HR monitor was squeezing me. I was greatful for the turn around station- they informed me there was no cut off- it was looking tight for me. I've never been so happy to end a run. I started to cry as I came to the line...guided in by pat's track jacket. Even though it was COMPLETELY deserted at this point.

Run more. I was definitely unprepared for this. Suffer fest.

I ran down the finish line, they announced my name! YAY! I was so happy to stop. I was a bit out of it at this point and time, but I got my finisher's medal, and they gave me my second place finisher's plaque (woo!), and then the lady came flying over to take my chip (ooops).

Pat went to get my clothes, and I went over to get food. All they had left was 1 bag of chips, and some oranges and pop. I was a bit disappointed at that. The race hadn't been cheap and I was STARVING. I was so sick of gels and beanz and cliff bars. (sigh). Took an ice cold rinse in the showers, put on civilian clothes.

I had been hoping for a massage, but it wasn't even offered. Sorta miffed about that because the people that they had there last year were awesome, and if I needed it any time, it was NOW.

HRM data:
time:7:30.05
In zone: 6:47.45
AVG Hr: 156
Max Hr:189
Calories: 5050


I wasn't prepared for this. Period. I shouldn't have done this this year. But then again, I *did* finish, and really, I didn't die. The diabetes was actually the best it has been for any race, ironically enough. I think it might have to do with the fact that I was much more focused on eating in this ride. I'm so glad I invested in that Bento Box!!


I don't know man, it seemed like last year there was just much more fanfare. I was really miffed that there wasn't any food and that everyone was basicaly packed up and sort of anxious to get out of there and not celebrating the late finishers. I know it is a long day, but those people need food and encouragement as well. Also, no massage? No bike support? Just basic things that a race should have, especially a sponsored race. It was those things I really really needed and I was a little panicked to not have them.

Although, the volunteers on the run aid were FANTASTIC, and the guys handing out water in the bike turn around were deadly accurate- thanks lads!.